NCAA Tournament 2018: Updated Bracket and Odds for Remainder of March Madness

The madness of March continues this week in the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament as some of the big names in college basketball have already crashed out of the tournament after the opening two rounds.

The road to the Final Four isn't set in stone, but some teams are emerging as favorites with No. 1 seeds Virginia and Xavier out of the "Big Dance," including the likes of No. 1 Villanova, No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Purdue and No. 2 Duke. 

Despite some of the sport's biggest schools still vying for a national championship, it's important to not sleep on the underdogs, such as No. 11 Loyola-Chicago—a team that has won over the hearts of fans who had their brackets busted by the Cinderella story.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the updated odds for each Sweet 16 matchup, including odds for each team to win the national championship.

Sweet 16 Schedule (All Times ET)

Thursday, March 22

No. 7 Nevada (-2) vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago (7:07 p.m., CBS)

No. 3 Michigan (-3) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (7:27 p.m., TBS)

No. 5 Kentucky (-5) vs. No. 9 Kansas State (9:37 p.m., CBS)

No. 4 Gonzaga (-6.5) vs. No. 9 Florida State (9:59 p.m., TBS)

Friday, March 23

No. 1 Kansas (-4) vs. No. 5 Clemson (7:07 p.m., CBS)

No. 1 Villanova (-4.5) vs. No. 5 West Virginia (7:27 p.m., TBS)

No. 2 Duke (-11.5) vs. No. 11 Syracuse (9:37 p.m., CBS)

No. 2 Purdue (-1.5) vs. No. 3 Texas Tech (9:59 p.m., TBS)

Odds to Win National Championship (via OddsShark)

Villanova (+500; bet $100 to win $500)

Duke (+540)

Kansas (+900)

Michigan (+1000)

Kentucky (+1000)

Gonzaga (+1100)

Purdue (+2000)

Texas Tech (+3000)

West Virginia (+3300)

Texas A&M (+10000)

Clemson (+12500)

Florida State (+15000)

Loyola-Chicago (+17500)

Nevada (+19000)

Kansas State (+23000)

Syracuse (+40000)

Who Makes the Final Four?

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

With the likes of Virginia, Xavier, Cincinnati, Michigan State and North Carolina out of the tournament, no one's bracket is intact. But that doesn't mean that you have to give up making predictions moving forward.

While it might be a trendy pick to select Loyola-Chicago over Nevada in the Sweet 16 and past the Elite 8 to make a run at the Final Four, it's unlikely. Not only could Nevada—who are favorites against the Chicago-based school—defeat Loyola-Chicago, there are multiple teams that are talented and experienced enough at this point of the tournament who are more than capable of winning a national title.

The favorites (in this author's opinion) to make the Final Four would have to be any four of the following teams: Kansas, Duke, Villanova, Michigan, Gonzaga and Kentucky. Why? Because their respective roads to the Final Four are as clear as ever.

It's just unfortunate that one of those teams won't make it all the way.

But perhaps the unlikeliest team of those five schools would be the Wildcats of Kentucky, who find themselves in an enticing position. 

For No. 5 Kentucky, it's been a tumultuous season. But with the likes of No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 Cincinnati, No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Arizona all out of the South Region, all Kentucky has to do to make the Final Four is beat No. 9 Kansas State and then the winner of No. 11 Loyola-Chicago vs. No. 7 Nevada.

That's not too shabby if you're a Kentucky fan.

If the Wildcats do make it to the Final Four, then Kentucky would likely face off against No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 7 Texas A&M or No. 9 Florida State.

If you're looking to place a bet on a new team to win it all after the first two rounds of the tournament, don't be afraid to put a generous wager on John Calipari's squad.