College Basketball Final Four Picks: Will Longshot Ole Miss Defy Betting Odds?

With roughly one month until Selection Sunday, college basketball odds are in full swing. Often, Final Four contenders will undergo a lull before reaching their peak. The 2022-23 UConn Huskies are a prime example. Dan Hurley's team eviscerated their non-conference foes but lost six of eight Big East matchups before masterfully adapting to how opponents defended their Swiss Army knife, Andre Jackson. Let’s assess the Final Four odds that showcase similar tendencies.

Click any March Madness odds throughout this article to place a wager. We recommend checking out the best sportsbook promos at the best sports betting sites.

best college basketball promos & Bonus codes

Rank

Sportsbook

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

BetMGM Review

Play Now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

2

Bet $5 & Get $200 in bonus bets

Bet365 Review

Play Now

Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.

3

Bet $1, Double your Winnings on your Next 20 Wagers. Up to $25 Max Bet Per Boost

Caesars Review

Play Now

21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

4

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win

Hard Rock Bet Review

Play Now

The promotion is available for all new players on Hard Rock Bet. An initial deposit is required, and the players first cash bet must be at least $5 to qualify. Additionally, the qualifying wager must win to receive the $150 in Bonus Bets. To be eligible, the Player must be at least 21 years old, physically located in a Eligible Jurisdiction: AZ, IL, IN, NJ, OH, TN, or VA, and not on any exclusionary lists in any Eligible Jurisdiction. Excluded patrons are prohibited from participating in Promotions. To be eligible all personal and contact data associated to your account must be verifiable. | T&C apply | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

5

Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!

FanDuel Review

Play Now

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG Help . Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit Helpline and Chat - CONNECTICUT COUNCIL (CT). Hope is here. Home or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit Home (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at FanDuel Sportsbook

6

New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins + 3 Months of League Pass On Us!

DraftKings Review

Play Now

T&Cs apply, 21+

7

Bet $50, Get $250 in FanCash

Fanatics Review

Play Now

New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TV, VA, VT, WV, WY. Must opt-in and wager $10+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer to receive $50 in FanCash each day for your first 5 days (issued when qualifying wager settles). Your 5 days begin the day you establish your account. See full Promo Terms and FanCash terms in the Fanatics Sportsbook app.

march madness betting 2025: final four odds

1. Tennessee Volunteers: Tennessee Volunteers +300 on BetRivers

Like the UConn squad noted above, Tennessee went undefeated in non-conference play. At the time, the Vols had seemingly replaced Dalton Knecht without a hitch, yet Chaz Lanier's perimeter efficiency has dipped 12.2 percentage points against SEC competition. In fact, their adjusted offensive efficiency (AdjO) ranks 11th in the conference since Jan. 4, resulting in a stretch of three losses in four games.

Last year, Alabama shot 38.8% from long range through early February before enduring negative regression to end the regular season. The Crimson Tide rediscovered their shooting stroke in March Madness en route to the Final Four.

Granted, Tennessee is not as reliant on 3-point shot volume as Alabama. But Lanier and Co. could regain their elite-level play over a four-game span in the NCAA tournament.

Analytically speaking, the Vols demonstrate a parallel profile to 2013-14 UConn and Florida, which made the Final Four before the Huskies cut down the nets.

2. Ole Miss Rebels: Ole Miss Rebels +2400 on FanDuel

Since the preseason, I have circled Ole Miss as a potential breakout candidate among national title odds. Although the Rebels' odds haven't shifted much, their defensive refinements have come to fruition, making them a dark horse for the Final Four.

For context, the Rebels rank 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency (AdjD), up 125 spots from last season. Ole Miss coach Chris Beard reunited with his former defensive coordinator, Mark Adams, and their no-middle scheme has rounded into form.

Moreover, the Rebels' steal rate grades in the 92nd percentile, and their offensive turnover percentage is the top-ranked across D-I. Combine these variables with their five-out lineup, led by 6-foot-8 Malik Dia, and it's a recipe for a deep tournament run.

After an 11-2 mark in the non-conference slate, their recent stumbles were seemingly a result of negative variance:

• Overtime loss at Mississippi State
• One-point defeat vs. Texas A&M (97.9% win probability in the final minute)
• Eight-point loss at Missouri (without Dre Davis)
• 10-point defeat vs. Auburn (68.6% free-throw shooting)

Rebels' Intriguing Ceiling

Ole Miss and Tennessee are comparable in that both should benefit from breaking out of the SEC bubble wrap. KenPom, a premier analytical college basketball resource, has been pegged as the best conference, almost 3.8 points higher than the Big Ten. In a league where teams beat up one another incessantly, the Rebels' physicality should pay dividends on a neutral court.

I added Final Four odds to my futures portfolio, which you can find on our free sports betting Discord channel. Given Ole Miss' +3500 longshot pricing, we're cooking with gas if the Rebels are in the mix for a No. 4 seed.

Saturday's top-16 reveal will help answer this. March Madness will be as wide-open as before UConn's reign, so you best have some longshots. Good luck with your wagers on Final Four odds!