The upcoming 2023 March Madness tournament will provide a ton of wagering opportunities for basketball bettors across the world.
A quick look at the latest March Madness odds shows that Houston are the +650 favourites, but plenty of other teams are genuine title contenders.
They include Purdue (+850), Alabama (+850) and Kansas (+1200), all of who have the potential to progress to the Final Four
However, March Madness often produces surprise results, meaning it is no foregone conclusion that the fancied teams will get the job done at the start of April.
Read on as we look at the 2023 March Madness schedule and venues before picking out four teams who we think could upset the odds this year.
March Madness 2023 Schedule
March Madness starts with Selection Sunday on March 12 and culminates with the championship game on April 3. Here is the full schedule.
- Selection Sunday: March 12
- First Four: March 14-15
- First round: March 16-17
- Second round: March 18-19
- Sweet 16: March 23-24
- Elite Eight: March 25-26
- Final Four: April 1
- NCAA championship game: April 3
March Madness 2023 Venues
Here are the venues that will host this year’s prestigious March Madness tournament:
- March 14-15: First Four – Dayton, OH – UD Arena
- March 16 & 18: First/Second Rounds – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena
- March 16 & 18: First/Second Rounds – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
- March 16 & 18: First/Second Rounds – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
- March 16 & 18: First/Second Rounds – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
- March 17 & 19: First/Second Rounds – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
- March 17 & 19: First/Second Rounds – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
- March 17 & 19: First/Second Rounds – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
- March 17 & 19: First/Second Rounds- Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
- March 23 & 25: West Regional – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
- March 23 & 25: East Regional – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
- March 24 & 26: Midwest Regional – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
- March 24 & 26: South Regional Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
- April 1 & 3: Final Four – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium
4 Teams Who Could Upset the Odds at March Madness
Texas
Given that the championship game will be played in Texas, it would be foolish to underestimate the Longhorns’ chances of upsetting the odds during March Madness.
They have overcome the early season controversy surrounding head coach Chris Beard to emerge as one of the most consistent teams in NCAA basketball.
His replacement Rodney Terry has done a fine job to steady the ship and mould a team that has the talent to make it all the way to the Final Four.
If they can improve their three-point shooting over the coming weeks, Texas could be a force to be reckoned with when March Madness gets underway.
Creighton
Creighton went into the season with lofty ambitions, but a six-game losing run before Christmas appeared to have scuppered their title hopes.
Ryan Kalkbrenner missed three of those defeats through illness, but his return to action has sparked a significant upturn in Creighton’s fortunes over the past few weeks.
Trey Alexander, Ryan Nembhard and Baylor Scheierman are an excellent supporting cast, which gives Creighton the chance to win games on any given night.
A lack of roster depth could prove to be their undoing, but if their big-hitters stay healthy do not be surprised to see Creighton progress a long way in the tournament.
Virginia
Several respected pundits have written off Virginia’s hopes of repeating their 2019 success, but they may well be left with egg on their faces during March Madness.
Title-winning head coach Tony Bennett is still in charge and his team have produced some hugely impressive results during the regular NCAA season.
The Cavaliers have been the top team in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season – a section that has provided the winners of this tournament on 15 previous occasions.
With future NBA star Reece Beekman leading their defence and Bennett pulling the strings off court, Virginia could be tough to stop in their quest to win another title.
Arizona
Despite reaching the Final Four on four previous occasions, Arizona have only clinched the championship once (1997). However, they may well add to their tally this year.
They progressed to the Sweet Sixteen round at March Madness 2022, and will be eager to use that experience to their advantage this time around.
The supremely talented Azuolas Tubelis gives their team star quality, while Courtney Ramey has the potential to be a difference-maker if he produces his best form.
If point guard Kerr Kriisa can channel his aggression effectively, the Wildcats have the ability to end their 26-year wait to win another NCAA championship.
