With days to go until the 2019 March Madness tournament kicks off, basketball fans – and bettors in particular – are trying to figure out which team will take the trophy home.
All eyes are on the Duke Blue Devils, the favorite of numerous sportsbooks. The team has several things going for it: great talent with several pro-level players, good leadership, a good history and much more.
However, there are several other teams that are showing great promise against all the odds. These are teams that you usually bet your money on, but this article will convince you otherwise.
Virginia
There are several reasons why you should be skeptical of theVirginia Cavaliers. For starters, the team performed poorly in the last season – it suffered a first-round loss to UMBC in a humiliating match.
Secondly, Billy Beane himself has confessed that the team’s otherwise effective strategy for regular seasons never seems to work when it comes to the playoffs.
However, the Cavaliers plan to do some things differently this time around. The team has upgraded its formidable strategy that involves a glacially deliberate offense and elite-packed defense. If all goes well, this strategy should see it realize just as much success in the playoffs as it has in the regular seasons.
The Cavaliers also have new talented players, with the most notable of them being De’Andre Hunter. Hunter has shown great talent on the court and is bound for the NBA. He was not present during last season’s humiliating defeat to UMBC and he is expected to help change the team’s misfortunes this season.
The Cavaliers have the fifth best offense efficiency rating and the 11th lowest offensive turnover rate. They can also shoot 40.2% from three.
Tennessee
Tennessee’s Vols may seem out of place in this list considering their history. The team has largely gone unnoticed in past seasons. It has never made it to the Final Four.
The closest it came to greatness was in 2010, when it made it to the Elite Eight – it is also worth mentioning that it once made it to the season’s final weekend in 2003. So, what is different about 2019?
For starters, the Vols have two exceptional players who may very well put them among the top eight (and hopefully top four) teams this season: Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. Both players have demonstrated exceptional talent and may well be on their way to the NBA. Secondly, the team boasts of being 33rd nationally in terms of height, which is an invaluable advantage.
However, the Vols have one major shortcoming – their defense, currently ranked 39th nationally, is very weak.
North Carolina
North Carolina has been gaining favor with fanatics and sportsbooks for several good reasons. It is, in fact, taunted as the next best thing after the Duke Blue Devils.
North Carolina has performed exceptionally well this season compared to most other teams, including Duke. It is ranked among the top 25 in efficiency and can shoot better than previous teams.
It also has in its ranks three seasoned players who are poised to navigate all the hurdles of the game and act as motivators for the freshmen. It is also under the leadership of one of the most notable coaches in the sport: Roy Williams.
The Tar Heels have a good history and are expected to maintain this trend comes the 2019 tournament. If they fail to take the trophy home, you can be sure that they will end up among the top four teams.
Where to Watch March Madness 2019
CBS Sports and Turner Sports have won exclusive rights to broadcast the March Madness this season on cable TV and several of their online platforms include truTV, TBS, TNT, and CBS Sports.
However, you can stillstream March Madness live from anywhere in the world on a variety of online streaming platforms including YouTube TV, Hulu, DirecTV Now, and many more. All you need is the ExpressVPN to mask your IP address and give you access to the same privileges as fans in the U.S.
