Top March Madness Betting Dark Horses

We have only just welcomed in the New Year, which means it probably a little too early to start making March Madness betting predictions. There is a lot that can happen between now and the start of the tournament, but we are going to stick our necks out a little and do a little bit of crystal ball gazing. We have already identified the 5 teams that we believe will be the favorites heading into the tournament, and now it’s time to look at 5 teams that are sitting just behind that group, and who may well be considered a solid dark horse bet.

A Closer Look At The Top March Madness Betting Dark Horses

Villanova Wildcats

You might wonder why the current defending champions are in as a dark horse, and the answer to that question can be found by looking at the recent history of the tournament. The 2007 Florida Gators were the last team to repeat as champion, and the previous time to that where we say a repeat was Duke in 1992. Getting to the top of the mountain in consecutive years is tough, and while Villanova Wildcats is having a great season so far, the odds are stacked against a repeat.

Baylor Bears

The 15-1 Bears are currently ranked #1 in the nation, but the general consensus is that they will not be there once March Madness rolls around. They just took their first loss of the season to ranked West Virginia, and still have a pair of games against Kansas on the horizon. You also need to remember that this is a team that has never won a national title, and which has only made it to the Final Four twice in 10 attempts. Still worth a look at a good price.

West Virginia Mountaineers

The 13-2 Mountaineers were ranked #10 to start the week, but a win over top-ranked Baylor is sure to see them move up in the new rankings. This is another team that has never won a national title, and which has only reached the lofty heights of the Final Four twice. Their last big run came in 2010, when they fell to Duke in the Final Four. They have two wins over ranked opponents this season, so don’t totally count them out.

Indiana Hoosiers

While I was tempted to throw the 12-6 Indiana into the longshot category, I still have them hanging in as a dark horse by the very slimmest of margins. This is a team that can put points on the board in a hurry, and that tends to mean that they can turn this rough patch around and get on a roll just in time for March Madness. Probably the most iffy pick in this bunch, but I’m still not totally counting them out. &nbs

Gonzaga Bulldogs

We will get a better idea of just how good this Bulldogs team in on Saturday night when they take on St. Mary’s. For now, Gonzaga are sitting pretty in the #5 seed spot, but that may change when the new rankings come out. This is a program that has never won a championship, and which has never even made it to the Final Four. Can they break through this year with a very talented squad of players?