March Madness Futures: Hidden Gems & Long Shots

0:00On March 16th, March Manus is in full swing, now that Selection Sunday has wrapped up and the bracket is out. Duke sits as the top overall seed, and the favorite to win at all, at plus 300 odds on Bed MGM, with Michigan right behind at plus 350. Arizona at plus 400, and Florida at plus 650. While those are the big names, experts see real value in some future's bets further down the board. One smart play comes from Handycapper, Corby Craig on Vanderbilt, reaching the Sweet 16 at plus 105. The Commodores just had a solid showing in the SEC tournament, and their first round matchup against McNeese looks winnable. Even if they face Nebraska, or Troy next, Craig likes their current form, and the potential for an upset to open things up. Meanwhile, Matt Jacob is high on VCU, making the Sweet 16 at 11-1. The Rams are riding a hot streak, going 21 in 3 since mid-December, with a 6-game win run right now. They adapt to any pace, both deep scoring from seven key players, and draw a favorable path, starting against the shorthanded North Carolina team.

1:07Over in the final four futures, Matt Russell backs Iowa State at plus 300. The Cyclones have strong metrics, battle-tested pieces like their point guard, and sharpshooter, and a tough, but beatable big 12 schedule behind. Them. Their regional draw could pit them against shaky Tennessee or Virginia, before any Michigan showdown. These picks highlight hidden gems amid the favorites, setting up some intriguing long shot value, as the tournament tips off this week.