With all due respect to December, March is truly the most wonderful time of the year. The madness of the NCAA Tournament tips off this week, and the road to Minneapolis — home of the Final Four — begins. Will Duke make a deep tourney run with Zion Williamson back on the court? Is there another University of Maryland-Baltimore County lurking in the field of 68? Who will step up as this year's Loyola-Chicago? While we wait to see the drama unfold on the big screen, oddsmakers have set their futures and deemed their potential Cinderella squads and favorites to win the 2019 NCAA Tournament. 

Note: Read futures odds as if you were to bet $100. For example, if you see a team +600, you would risk $100 to win $600.

Odds: 

Northeastern +100,000
Northern Kentucky +100,000
Ohio State +100,000
Old Dominion +100,000
Saint Louis +100,000
St. John's +100,000
St. Mary's +100,000
Temple +100,000
Texas Arlington +100,000
UC Irvine +100,000
Yale +100,000

The Ivy League champs feature four players who average double-digit points per game and face a distracted LSU squad in the first round. The Tigers could be ripe for the picking.

Abilene Christian +200,000
Colgate +200,000
Iona +200,000
Vermont +200,000
Fairleigh Dickinson +500,000
Gardner-Webb +500,000
North Dakota State +500,000
Prairie View A&M +500,000
NC Central +1,000,000

During his postgame press conference after winning the MEAC championship, North Carolina Central head coach LeVelle Moton said, "We'll take on anyone! We'll be ready! But I don't want ANY part of playing Duke. Us playing against Zion would be like my 6-year-old son playing against me." 

Naturally, if it wins its play-in game, NC Central will face Duke.

Odds:

Buffalo +10,000

You have to love a little March MACtion. The Bulls won 31 games during the regular season and Mid-American Conference Tournament. Led by CJ Massinburg's 18.3 points per game, Buffalo ranked fifth in the nation in points per game at 84.8 per contest. It's one of the reasons why this No. 6 seed is a favorite sleeper among many pundits. 

Syracuse +10,000
Louisville +10,000
Florida +20,000
Oregon +20,000
Central Florida +30,000
Iowa +30,000
Maryland +30,000
Murray State +30,000
New Mexico State +30,000
Seton Hall +30,000
Wofford +30,000

If you're looking to pull for a non-mid major program, take a long look at the Wofford Terriers. Fletcher Magee's 20.5 points per game paces what some consider one of the most efficient offenses in the nation; it is the 12th-highest scoring team nationally (81.2 PPG).

Minnesota +50,000
Mississippi +50,000
Oklahoma +50,000
Utah State +50,000
VCU +50,000
Washington +50,000
Arizona State +100,000
Baylor +100,000
Belmont +100,000
Georgia State +100,000
Liberty +100,000
Montana +100,000

Odds: +10,000

For some, the Bearcats' upset of Houston in the American Athletic Conference championship game came as a surprise. However, this is a team that finished the regular season with 28 wins and boasts a defense that allows the 12th-fewest points per game nationally: 62.4. On the offensive side of the ball, UC averages 11 offensive rebounds per game and ranks fourth in offensive rebounding percentage, which translates to nearly 38 percent of every offensive rebound opportunity winding up in the hands of a Bearcat player. Keep an eye on Jarron Cumberland as the junior guard who has started to heat up recently.

Odds: +10,000

Over their past five games, the Bulldogs have lost to SEC Tournament runner-up Tennessee twice and SEC Tournament champion Auburn once. While they do have three players averaging double-digit points per game, nothing on their statistical resume jumps off the page and says this team can win a national title. Plus, they are just 1-6 against top 25 teams this season. The SEC was loaded, and kudos to Mississippi State on the 23 wins, but the Bulldogs may have played their best basketball back in 2018.

Odds: +10,000

Playing the nation's fourth-hardest schedule per the Sagarin ratings, the Badgers managed to finish 23-10 in a competitive conference before losing to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Their return to the Big Dance awards senior big man and leading scorer Ethan Happ one more chance to cut down the nets. As has been their identity for years, the Badgers defense is the key to any deep tournament run. They allow the ninth-fewest points per game nationally, at 61.4 PAPG.

Odds: +8,000

Even before the Hokies learned of their tournament seeding, the team had good news to share. After missing the past 12 games with a foot injury, it was announced star guard Justin Robinson will return for the NCAA Tournament. Robinson averaged nearly 14 points and five assists in 21 regular-season games. When you dig in to college basketball's advanced metrics, you learn Virginia Tech is one of the most efficient teams in the tournament. The Hokies possess the eighth-best effective field-goal percentage (which rewards three-point percentage) and 10th-ranked scoring defense. Now with Robinson back in the lineup, the Hokies are stronger than ever.

Odds: +8,000

The Golden Eagles' Markus Howard averages 25 points per game, which ranks tops in the nation among Power 5 conferences. Marquette was 4-2 against top 25 teams this season, but a potential second-round matchup against a physical Florida State team could present a road block for this Big East squad.

Odds: +8,000

Last year's Cinderella, Loyola-Chicago, ended the Wolf Pack's tournament run in the Sweet 16. As was the case last year, Nevada enters this year's tournament as a No. 7 seed when preseason futures odds pegged Eric Musselman's squad as a favorite to cut down the nets in Minneapolis. Nevada's 80.7 points per game rank 13th nationally. After winning 10 consecutive games in the heart of the season, the Wolf Pack finished 5-3 over their past eight games. Some think this poor play down the stretch leaves them exposed as an upset candidate.

Odds: +8,000

The Wildcats won six of their past seven games before losing to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals last Friday. Of 353 Division I basketball programs, K-State enters the tournament with the 309th-ranked scoring offense (65.8 PPG), and the rest of its offensive metrics leave little to be desired. The Wildcats will truly need to lean on that "defense wins championships" mantra; they rank third nationally in points allowed per game, at 59.2.

Odds: +6,000

Jay Wright lost a boatload of talent to the NBA following last season's national title. Yet, here he and the Wildcats are, back in the tournament, winners of three consecutive Big East championships. After losing four of five near the end of the season, they've won five of six heading into the tournament. Senior Eric Paschall and his 16.5 points and six rebounds per game will take a back seat to the leadership he'll need to present for 'Nova to play above its No. 6 seed.

Odds: +6,000

Cool, calm and collected. Bruce Pearl took an underwhelming Auburn Tigers basketball program and turned it into the SEC champion in the blink of an eye. This is one of the most efficient offenses in the tournament, one that averages nearly 79 points per game. If the Tigers make an early exit, some may think they were gassed from an exhausting SEC Tournament, but this team has won 10 of its last 11 games. If you're playing your best basketball at tournament time, that's really all you can ask for as a coach or fan.

Odds: +6,000

It hasn't been your typical Kansas Jayhawks basketball season. Star big man Udoka Azubuike's season was cut short due to injury, one of their best players was ruled ineligible and the team didn't display that same KU confidence we've seen over the past few seasons. The loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 finale dropped the Jayhawks to 4-3 over their past seven games, which isn't ideal heading into the tournament. To their credit, they played the toughest schedule in America, per Sagarin ratings, and still won 25 games. Bill Self's team is good but not tournament great.

Odds: +5,000

The NCAA Tournament is known for its dramatic moments, but LSU's current soap opera playing out behind the scenes couldn't come at a worse time. Head coach Will Wade is suspended, as the university looks into possible recruiting violations tied to a vast federal corruption investigation. Wade wants to be reinstated and coach his team. The university won't agree to this until he sits down and interviews with investigators and the NCAA. Notice how we haven't even got to why the Tigers could win the tournament? That's how messy this situation is and likely had something to do with LSU bowing out in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament after falling to unranked Florida, 76-73. This team is too toxic to touch as a championship contender.

Odds: +4,000

With its win over Kansas in the Big 12 championship, Iowa State is now 5-0 in Big 12 championship games all time. Senior guard Marial Shayok could be college basketball's best kept secret, but he's about to enjoy a "hello, world" moment later this week. As a team, the Cyclones rank eighth in adjusted offensive efficiency. If you're looking for an outside-the-box pick to win it all, look into ISU.

Odds: +4,000

The loss to Cincinnati in the conference championship was a letdown, but some pundits believe at 40-to-1 odds that the Cougars are the best value bet in this tournament. They finished 31-3 during the regular season and feature a lock-down defense that allows just 61 points per game. However, their strength of schedule to date will be tested if they reach the Sweet 16, where they'll likely have to face a Kentucky squad that up until recently was a No. 1 seed lock.

Odds: +3,000

Despite losing to Duke in the ACC championship, the Seminoles enter the postseason winners of 14 of their last 16 games. No player on the roster averages more than 12.8 points per game, which goes to show the strength of Leonard Hamilton's defense. When you dig in to some of the team's advanced metrics, the Seminoles are one of the top 10 defenses nationally. 

Odds: +3,000

Despite the seed, the Boilermakers are limping into the postseason. Purdue lost two of its final three games to a Minnesota squad that finished with a 9-11 Big Ten record. Prior to the sloppy effort and early Big Ten Tournament exit, the Boilermakers had won 13 of 14. They'll need to lean on junior guard and leading scorer Carsen Edwards if they hope to survive and advance to the tournament's second weekend.

Odds: +2,000

Prior to their stunning loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament, the Red Raiders had won nine straight and 11 of their past 12. Aside from the hot streak, Texas Tech's tournament resume includes the nation's fourth-best scoring defense (59.3 PAPG) and sixth-best scoring margin (+13.8). Remember: Chris Beard's team reached the Elite Eight last season before falling to Villanova. That experience — along with Jarrett Culver's 18.5 points per game — could be just what the Raiders need to rip off another postseason run.

Odds: +2,000

I wish the Michigan vs. Michigan State Big Ten Tournament championship game would have gone to four overtimes. It was that compelling, and both teams have the talent to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines defense finished second only to Virginia in points allowed per game: 58.4.

Odds: +1,600

Before the loss to Auburn in the SEC title game, the Volunteers were poised to earn one of the four No. 1 seeds. Their eighth-ranked offense that averages 82.2 points per game led by Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield had to settle for a No. 2 and some controversy. If Tennessee beats Colgate, it'll likely have to play Cincinnati in Columbus, Ohio, two days later. For as well as the Volunteers played this season, some think the home-state cooking for the Bearcats is an unfair advantage that a No. 7 seed doesn't deserve.

Odds: +1,600

Life, death, taxes and Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans showing signs of life come tourney time. However, as Big Ten Tournament champs, Sparty got hosed by being placed in Duke's region.

Odds: +1,400

Two of Kentucky's six losses were to Tennessee. As the bracket shakes out, the Wildcats wouldn't have to face the Vols until the Final Four. What I like about these Wildcats is that they're 8-4 against Sagarin's top 25 teams and 11-5 against the top 50. In other words, they've faced stiff competition this season and more times than not came away victorious. The Wildcats are 24-6 in their last 30 NCAA Tournament games but just 6-4 in their past 10.

Odds: +800

The Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in NCAA Tournament history when they were blown out, 74-54, by University of Maryland-Baltimore County last year. As was the case then, Virginia boasts the nation's top scoring defense, as it allows just 55.1 points per game. Yet, the Cavs remain susceptible to the occasional upset as evident by their ACC Tournament semifinal loss to Florida State, 69-59. While Virginia's scoring offense  ranks outside the top 150, Tony Bennett's team ranks fourth in three-point percentage as junior sharpshooter Kyle Guy has personally connected on 46.3 percent of his triple tries this season. 

Odds: +600

Sports scholars preach that it's hard to beat the same team three times in the same season. North Carolina's hopes of a 3-0 sweep of rival Duke were dashed in the ACC Tournament following the return of Zion Williamson. The Tar Heels may not have had an answer for the projected No. 1 draft pick, but Roy Williams' team enters the tournament averaging the third-most points per game (86.1) and leads the nation in rebounds per game (43.1).

Odds: +450

How respected are the Gonzaga Bulldogs? Mark Few's crew lost in the West Coast Conference championship game to St. Mary's, but its 30-3 season-to-date record still earned it a top seed. The Bulldogs average 88 points per game to lead the nation, but a long regular season may have started to take its toll, as that margin has dipped to 77 points per contest over their past three. At 20.1 points per game, Gonzaga's leading scorer, Rui Hachimura, is a projected NBA lottery pick to watch.

Odds: +200

Before the start of the ACC Tournament, Duke feared this image would define its 2018-19 season. Instead, Zion Williamson returned with the same intensity and highlight-reel flare he displayed before his shoe blowout and subsequent knee injury. Led by Williamson and fellow NBA prospect RJ Barrett, coach Mike Krzyzewski has to love his chances of winning a sixth national championship. Oddsmakers agree the ACC champs and overall No. 1 seed are in prime position to make a run toward Minneapolis.