Breaking down the odds to win men's NCAA title

This year's Men’s NCAA Tournament should be considered “The Year of the Favorite.” The Elite Eight featured three 1-2 match-ups and a 1-3 match, with all four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four. The favorites have dominated the brackets like never before.

All of the remaining teams have a legit chance of winning it all, but it will take top notch effort as this year’s Final Four is arguably one of the most competitive ever. Let’s break down each team’s chances.

Auburn Tigers - Title Odds: +500 (FanDuel)

Auburn has proven it can win in various ways, holding opponents to under 70 points in all its tournament games so far. The Tigers, who averaged over 85 points per game during the regular season, have shifted to a more defensive-minded style of play, with stretches where they completely shut down their opponents.

Star player Johni Broome has a lingering injury that may put pressure on players like Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford to regain their form from earlier in the season. If Broome is even close to 100 percent with Kelly and Pettiford hitting threes, Auburn’s offense will be tough to deal with.

Key Player: Johni Broome. Broome has been dominant in the tournament, with double-doubles in games against Michigan and Michigan State. The Wooden Award finalist is a huge reason why Auburn is still standing.

Houston Cougars - Title Odds: +430

Houston's defensive prowess has been its biggest asset throughout the tournament. After dominating No. 16 SIU-Edwardsville, the Cougars edged past Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee. Against Purdue, they limited the dynamic duo of Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn to just 21 points on 19 shots. They stifled Tennessee's offense, forcing the Volunteers into shooting woes and ultimately winning 69-50.

While they consistently hold opponents to low scores, their own offense hasn’t been explosive. Houston has been limited to under 70 points in many games, including the last two in the tournament. The Cougars will need more offensive production to win it all.

Key Player: L.J. Cryer. A streaky player with the ability to catch fire from anywhere, Cryer has been Houston's leading scorer all season. If he can stay out of foul trouble and knock down a few triples, Houston will be dangerous. 

Florida Gators - Title Odds: +280

Florida's tournament run has been full of resilience and clutch performances, including a late comeback win over Texas Tech and close victories over UConn and Maryland. The Gators' high-scoring offense (averaging 85.8 points per game) has been hard to stop, and they’ve delivered big performances when needed most.

The Gators had ball security issues during that close call vs Texas Tech, committing 12 turnovers for the game. If they can take care of the ball and continue the clutch shooting, their championship hopes look even stronger.

Key Player: Walter Clayton Jr. Clayton has been the epitome of clutch. He scored 13 of his 23 points against UConn in the final eight minutes. Against Texas Tech, Clayton again delivered 13 late points (of his 30 total) in that come-from-behind victory. He's also 31-for-35 from the free-throw line in the tournament.

Duke Blue Devils - Title Odds: +100

Duke has rolled in this tournament. The Blue Devils have cruised through their matchups against Baylor, Alabama and Arizona, with dominant performances on both ends of the floor. Even when teams like Arizona got hot, Duke managed to outlast them with a balanced and efficient attack.

If Duke can be consistent on defense, it should be in these games, if not in serious control of them. However, sometimes teams get hot, hit tough shots and swing momentum. There could be an epic battle with a potential title game match up vs. Florida, an offense that has scored at least 77 points in 17 consecutive games.

Key Player: Cooper Flagg. Flagg has been the best player for Duke this season and is likely to win the Wooden Award. Averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game during the tournament, he’s the main reason why Duke looks poised to win it all.