Men’s Final Four 2024 Odds and Favorites: Who Are the Top Contenders to Make It to Glendale?

With Selection Sunday now under two weeks away, much remains undecided about the field of 68 for this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. With how wild the next couple of weeks should be, especially for March Madness bubble teams, it is amazing to think about how in just a little over a month, the Final Four will be taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

For the second time, the home of the Arizona Cardinals and the annual Fiesta Bowl, which also hosted Super Bowl 57 in 2023, will host the men’s Final Four.

When it hosted the Final Four in 2017, North Carolina defeated Gonzaga to win the national championship, one year after the Tar Heels saw their title dreams crushed at the buzzer by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins.

UNC and Gonzaga, who were both #1 seeds that year, were joined in Glendale by South Carolina and Oregon. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks were in the Final Four for the first time ever, while the Ducks were in the Final Four for the first time since 1939, when the Ducks won the inaugural edition of the NCAA Tournament.

Prep for March Madness with Our March Madness Guide

The most wonderful time of the year for college basketball enthusiasts is almost here. Get ready to follow and bet on all of the exciting action with our March Madness guide. Along with covering helpful information for betting on the NCAA Tournament, we also hook you up with the best March Madness bracket challenges, the best betting sites for March Madness, and a bevy of historical facts that you can use to impress your friends and colleagues.

• March Madness Guide: How to Bet on the NCAA Tournament in 2024

Will we see any first-time semifinalists in 2024? According to the latest Final Four odds, there are a few prominent contenders who could make program history if they book a ticket to Glendale at the end of this month.

Tennessee, Alabama, Creighton, and BYU have never been to the Final Four but have been four of the best teams in college basketball this season and are considered some of the top March Madness favorites. Also, the likes of Purdue (1980), Arizona (2001), Iowa State (1944), Marquette (2003), and Baylor (2005) are all looking to end droughts of varying significance.

Odds to Make the 2024 Men’s Final Four

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry, as of Monday, March 4, 2024. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on March Madness this year.

[su_box title=”Odds to Reach the 2024 Men’s Final Four” style=”default” box_color=”#0D347D” title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”4″]

• UConn +110
• Houston +150
• Purdue +160
• Arizona +275
• Tennessee +275
• North Carolina +400
• Iowa State +400
• Marquette +450
• Auburn +450
• Duke +500
• Alabama +500
• Kentucky +550
• Creighton +575
• Kansas +600
• Illinois +700
• Baylor +700
• BYU +1400
• Michigan State +1600
• Saint Mary’s +1600
• Florida +1600
• San Diego State +1600
• Gonzaga +1800
• South Carolina +2000
• Wisconsin +2200

[/su_box]

With the March Madness bracket yet to be released, these odds are subject to change significantly based on how things shake out with seedings and pairings.

Who Are This Year’s Men’s Final Four Favorites?

UConn (Most Recent Final Four Appearance: 2023)

The defending national champions have clinched their first outright Big East regular season title since 1999, when they won their first national title.

March Madness betting strategies may favor fading the Huskies, but they are playing like the team to beat as the tournament draws closer.

Houston (Most Recent Appearance: 2021)

The Cougars missed out on a chance to reach the national semifinals in their home city last year, losing to Miami (who went on to reach the Final Four for the first time) in the Sweet 16 as the top seed in the Midwest Regional.

But they are flourishing in their first season in the Big 12, even after losing 2023 NBA Draft first-round picks Marcus Sasser and Jarace Walker, as well as Tramon Mark, who transferred to Arkansas.

Purdue (Most Recent Appearance: 1980)

Is this the year that the Boilermakers finally get to party like it’s 1980?

After suffering the indignity of being only the second men’s #1 seed to fall to a #16 seed last year, Purdue is on course to a #1 seed again this year, led once again by soon-to-be back-to-back Wooden Award winner Zach Edey.

Edey has been outstanding this season, but will he and his supporting cast be able to deliver when it matters most?

Arizona (Most Recent Appearance: 2001)

The Wildcats haven’t been to the Final Four since losing to Duke in the national championship game since 2001, losing in the Elite Eight five times since (2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2015).

Will the drought end this season? When the Wildcats play at their best level, the only team that could perhaps match them is UConn, who is similarly stacked.

If the Wildcats do end their Final Four drought, odds are that their journey will end in the national semifinals. No home state team has reached a national championship game since 2010, when Butler lost a heartbreaker to Duke in Indianapolis.

Tennessee (Most Recent Appearance: Never – Reached Elite Eight in 2010)

The SEC has four of the top men’s Final Four contenders, but the Vols appear to be the team to beat in that quartet.

Led by Northern Colorado transfer and potential SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht, the Vols have won home and away at Alabama, at Kentucky, at home against Auburn, at Wisconsin, and at home against Illinois.

If the Vols were to sweep both the SEC regular season and tournament titles, there’s a strong possibility that they could be a #1 seed in the men’s tournament for the first time. To date, their best result has been landing a #2 seed in 2006 (lost in the second round to Wichita Stat), 2008 (lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Louisville), and 2019 (lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Purdue).

That would give them a more favorable path to Glendale and improve their odds of reaching the Final Four. However, the Vols have had favorable paths multiple times in the Rick Barnes era and failed to make the most of them, like last year, when they lost to FAU in the Sweet Sixteen.

Men’s Final Four History and Information

When is this year’s Final Four?

The 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four will take place on Saturday, April 6 (semifinals) and Monday, April 8 (national championship game).

Where is this year’s Final Four?

This year’s men’s Final Four will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Which teams have the most appearances?

North Carolina has made the most appearances in the Final Four. The Tar Heels extended their record with a 21st appearance last year.

Next up are UCLA (19) and Kentucky (17), who lead the way in national championships with 11 and eight, respectively.

Most Men’s Final Four Appearances (vacated appearances included)

• North Carolina – 21
• UCLA – 19 (one vacated)
• Duke – 17
• Kentucky – 17
• Kansas – 16 (one vacated)
• Ohio State – 11 (one vacated)
• Louisville – 10 (two vacated)
• Michigan State – 10

Where will the men’s Final Four be held in upcoming years?

Here are the future Final Four dates and locations through 2030:

• 2024 (April 6 & 8): Glendale, Arizona (State Farm Stadium)
• 2025 (April 5 & 7): San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome)
• 2026 (April 4 & 6): Indianapolis, Indiana (Lucas Oil Stadium)
• 2027 (April 3 & 5): Detroit, Michigan (Ford Field)
• 2028 (April 1 & 3): Las Vegas, Nevada (Allegiant Stadium)
• 2029 (March 31 & April 2): Indianapolis, Indiana (Lucas Oil Stadium)
• 2030 (April 6 & 8): Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium)

Which cities have hosted the Final Four the most times?

Indianapolis, Kansas City, New York City, and New Orleans have hosted the Final Four the most times.

Recent Men’s Final Four Teams

Bold and italicized: national champions

Bold: losing national finalists

• 2023: UConn, Florida Atlantic, Miami, San Diego State
• 2022: Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova
• 2021: Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston, UCLA
• 2020: no tournament due to COVID-19
• 2019: Auburn, Michigan State, Texas Tech, Virginia
• 2018: Kansas, Loyola Chicago, Michigan, Villanova
• 2017: Gonzaga, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina
• 2016: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Villanova
• 2015: Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, Wisconsin
• 2014: UConn, Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin
• 2013: Louisville (vacated), Michigan, Syracuse, Wichita State

Betting on the 2024 Men’s Final Four

Where Can You Bet on the Final Four?

Throughout the college basketball season, you can find NCAA basketball odds at the top online sports betting sites. That includes prominent names like BetDSI, BetOnline, BetUS, and Bovada.

Along with game odds, many sportsbooks offer men’s and women’s March Madness futures odds, Final Four odds, Wooden Award odds, and more.

If you are unfamiliar with any of these sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about what they all offer. Our reviews analyze available betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile and live betting, and the sportsbook sign-up bonuses and other promos offered.

• BetDSI Sportsbook Review
• BetOnline Sportsbook Review
• BetUS Sportsbook Review
• Bovada Sportsbook Review
• MyBookie Sportsbook Review

Final Four Picks

In addition to the picks and analysis you will find on our site, there are several trusted sports handicapping services that we can recommend if you are betting on this year’s March Madness and Final Four action.

In addition to betting on the games themselves, you can bet on who you think will win Most Outstanding Player and a host of player and team props.

Check back here in the lead-up to this year’s Final Four for our look at some of the many betting options that will be available.

Other NCAA Basketball Betting Information and Content

Interested in Learning More About Betting on NCAA Basketball?

Are you interested in learning more about betting on NCAA basketball? Check out our college basketball betting guide, which covers the basics of wagering on the action from the Mountain West to the MAAC and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more daily NCAA basketball betting insight from myself and the rest of our team.

• Betting News on “X”/Twitter
• Betting News on Twitch
• Betting News on TikTok

Will any first-time Final Four participants help shape the outcome of the $200,000 Bracket Madness contest at BetOnline? Selection Sunday and the start of the contest aren’t until Sunday, March 17, but the contest is now open for entry fees (maximum 20 entries).

In the meantime, you can take advantage of their 100% cryptocurrency welcome bonus and build your bankroll for March Madness.

Men’s Final Four FAQ

[su_spoiler title=”Who is favored to win the men’s NCAA championship this year?”]UConn, Houston, Purdue, and Arizona are the top men’s March Madness favorites for the 2024 tournament. Other potential national championship contenders include Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Where is this year’s men’s Final Four?”]The 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament will culminate with the Final Four at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”When is the men’s Final Four this year?”]The national semifinals will take place on Saturday, April 6, and the championship game will take place on Monday, April 8.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”How can I bet on the Final Four?”]You can bet on the Final Four at any sports betting site that offers Final Four futures odds or game odds. A couple of sportsbooks that offer Final Four futures odds and will also have game odds are BetOnline and BetUS.[/su_spoiler]