The UConn Huskies (+400) are the favorite to win the 2024 NCAA tournament and repeat as champions at sportsbooks, but there are a few other teams a little longer down the odds board that books are suddenly concerned about.
The Huskies have the most total wagers (10.8 percent) and total dollars wagered (18.3 percent) at BetMGM sportsbooks, but Kentucky (25-1) is the team with the greatest liability at BetMGM. The Wildcats have the third-most wagers (10 percent) and total handle (10.9 percent) at BetMGM. UConn is also No. 1 in handle and tickets at DraftKings Sportsbook.
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“Kentucky is our biggest liability to win the NCAA tournament,” Michael Ranftle, Senior Trader, BetMGM said in a press release on Monday. “However, with the recent launch of legal sports betting in North Carolina, the Tar Heels are becoming a big loser for the sportsbook with their hometown fans believing in them. Both blue bloods getting knocked out of the bracket early would be great for BetMGM.”
North Carolina launched mobile sports betting last Monday, March 11, and multiple sportsbooks told For The Win that UNC has been rising up their liability.
The Tar Heels (13-1) have risen to No. 2 in total bets and handle at both BetMGM and DraftKings.
“We’ve been taking a ton of money on North Carolina,” Johnny Avello, sportsbook director at DraftKings Sportsbook, told For The Win. “Houston’s a liability for us and Kentucky is a team that has been bet from the opening bell of the season — they’ve been constantly hammered.
John Calipari’s talented team is a No. 3 seed in the South Region and opens as a 13.5-point favorite against 14-seed Oakland, while UNC is the No. 1 seed in the West region and awaits the Howard-Wagner First Four winner.
