Best Picks for the NCAA Tournament

Best Picks for the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Basketball season is winding down as we approach the exciting conference tournaments that will be followed by the NCAA Tournament. Records and rankings mean absolutely nothing once the NCAA Tournament begins and it simply comes down to who is playing the best basketball at this point in the year. Of course, there will be the favorite teams that many people will wager on to win it all, but who has the ability to be a Cinderella story in 2009? We take a look at some of the best picks for the NCAA Tournament championship this year. If you want to get the best odds for your wager consider making a play now before the tournament starts and have the opportunity to really profit from the Big Dance.

Pick - North Carolina Tar Heels (5-2)

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the leading favorites to bring home the hardware this season. North Carolina has without a doubt the most talented lineup as all five starters are averaging 11 or more points. While the odds do not favor a big profit, UNC will still be the biggest threat of the tournament. Former Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and junior Ty Lawson both returned after the last season with ambitions of a national title. In two of their only three losses this season, North Carolina was defeated by a mere three points and all were to ACC opponents. The regular season can get grueling in conference play and oftentimes you may see teams come out flat. However, do not expect North Carolina to be caught sleeping come tournament time. The Tar Heels will come out firing and if they give their best effort every night it will make it very difficult for anyone to bring them down.

Pick - Pittsburgh Panthers (5-1)

Pittsburgh may have been hidden in the shadow of top-ranked Connecticut a good portion of the year, but they may be the best team suitable for the NCAA Tournament out of the Big East. The Panthers were the No. 1 team in America for a good portion of the early regular season. However, after two rather disappointing losses to Villanova and Louisville not much was heard from Pittsburgh until they defeated Connecticut while they were ranked No. 1 only a few weeks ago. DeJuan Blair has become one of the best young players in college basketball and is staged to make a big impact the rest of the way out.

Pick - Connecticut Huskies (5-1)

Connecticut owns the No. 1 ranking currently heading into a big season finale with Pittsburgh. Despite the outcome, the Huskies are a lock for a No. 1 seed in March. The Huskies have been the most consistent front runner in basketball this season and are the only teams towards the top to not really suffer a stunning upset at any point this season. Connecticut hosts two stellar performers in Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet who are both averaging double-double numbers. Thabeet especially has turned into a dynamic force for the Huskies inside the paint. Connecticut, along with Pittsburgh, will be suited well for the NCAA Tournament due to their outstanding schedule they have had to endure in the Big East this season.

Pick - Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17-1)

The Demon Deacons are the forgotten team out of the ACC. Once the nation's No. 1 team, Wake Forest struggled a good bit during conference play. However, this is still one of the best offensive teams in America led by one of the best young guards in the country by the name of Jeff Teague. Teague has averaged 20 points on the season and just maybe Wake Forest can return to their dominant stature (they started the season 16-0). The Demon Deacons are receiving good odds for the NCAA Tournament, making them an interest to consider a for a long-odds gamble. Wake Forest's energy level seems to have run out towards the end of the season, but just maybe the Demon Deacons will have some time to rest and make a legitimate run in the tournament.

Pick - Kansas Jayhawks (25-1)

Oklahoma has been the talked about team in the Big 12 all season, but it became apparent how much they rely on Blake Griffin when they lost the superstar to a concussion for two games. Kansas has quietly sneaked into the picture and is near lock to win the Big 12 regular season title. However, there has been little talk nationally concerning last year's National Champions. Kansas is extremely young with their best years ahead of them, but that does not mean that this year's team does not have what it takes. The Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma, 87-78, in late February and have only one loss in the last 14 games. Kansas is receiving 25-to-1 odds for the 2009 Championship and considering how they have played the second half of the season it would not be wise to consider them as a potential threat in March.