Bracket Busters – Which #1 Seed Loses First?

Gonzaga, Michigan, Illinois and Baylor all had terrific seasons, and are each deserving of their spots as No. 1 seeds. But now it’s March Madness, and almost every year it seems we get some major upsets in the first weekend. Of this group of No. 1 seeds, let’s discuss who is most likely to lose first. 

Check out our March Madness guide to get insight on every team in the tournament from our NCAAB experts Brad Evans, Mike Cutri and Jon Fendler. 

Odds To Win the NCAA Tournament 2021

Here is a look at all the number seeds’ odds to win the tournament. If you’re interested in another team’s odds, check out our prop shop. 

Odds are courtesy of PointsBet. Make sure to use our prop shop to always get the best lines. 

Is Michigan Going to The Final Four?

Michigan is currently seen as the most likely No. 1 seed to take an early exit in the tournament, as their odds to make the Final Four are just +200. Teams want to be red hot when entering the tournament, and the Wolverines are the opposite of this, dropping three of five games to end their season. They are also going to be missing senior Isaiah Livers for the duration of the tournament, who was averaging 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 43.1% from 3-point range before injuring his foot in the Big Ten Tournament. Freshman star Hunter Dickinson will need to stay out of foul trouble and carry the load for the Wolverines if they want to achieve their goals this tournament. 

Will Anyone Beat Gonzaga?

So far, no team has been able to beat Gonzaga all season, as they head into the tournament 26-0. Some will say that they have this record because they play in the West Coast Conference, but the ‘Zags have also beaten Virginia, West Virginia, Iowa and Kansas. With a pair of potential NBA lottery picks in Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert, it will be hard for anyone to stop them. 

Can Illinois Survive the Midwest Region?

If you haven’t watched much college basketball this year, get to know the name Ayo Dosunmu. The 6-foot-5 junior is a nightly triple-double threat and is one of the main reasons why Illinois comes into the tournament on a seven-game win streak against six tournament teams, including two wins over Ohio State, one over Iowa and another over Michigan. They are in the very tough Midwest region, but many believe Illinois can win the tournament, including FTN’s Brad Evans. 

Is It Finally Baylor’s Year?

Baylor has only lost two times this year, but one of the losses was in their last game against Oklahoma State. The team is loaded with talent and has the potential to win the tournament, but this isn’t the first time a Baylor team coached by Scott Drew has looked this way in the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see if they get over the hump and make the final four for the first time in Drew’s coaching career. If not, Baylor could be the first No. 1 seed to lose in the tournament.