5 sleeper teams to watch out for in the NCAA tournament
As the NCAA tournament begins, many teams have ambitions to be sleepers or Cinderella teams that go on a deep run. Only a few teams will pull off upsets, so they are worth watching out for during the tournament.
In the context of the NCAA tournament, a sleeper team is a team that over-achieves and reaches a position that is beyond where their seeding suggests. A sleeper team that is worth watching can significantly over-achieve and go much further than their seeding.
For a sleeper team to be successful, they need a combination of factors to work out in their favor. Sleepers need a unique aspect that gives them a competitive advantage, a favorable draw, trends working in their favor, and efficiency.
A good sleeper team will have one of the four, and the best sleeper teams will have all four of them. A team that can put everything together at the right time is a significant threat in the NCAA tournament.
That said, let's take a look at five such teams.
#5 Vermont - NCAA Tournament: No. 13 in West Bracket
The Vermont Catamounts are the thirteenth seed in the West bracket for the NCAA tournament, but they have some qualities that give them a chance at upsets. Vermont's combination of veteran leadership and offensive efficiency gives them a chance against most teams, but they are also benefitting from their potential matchups.
Vermont an automatic upset pick for 75% of brackets
Vermont is seeing popularity in many brackets as they draw a first-round game against an Arkansas team that matchups up poorly with them. Vermont can win in the paint and on the perimeter, both offensively and defensively, which is part of the recipe for winning games in the tournament.
Beyond the first-round, Vermont matches up favorably against either UCONN or New Mexico State in the round of 32. However, if they can reach the Sweet Sixteen, a likely matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs presents problems.
For a seeded as low as Vermont, national championship ambitions are a bit too lofty, but a run into the third round of the NCAA tournament is possible. A significant potential sleeper team could hardly ask for much more.
#4 Michigan - NCAA Tournament: No. 11 in South Bracket
The Michigan Wolverines have had a tumultuous season that many thought ended with a loss to Indiana in the Big 10 championship game. The NCAA tournament selection committee then made the decision to add Michigan to the tournament field and give them one of the sixty-four spots over Indiana.
While many question Michigan's place in the tournament, the Wolverines' focus is on playing spoiler once the tournament starts. As a sleeper team, Michigan is proving to be a popular choice to make a deep run in the tournament for valid and invalid reasons.
Round of 64 insights @BetMGM 💰
Most bet games (ticket count)
1. MICH - CSU
2. PROV - SDSU
3. ARK - VER
Most bet teams (tickets)
1. Vermont +5.5
2. South Dakota State +2.5
3. Michigan -2.5
Most bet teams (handle)
1. Vermont +5.5
2. North Carolina -2.5
3. Akron +13.5 https://t.co/2F7iEGeiCo
Much like Vermont, Michigan is proving popular in betting circles due to the team's popularity and the program's pedigree. Juwan Howard is looking to lead Michigan deep into the tournament, despite being the eleventh seed.
Michigan is starting the NCAA tournament against a Colorado State team that has to travel to Indianapolis for the first game of the entire tournament. Scheduling is working in Michigan's favor here as they will also likely face a Tennessee team that will have less rest and need much more to go right for them.