Gonzaga may be a top seed, but for the first time the Zags are no longer the most highly-regarded team on the horizon. Fellow No. 1 seed North Carolina is a slight favorite to emerge as champions from the upcoming Final Four in Phoenix, though the Zags are considered the team most likely to make it to Monday’s title game.

The Bovada sports book currently has UNC 7/5 to win the 2017 NCAA Championship. Gonzaga is 9/5, No. 3 seed Oregon is 11/2 while No. 7 seed South Carolina, GU’s Saturday opponent, is a 15/2 longshot.

But because South Carolina is considered the Final Four’s weakest team, GU has the best odds of playing in the championship. A finals matchup of GU and UNC is considered the most likely at 11/10, and a matchup of GU and UO is the second-most likely at 13/5.

A championship game result of UNC beating GU for the title is currently fetching odds of 12/5, while the reverse result gets odds of 13/4. The third most-likely outcome according to the oddsmakers is the Zags over the Ducks, a result that currently receives 9/2 odds.

An all-underdog bet of South Carolina over Oregon would net a brave bettor $14 for every $1 risked.

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• SEE ALSO: The Spokesman-Review and Pediment partner to publish hardcover book on Gonzaga’s breakthrough 2016-17 season

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