NCAA Tournament No. 3, 4 and 5 Seeds South and Midwest Region Profiles 

The March Madness brackets are being filled out, and the picks and pools finalized for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. March Madness tournament betting at leading online sportsbooks is most popular for the opening weekend games with wall-to-wall basketball as teams shoot for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. The No. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the South Region are Baylor, Virginia and San Diego State. The 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the Midwest Region are Xavier, Indiana and Miami.

Check out the stats and profiles of the No. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the East and West Regions.

There are some fundamental keys to NCAA Tournament success as you evaluate the match-ups and stats prior to and during the tournament. That includes top defensive teams as you evaluated the matchups and break down the brackets. Betting futures odds and teams to win the national championship is popular, along with odds to reach the Final Four. 

The biggest sporting event of the year offers so many action-packed games throughout the tournament, and especially opening weekend. The top teams and seeds will be most popular picks in NCAA Tournament brackets and pools, and when betting matchups. No. 1 and 2 in the East and West - Purdue, Marquette and Kansas, UCLA, along with No. 1 and 2 in the South and Midwest - Alabama, Arizona and Houston, Texas. But there are plenty of very capable teams seeded 3-6 that can challenge, and we'll outline their stats and profiles. 

Higher seeds and longshots cannot be dismissed from Final Four futures. Last year in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, No. 10 seed Miami made it to the Elite Eight. And No. 8 seed North Carolina pulled off the shocker making it to the Final Four and Championship game before falling 72-69 to Kansas. North Carolina was ranked No. 1 to start this college basketball season, and became the first pre-season No. 1 team to not make the NCAA Tournament.

Recall another recent Cinderella in 2021 when UCLA went from First Four to Final Four as another longshot surprise. The Bruins lost 93-90 in overtime to undefeated Gonzaga in one of the greatest games in Final Four history. The game ended on a most memorable March Madness moment with Zags guard Jalen Suggs banking in a near half court buzzer-beater. 

March Madness Contests 

Ahead of NCAA Tournament action, there are some great March Madness contests to join sponsored by top online sportsbooks.

Be sure to get in and enter the Offshore Gaming Association's 2023 March Madness Bracket Challenge. Now in it's 21st year at OSGA, it's free to enter and pays out cash prizes thanks to reduced juice sportsbook sponsor BetAnySports. 

Brackets and Betting

I chip-in additional NCAA Tournament coverage for Forbes with bracket breakdown and opening round match-ups and betting lines. Additional stats, insights, news and information you can bet on for all the top teams in the bracket. 

As you break down the brackets and match-ups, futures odds and BetOnline each round of the NCAA Tournament, here are some team profiles, stats and odds outlook to track as the top teams advance through the NCAA Tournament. 

NET ranking: takes into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses. 

Odds to win courtesy of BetOnline and Sportsbetting.ag. 

No. 3, 4 and 5 Seeds South Region Profiles

No. 3 Baylor (22-10), including 16-15-1 ATS

Key Wins: UCLA (N), Gonzaga (N), Texas, Kansas, West Virginia (2x), TCU (A)
Key Losses: Virginia (N), Marquette (A), Iowa State (3x), Kansas State (2x), Texas (A), Kansas (A), TCU
National Title Odds: +2500 
Final Four Odds: +550
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 3
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 2, Defense No. 102 
Twitter: @BaylorMBB
Head Coach: Scott Drew

Baylor's NET ranking is No. 15, and the Bears went 11-10 vs Quad 1 opponents and 4-0 vs Quad 2. Baylor's defense allowed 45.3% FG - worst in the Big 12. The Bears were last in the Big 12 in blocked shots (2.4/game), and Baylor's 37.3% 3-point FG offense led the Big 12 and 77.2 points per game was No. 2 in conference. Keyonte George was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and he led the Bears in scoring (16.0 PPG).

No. 4 Virginia (25-7), including 12-18-2 ATS

Key Wins: Baylor (N), Illinois (N), Duke 
Key Losses: Houston, Miami (A), Pitt (A), Duke (N), 
National Title Odds: +5000 
Final Four Odds: +1400
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 78
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 75, Defense No. 24
Twitter: @UVAMensHoops
Head Coach: Tony Bennett

Virginia's NET ranking is No. 5, and the Cavaliers went 5-5 vs Quad 1 opponents and 6-1 vs Quad 2. The Cavs play at the most methodical and slowest pace of all teams in the NCAA Tournament. Virginia takes care of the basketball and ranks No. 6 in offensive turnover percentage and led the ACC in assists (15.8/game) and Assist/TO ratio. The Cavaliers scoring defense (60.3) was best in the ACC and No. 5 in the country. Guard Reece Beekman was voted ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

No. 5 San Diego State (27-6), including 15-15-2 ATS 

Key Wins: Nevada, Boise State, Utah State (3x) 
Key Losses: Arizona (N), Arkansas (N), St. Mary's (N), Nevada (A), Boise State (A) 
National Title Odds: +8000 
Final Four Odds: +900
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 32
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 63, Defense No. 10
Twitter: @Aztec_MBB
Head Coach: Brian Dutcher

San Diego State's NET ranking is No. 14, and the Aztecs went 5-5 vs Quad 1 opponents and 6-1 vs Quad 2. The Aztecs outscored opponents by 8.5 points per game and allowed a league-low 63.9 points per game and 29.2% from 3-point range - best in Mountain West and No. 7 in the country. Senior guard Matt Bradley was first team All-Mountain West, and Nathan Mensah was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year.

No. 3, 4 and 5 Seeds Midwest Region Profiles

No. 3 Xavier (25-9), including 18-15-1 ATS

Key Wins: West Virginia, UCONN (2x), Creighton, Marquette  
Key Losses: Duke (N), Gonzaga (N), Creighton (A), Marquette (2x)
National Title Odds: +5000 
Final Four Odds: +900
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 23
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 8, Defense No. 73 
Twitter: @XavierMBB
Head Coach: Sean Miller 

Xavier's NET ranking is No. 22, and the Musketeers went 9-6 vs Quad 1 opponents and 4-2 vs Quad 2. Xavier scores 77.1 PPG and is the top 3-point shooting team (39.5%) in the NCAA Tournament, and top-10 in the country in effective FG%. Xavier guards Souley Boum (16.8 PPG, 86.5 FT) and Colby Jones (15.3 PPG, 52.6 FG%) were voted first and second team All-Big East, and both shoot better than 40% from beyond the arc.

No. 4 Indiana (22-11), including 15-17-1 ATS 

Key Wins: Xavier, Purdue (2x), Maryland (N), Illinois, Michigan State   
Key Losses: Arizona (N), Kansas (A), Iowa (2x), Penn State (2x), Maryland (A), Northwestern (A), Michigan State (A)
National Title Odds: +5000 
Final Four Odds: +900
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 12
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 28, Defense No. 42 
Twitter: @IndianaMBB
Head Coach: Mike Woodson 

Indiana's NET ranking is No. 30, and the Hoosier's went 6-9 vs Quad 1 opponents and 6-2 vs Quad 2. Indiana's 49% FG shooting on offense was best in the Big Ten, and the Hoosiers were top-3 in the conference in blocked shots and assists. Trayce Jackson-Davis was voted first team All-Big Ten and he was No. 2 in Big Ten scoring (20.8), rebounding (10.9), and led the league in blocks (2.7). Jalen Hood-Schifino (17.6 PPG) was voted Freshman of the Year. 

No. 5 Miami (25-7), including 18-14 ATS

Key Wins: Providence (N), Virginia, Pitt   
Key Losses: Maryland (N), Duke (2x), Pitt
National Title Odds: +4000 
Final Four Odds: +1600
KenPom Strength of Schedule: 85
KenPom Stats: Adjusted Offense No. 12, Defense No. 131 
Twitter: @CanesHoops
Head Coach: Jim Larranaga 

Miami's NET ranking is No. 85, and the Hurricane's went 5-5 vs Quad 1 opponents and 6-0 vs Quad 2. Miami led the ACC in scoring offense (79.4), FG% (48.6), and No. 2 in 3-point shooting (36.8) and free throws (77.6). Junior guard Isaiah Wong (15.9 PPG) was voted ACC Player of the Year.

Check back for additional stats, updates and information you can bet on. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and insightful analyst with proven winning results including in college basketball. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Read more great insights from FairwayJay and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay