With no NBA and no end in sight to their labor strife, sports betting basketball fans have to be happy to finally have their college ball back, and with it the March Madness tournament that decides the national champion every year. The road to the Final Four can be a difficult one, even for the most talented teams in the country, but if early performances are any indication, here are four pay head favorites to reach the NCAA Final Four in 2012.

One team that has made all the headlines this offseason for their talent, depth, and experience is the North Carolina Tar Heels, which come in to the season ranked first in the preseason polls. With the presence of veterans such as Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes, and a strong freshman class, the Tar Heels should have no problem in the ACC before they launch their attack on the national title. When it comes to talented players, there won’t be anyone better than Jared Sullinger of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who opted not to go to the NBA even with the opportunity to be among the top picks. With William Buford providing the perfect outside compliment to his inside game, the Buckeyes should roll to the Final Four. Beyond the Tar Heels and Buckeyes, things get a little more complicated with Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and Kansas all expected to contend. The Wildcats won round one of their betonline heavyweight fight against the Jayhawks with an early-season clash, but it could be a different story in four months when it counts the most. The Panthers once again are a big team that gets a boost from the breakout of Travon Woodall, but once again these three teams have to be considered in a second tier behind the Tar Heels and Buckeyes.