College basketball is just right around the corner. Everyone may be caught up in college football still, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, and also the MLB World Series. However, college basketball is going to be another fun season.
In two weeks from now, Kentucky will be facing Duke and Kansas will be facing Michigan State. Four of those programs will be in the quest of an NCAA Championship.
On BETUS, Gonzaga +650 money line, is the favorite to win it all this season. Even though they lost Jalen Suggs and a couple of other players to the NBA Draft, they are the number one ranked team in the country in the preseason Top 25. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were a win away from finishing undefeated before losing in the NCAA title game to the Baylor Bears.
Head coach Mark Few landed his first-ever number one recruit in center Chet Holmgren. Gonzaga is one of the best college programs in the country.
Michigan at a +800 money line on BETUS, has the second-best odds to win it all. Head coach Juwan Howard has done a tremendous job recruiting. They are probably the best team in the BIG10 once again this season. They lost in the Elite 8 last season to the red-hot UCLA Bruins. Michigan landed two top 15 recruits in SF Caleb Houston and PF Moussa Diabate. The Michigan Wolverines are currently ranked 6th in the preseason Top 25.
The third favorite to win it all on BETUS is UCLA at +1000. UCLA was a major story last season in the NCAA Tournament. They went from the first four as an 11th seed to the final four. UCLA lost on a half-court shot at the buzzer to Gonzaga in overtime by Jalen Suggs. The Bruins didn’t lose that game, they just ran out of time.
Mike Cronin, the head coach of the UCLA Bruins, has this program heading in the right direction. UCLA has everyone returning from last season except for a player or two.
The three other teams that I would bet on to win the NCAA Championship:
1. Villanova Wildcats: The odds for Villanova to win it all on BETUS is +1400. They are ranked fourth in the country in the preseason Top 25. Jay Wright’s squad didn’t land any top recruits, but this team is junior and senior-oriented. Chemistry matters. Villanova lost to the defending National Champions in the Baylor Bears in the Sweet 16 last year.
2. Kansas Jayhawks: The odds for Kansas to win it all on BETUS is +1800. Kansas is ranked third in the country in the preseason Top 25. Bill Self’s teams have been major disappointments in the NCAA Tournament, especially since they were throttled in the second round against USC. The Kansas Jayhawks are at one point going to breakthrough.
Bill Self did not land a Top 15 recruit, but this is another team that is junior and senior-oriented. Kansas is usually the cream of the crop in the BIG12, but the Texas Longhorns will have something to say about that.
3. Duke Blue Devils: The odds on BETUS are +1600. This is Coach K’s final season. I am sure that Duke wants to win it all for him in his farewell tour. Duke landed number four overall recruit, PF Paolo Banchero. The Duke Blue Devils missed the NCAA Tournament last season. Duke is looking to get back there this season with a loaded team.
They are currently ranked ninth in the country in the preseason Top 25. Duke will be the favorites in the ACC ahead of the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Virginia Cavaliers, and the Louisville Cardinals.
-Glenn Kaplan, 12oz Sports Contributor, Live Monday’s at 3 p.m. ET & Thursday at 11 a.m. ET on 12oz Sports
Photo Credit: Twitter @ZagMBB
No Purdue? C’mon Glenn!!