NCAA Men’s College Basketball Betting Futures: Baylor Eyes a Repeat

classybuzzDecember 15, 2021

16 6 minutes read

baylor new no 1 mens college basketball rankings

We’ve our fourth crew in 4 weeks incomes the highest spot within the males’s school basketball polls. Nonetheless, oddsmakers usually are not in settlement on the highest crew.

Regardless of handing Villanova arguably the worst defeat in Jay Wright’s tenure, the defending nationwide champions and No. 1 Baylor Bears are solely the fifth betting selection at odds of +1500 at SI Sportsbook. Mark Few’s Gonzaga squad, regardless of losses to Duke and Alabama, stays a sizable favourite (+450) within the futures market. Duke (+800) and Purdue (+800) are the one different groups to seek out single-digit betting odds.

Let’s dive and take a take a look at the highest contenders and their present odds within the NCAA Championship futures market!

CONTENDERS

1. Baylor (9-0 SU, 6-2-1 ATS)

Opening Odds: +1600 / Present Odds: +1500

Baylor has emphatically confirmed that dropping 4 of the highest 5 scorers from its championship squad is not going to hinder the Bears from their quest for a repeat.

The Bears have gained 9 consecutive video games, highlighted by a dominant 57-36 win over No. 9 Villanova final Sunday. Arizona switch James Akinjo leads the membership in assists (6.0 apg), leading to a balanced scoring assault that led to 4 Bears’ averaging double-digits in scoring. Backcourt teammate LJ Cryer has stepped up in his sophomore marketing campaign, main the crew in scoring (14.6 ppg). Ahead Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua has been a power down low, anchoring Baylor on the boards with a team-high 8.3 rebounds per recreation.

2. Duke (7-1 SU, 3-3-2 ATS)

Opening Odds: +1600 / Present Odds: +800

After incomes the coveted No. 1 rating, the Blue Devils suffered their first lack of the season Nov. 30, dropping 71-66 to No. 15 Ohio State as 3-point highway underdogs. Duke has already overwhelmed No. 5 Gonzaga in addition to No. 21 Kentucky, forcing oddsmakers to slash their preseason odds of +1600 in half to +800. Beating two top-25 golf equipment has aligned Duke’s energy rating within the polls with these held by oddsmakers at SI Sportsbook, as Duke is just behind Gonzaga because the second general betting selection.

3. Purdue (9-1 SU, 6-4 ATS)

Opening Odds: +2000 / Present Odds: +800

After wanting large in wins over North Carolina and No. 9 Villanova, Purdue suffered a disappointing 70-68 loss at Rutgers as 13.5-point highway favorites. Trevion Williams (14.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Zach Edey (14.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are a dominant frontline duo, however there isn’t any denying that Purdue’s offense runs by means of star level guard Jaden Ivey (16.4 ppg, 3.4 apg). Purdue continues to obtain the respect of oddsmakers, with their opening odds of +2000 reduce to +800 following the robust begin.

4. UCLA Bruins (9-1 SU, 5-4 ATS)

Opening Odds: +1600 / Present Odds: +1800

Since struggling an 83-63 loss to No. 5 Gonzaga, the Bruins have ripped off three consecutive wins. Star guard Johnny Juzang (16.6 ppg) is as soon as once more main the way in which, however UCLA’s success is largely as a result of stable manufacturing from the backcourt trio of Jaime Jaquez Jr (14.8 ppg), Jules Bernard (13.0 ppg) and Tyger Campbell (12.6 ppg). The Bruins nonetheless clearly want ahead Cody Riley (knee) to get wholesome if they’ve any hopes of creating a deep run. Regardless of the latest successful streak, bettors can discover the Bruins at extra enticing odds as UCLA rises from +1200 to +1800 at SI Sportsbook.

5. Gonzaga Bulldogs (8-2 SU, 4-6 ATS)

Opening Odds: +500 / Present Odds: +450

6. Alabama (8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS)

Opening Odds: +2500 / Present Odds: +2000

Alabama’s transfer up the rankings is a results of beating No. 5 Gonzaga 91-82 as a 10-point underdog, however will seemingly take a tumble out of the highest 10 after being upset, 92-78, at Memphis on Tuesday evening.. Junior guard Jaden Shackleford (19.1 ppg, 6.9 rbg) leads the way in which and is a part of one of many SEC’s greatest backcourts alongside Jahvon Quinerly (15.1 ppg, 4.3 ast). The Tide’s latest play has pressured the oddsmakers to trim Alabama’s odds to +2000. Convention video games towards No. 13 Auburn, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 19 LSU, No. 21 Kentucky and No. 24 Arkansas over the following month will reveal simply the endurance of this Crimson Tide crew.

7. Kansas Jayhawks (8-1 SU, 5-3-1 ATS)

Opening Odds: +2500 / Present Odds: +1200

The Jayhawks proceed to obtain excellent manufacturing from senior guard Ochai Ogbaji (22.4 ppg), who’s taking pictures an eye-popping 49.1 % from deep. Christian Braun (16.3 ppg) leads the membership in rebounding (6.8 rbg), however that’s a regarding difficulty. Kansas wants extra constant frontline manufacturing from senior David McCormack if Invoice Self’s squad has any hopes of accomplishing this system’s sixth nationwide title.

8. Arizona (9-0 SU, 8-1 ATS)

Opening Odds: +4000 / Present Odds: +2000

Projected NBA lottery choice Bennedict Mathurin (18.4 ppg, 6.7 rbg) has been excellent in main Arizona to an undefeated begin (8-1 In opposition to The Unfold). Mathurin tallied 30 factors in Arizona’s 83-79 win at Illinois as 2.5-point highway favorites. The Wildcats, using their highest rating since 2018, have a number of powerful checks over the following few weeks with video games towards No. 4 UCLA, No. 10 USC and No. 18 Tennessee.

9. Villanova Wildcats (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS)

Opening Odds: +2500 / Present Odds: +2000

The consequences of Wright scheduling arguably the toughest out of convention schedule of any crew have left the Wildcats with three early-season losses. Villanova’s quest for a third championship in six years would require Wright’s greatest teaching of his illustrious profession. Senior level guard Collin Gilespie (16.2 ppg) continues to shine, however the pre-season Cousy award contender has not obtained constant assist from his teammates. The Wildcats’ lack of bench depth was uncovered immensely within the membership’s loss to Baylor. Simply how dangerous was that loss? The 36 complete factors scored by the ‘Cats tied the fewest by a AP top-10 crew within the modern-day shot clock period, in addition to set all-time lows in complete factors and taking pictures proportion (22%) beneath Wright’s tenure. Villanova’s odds raised from +1400 to +2000 following that setback.

10. USC (10-0 SU, 6-4 ATS)

Opening Odds: +10000 / Present Odds: +5000

The Trojans are undefeated, however bettors have to pump the brakes on simply how good this crew actually is. USC has not performed any ranked opponents, however that may all change Jan. 2 when it faces No. 8 Arizona. Junior ahead Isaiah Mobley leads the membership in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounds (9.8 rbg) forming a formidable frontcourt with Chevez Goodwin (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rbg). USC’s robust begin has not gone unnoticed by the oddsmakers at SI Sportsbook, because the Trojan’s huge +10000 odds have been slashed in half to +5000 as they climb into the highest 10 for the primary time this season.