After the Chiefs won Super Bowl 57 against the Eagles, many sports bettors have shifted their attention to their college basketball bets. With 2023 March Madness odds shifting and Selection Sunday only 25 days away, let’s dig into what you may have missed.
Click on any of the odds below to place a wager, too.
1. Houston () The National Title Favorite
We haven’t seen parity-filled season like this one since 2013-14, in which seven-seed UConn defeated eight-seed Kentucky in the title game. Granted, both programs underachieved in the regular season. The Huskies were led by do-it-all guard Shabazz Napier, who notched 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in the Big Dance.
This time around, Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars are the favorite to win March Madness, with Alabama, Purdue, Kansas, UCLA, and Arizona trailing them (via the odds table above).
Nevertheless, their 70th-rated adjusted defensive efficiency over the last month is a cause for concern come the NCAA tournament. Their isolation-reliant offense has also been inefficient in AAC play. Keep an eye out for the chance to fade them down the road, as long as the spread is inflated enough.
2. Zach Edey () Atop Wooden Award Odds
Speaking of those Boilermakers, the 7-foot-4, 295-pound center has strung together one of the more memorable seasons in recent memory. Not only is Edey generating 22.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per contest, but he’s developed into an extremely proficient passer out of double teams as well. He opened the campaign at +4000.
Jayhawks wing Jalen Wilson () is Edey’s biggest threat to win the Wooden Award, according the betting odds. Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis () has also thrown his hat into the mix, averaging 25.0 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in his last eight contests. More on the Hoosiers later.
Join our Discord betting channel (under the #roles server) and receive an immediate notification whenever our staff makes a bet.
3. Will Alabama’s Talent Trump Inexperience?
After going on a Sweet 16 run in 2020-21, Nate Oats possesses the most well-rounded team in college basketball. The Crimson Tide () are led by the 6-foot-9 Brandon Miller, who’s posting the best freshman campaign in the last 20 years — in regards to shooting efficiency and volume (42.7%, 7.1 3PTA). Miller isn’t just a 3-point marksman, either, exhibiting a robust dribble-drive skillset.
However, Alabama would be the youngest team to cut down the nets since 2015-16 Duke. Similar to Purdue’s freshmen-laden backcourt, the Tide’s lack of maturity on the biggest stage could come back to bite them.
Moreover, the Big 12, Big Ten, and even Big East are better conferences than the SEC — relative to market perception. Hence, Alabama may be overvalued in March Madness.
4. TCU () Missing Key Pieces Of Late
The Horned Frogs have lost four of their last five contests, yet they’ve done so without a healthy Mike Miles, Jr. and Eddie Lampkin. Miles represents one of the nation’s most prolific lead guards when it comes to college basketball bets and the like. Meanwhile, Lampkin boasts the 11th-ranked offensive rebounding rate in DI.
Don’t forget, a healthy TCU team delivered a 23-point drumming at Kansas () on Jan. 21. If Jamie Dixon’s battle-tested crew is at full strength, it’s certainly capable of going on a deep run. The Frog showcase the 20th-rated AdjD, along with 24th-highest takeaway percentage — two critical variables for tournament success.
5. My National Title College Basketball Bets
Below, you’ll find my futures portfolio. Both Texas (+2500) and Indiana (+4000) are worth considering at Caesars Sportsbook, but neither UConn nor Florida are valuable at this point.
| Team | Odds | Date Placed |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | +3000 | Nov. 1 |
| Indiana | +5000 | Feb. 2 |
| UConn | +5000 | Nov. 25 |
| Florida | +12000 | April 10 |
Browse College Basketball Odds Across Sportsbooks
Compare odds across legal sportsbooks below and click the odds to bet now. Browse conference odds and props in the dropdown menu.
