College Basketball Odds: 2 Sleepers For March Madness Betting Picks

Written By Derek Wagner | Last Updated November 4, 2024

The 2024-25 college basketball season is set to return, as UConn looks to become the first team to three-peat. Meanwhile, teams like Cincinnati and Xavier are priced as longshots to cut down the nets in March. In this article, I’ll outline my thoughts on college basketball odds and why the Crosstown Shootout programs are two longshots worth monitoring.

Click any of the 2025 March Madness odds below to place a bet. These are the best available odds in your state.

CINCINNATI BEARCATS: Cincinnati Bearcats +6000 on BetMGM

While many teams in the Big 12 will struggle with continuity, Cincinnati is one of the few that won’t, with over 70% of its minutes from last year returning. The Bearcats return four of their five starters from last season, including top scorer Dan Skillings (12.9 ppg). Skillings was instrumental down the stretch, leading Wes Miller’s squad in points in eight of the final 15 games of the season.

This unit excels in the rebounding department, as it finished as the top offensive rebounding unit in conference play a year ago. Its major loss in the frontcourt is Viktor Lakhin (Clemson), whom Miller replaced in the portal when he reeled in Texas forward Dillon Mitchell, another superb rebounder in his own right. Rebounding should be able to give Cincinnati an edge on most nights, particularly on evenings when the offense fails to sink perimeter looks.

If Cincinnati wants to flip the script and return to the tournament for the first time since 2019, it must make strides offensively. The Bearcats finished 79th in adjusted offensive efficiency in 2023-24. Their main bugaboo was perimeter scoring, ranking dead last in conference play last year, a woeful 29.6% from deep.

That said, the ceiling is higher this year with CJ Fredrick (42.6%) back from injury and Bradley transfer Connor Hickman, a career 37% 3-point shooter, entering the picture. Should these two stay healthy and perhaps Skillings improve from deep (28.4%), Cincinnati has the necessary pieces to earn a top-five seed in March.

Join TheLines.com’s free sports betting Discord — with over 4,800 community members and our staff sharing bets daily.

XAVIER musketeers: Xavier Musketeers +20000 on FanDuel

Adding the Musketeers to the mix is trendy, but their ceiling is high, barring more health issues. The injuries to Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter short-circuited their 2023-24 campaign and hampered Xavier’s NCAA tournament aspirations.

Unfortunately, transfer forward Lassina Traore suffered a season-ending knee injury in an October practice. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 11.9 ppg last year and was, more importantly, one of the top rebounders in Division I last year.

It’s a massive blow to a Musketeer squad that ranked nearly average in defensive rebounding last season. Pittsburgh transfer John Hugley IV will likely slot in at the five spot to begin the year.

However, Dayvion McKnight, one of college basketball’s most underrated point guards, returns for another season. He’ll be flanked by transfers Ryan Conwell (16.6 ppg) and Dante Maddox Jr (15.6 ppg). With six seniors on the roster, including McKnight and Maddox, Xavier has the most veteran-laden roster in the Big East, with an average of 2.6 years of experience. It should help in conference play and, more importantly, the Big Dance.

Related: Eli’s Bets For College Basketball Futures Odds

final thoughts

Xavier’s longshot college basketball odds are intriguing, given the experience in the backcourt and the return of Freemantle. Still, its defensive shortcomings lower its ceiling. Under Sean Miller, the Musketeers haven’t finished higher than 45th in defensive efficiency. They don’t turn opponents over and sometimes struggle to rebound.

They’ll likely go as far as their veteran backcourt can take them come March. Nevertheless, Alabama made the Final Four this past season while finishing 111th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Perhaps the Musketeers’ offense can similarly carry them.

For Cincinnati, Wes Miller’s unit was the victim of bad luck last season, going 7-11 in league play. Eight of the Bearcats’ losses came by five points or fewer. That should turn around this year, provided their 3-point shooting improves. Even in a loaded Big 12, I expect a rebound season from Miller’s squad this year.

I bet Cincinnati +15000 at Caesars Sportsbook on Friday morning. As more sportsbooks add Final Four odds, I’ll ponder whether to add a Bearcats to reach the Final Four.

Best of luck betting college basketball odds for the 2024-25 season!