Top 10 bets to win the NCAA men’s basketball tournament
Tomorrow kicks off the play-in games and then Thursday and Friday are the two most hectic days in all of sports. March Madness is upon us after Selection Sunday took place yesterday, dropping 68 teams in their respective placement in this year’s bracket.
As I prepare to be a part of the projected 45 million Americans to bet on March Madness, much research and consideration goes into placing a bet, even though my bracket never seems to be as correct as I wish. With all the possible bets to make in the opening round of 32 games, don’t forget about the future wagers as well. Here we take a look at 10 teams that can make a run and cut the final nets down.
10. Purdue
Sitting at the No. 3 seed in the East Region of the bracket, Purdue is set to square off against No. 14 Yale in the opening round. Purdue was taken down in the Big Ten title game when Iowa claimed the title.
The Boilermakers have several threats on the offensive end of the floor. Led by guard Jaden Ivey’s creating and distributing, Purdue shoots the three-ball at a 39% clip.
Pair that outside shooting with the two-headed monster of 6-foot-10 Trevion Williams and 7-foot-4Zach Edey and you have a serious headache defensively. Even if you get one of their centers in foul trouble and force them to the bench, you still have to deal with the other and both are more than capable of making an incredible impact on the game.
Going back to Ivey, the guard lives for the big time moments down the stretch which are always present in the tournament. He is able to create his own shot and also get shooters Sasha Stefanovic, Mason Gillis and Eric Hunter Jr. involved.
At +1600 on Everygame Sportsbook, Purdue has a chance to make some serious noise out of the East Region.
9. Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks ran the table in the Big 12 tournament, which solidified their No. 1 seed status. The top dogs in the Midwest Region will face the winner of the play-in game between Texas Southern and Texas A&M – CC.
The Jayhawks offense is led by potential top-10 NBA pick Ochai Agbaji, who scores just under 20 points per game and shoots over 40% from behind the arc. Agbaji is paired with fellow wing players Christian Braun and Jalen Wilson who both score in double figures and can really attack the lanes and get to the basket.
Kansas also has a strong inside presence with David McCormack, who is not afraid to bang around inside and be physical on the glass.
The X-factor for this team to me is the play of point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. who doesn’t look for his offense too often but is a great floor general. Harris is very good at running the fast break and protecting the basketball. If he is playing well, that means he is getting his teammates open shots and he also has great active hands on defense.
I think Kansas at +1200 on bet365 Sportsbook & Racebook could come out of the Midwest Region and make a run at the title.
Bring on the ??????????????…
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) March 13, 2022
For the 32nd consecutive season, an NCAA record, your Jayhawks are dancing ??
ROCK CHALK! pic.twitter.com/Mb1S6OuggH
8. Villanova
One of the more experienced teams in the field, the Villanova Wildcats enter the round of 64 as the No. 2 seed in the South Region.
With six players averaging nine points per game or higher, the Wildcats offense is very balanced and filled with options.
Led by the sharpshooting playmaker Collin Gillespie, Villanova has won 10 of its last 11 games, including a Big East tournament title win over Creighton.
After the victory, there was celebration but you could tell that the players and coaches knew that there was more work to do be done and they were not satisfied.
The Wildcats, who won the national title in both 2016 and 2018 under head coach Jay Wright, have five players who shoot 34% or higher from three-point land and two players who are above 40%.
Not only that, but you do not want to put this team at the free-throw line. As a team, Nova knocks down 82% from the foul line which is very important to be able to do in late game situations.
This team may not be the biggest but they make up for it with their offense and aggressiveness. This team at +1800 on Everygame can do some serious damage if the three is falling for them.
7. Gonzaga
The favorite to win the tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the No. 1 overall seed in March Madness and are +325 on Everygame Sportsbook.
Many believe that forward/center Chet Holmgren could be the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft over the summer. Holmgren scores 14 a game and snags just shy of 10 rebounds per game.
He’s accompanied by fellow big man Drew Timme, who is the team’s leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. Timme and Gonzaga have been to the title game before where they lost to the Baylor Bears just last year.
The reason why this Bulldogs team is not higher on my list is because of their competition in their region. The West region has some serious talent. Besides Gonzaga, the region is filled with Duke, Texas Tech, Arkansas and UConn who are all more than capable of making it to the Final Four.
I think the Zags are an extremely talented team, but will have their hands full with these other teams fighting for a title in their region.
Ready to go ?? pic.twitter.com/nhLUnLywVd
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 14, 2022
6. LSU
You may call me crazy for having this team on my list because of Saturday’s firing of head coach Will Wade, but the LSU Tigers are an interesting team to me.
Their starting five is quite dangerous both offensively and defensively but when the sixth man comes off the bench, it changes the game. Tari Eason doesn’t start, but is the leading scorer for the Tigers at 17 points per game and he shoots 52% from the floor.
Pair that bench scoring with starters Darius Days, Xavier Pinson and Brandon Murray and you already have a potent offense.
What impresses me most about this team is how they turn defense into offense in a blink of an eye. The length of this team on the defensive end of the floor is nothing shy of top notch. This team gets their hands in the passing lanes at will. They cause turnovers and make ball handlers feel very uncomfortable. If they do turn you over, you better look out because once they pick up that lose ball, they are down the floor and at the rim within seconds.
This team loves to get out in transition and score points off turnovers. They make you pay for mistakes and they create mistakes quite often.
This is my dark horse for the tournament and the value is there at +8000 on bet365.
5. Kentucky
Another team that can get out and run on you is the Kentucky Wildcats. Off a made of missed shot, Sahvir Wheeler gets the ball in his hands and he has one speed only, and that is 100 miles per hour down the court looking for ways to get easy baskets for his team.
Wheeler is able to get by defenders and break down defenses and kick out to shooters like Kellan Grady, TyTy Washington and Davion Mintz.
As if that wasn’t enough to be a threat, add possible Player of the Year, Oscar Tshiebwe, who is arguably the most dominant inside player in college basketball. Oscar averages 17 points and an astonishing 15 boards per game, a double-double machine.
When a shot goes off the rim, odds are he is coming away with the rebound to give Kentucky a fresh possession. As long as he stays out of foul trouble and can remain on the floor, he will make an impact on both ends.
The No. 2 seed in the East Region (+900 on bet365) will square off against St. Peter’s in the opening round on Thursday night to start off what it hopes to be a title run.
Let the madness begin!
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 14, 2022
Kentucky-Saint Peter’s at 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday on CBS. pic.twitter.com/WLE0Ggsiz7
4. UCLA
The UCLA Bruins lost in the Pac-12 finals to Arizona on Saturday night but are still a major threat to anyone they play in the tournament. The No. 4 seed in the East Region will face-off against Akron in their first game.
The Bruins are led by Johnny Juzang, who is no stranger to the tournament after his miraculous performance in last year’s Final Four. His 16 points per game are added to Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jules Bernard and Tyger Campbell who all average in double figures as well.
Big men Cody Riley and Myles Johnson are the two larger bodies on the Bruins team that can protect the rim and be physical inside.
I like the depth of this team as they have eight players who play at least 18 minutes per game. At +2500 on Everygame Sportsbook, UCLA has several players who have made it to the Final Four and that experience can go a long way come crunch time.
3. Baylor
It would be tough to compile a list without a No. 1 seed that won the title last year. The defending champion Baylor Bears would be the top team to me if they weren’t bitten by the injury bug.
Both LJ Cryer and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua have both suffered injuries. Cryer is the only one with a chance to play in the tournament. He is the team’s leading scorer but the Baylor offense may be the most balanced attack in the nation.
The Bears had seven players average over eight points per game during the regular season and four players in double figures.
Guards James Akinjo, Adam Flagler and Kendall Brown have picked up the slack on injured players. All three are fearless going to the basket and do not shy away from any contact.
Forwards Flo Thamba and Matthew Mayer have done well inside and Mayer can also fade outside and knock down shots as well.
At +1200 on Everygame, the Baylor Bears will need to limit teams to one-shot possessions because of their size if they want to be successful in the tournament.
A Thursday matinee in Cowtown ??#SicEm | #CultureofJOY ?? pic.twitter.com/zC276iwyA5
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) March 14, 2022
2. Duke
How can you not have Coach K’s Duke Blue Devils as a top pick? In his final season, the winningest coach in men’s college basketball history looks to claim his sixth NCAA Tournament championships this year.
Duke is led by Paolo Banchero, who seems to be an obvious Top 5 or even a Top 3 NBA Draft choice. The Blue Devils’ offense is another deep attack with five players averaging 10 points or more per game.
Wendell Moore Jr. and Trevor Keels are two players that when they knock down their first few shots, you better start face guarding them because they can heat up extremely fast.
The inside presence of Mark Williams is something to not overlook because he is great at diving to the hoop off ball screens to get himself open looks at the rim. He’s also had several thunderous slams this year where I thought the rim and backboard were both in danger.
Going back to Banchero, he is the type of player that is able to stop another team’s offensive run by going to isolation on offense and creating his own shot 1-on-1 against the defender and slowing the game down.
The team is the 10th best offensive team in college basketball and defensively, they only give up 67 points per game.
Bet365 lists the Blue Devils at +1400 to win it all and don’t be surprised if Coach K ends his Hall of Fame career with him cutting down the nets.
1. Arizona
I may not have been very high on this team in preseason, and I wasn’t alone since they weren’t even included in the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll. But, man, have the Arizona Wildcats proven the pundits wrong. With a 31-3 record and a Pac 12 tournament title, Arizona has shown it can beat anyone that steps on the floor with them.
Under the guidance of rookie head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats are one of the hottest teams right now winning 15 of their last 16 and they are playing their best basketball at the right time.
To me, the No. 1 seed in the South Region has the easiest region to work with in order to get to the Final Four.
Bennedict Mathurin has been one of the most electric players to watch this year. He can score at all three levels and his length allows him to score over defenders’ stretched arms.
Speaking of length, do not try and drive on Christian Koloko. The 7-foot-1 center will most likely send your shot into the fifth row as he averages nearly three blocks per game and adds 12 points per game on the offensive side of the ball.
If you manage to get him to the bench with two early fouls, don’t think you are out of the water because in comes Oumar Ballo. Another 7-footer, Ballo checks in a 260 pounds and it is nearly impossible to stop him from backing you down with his strength and getting to the cup for a turnaround layup.
All of this power gets added to the shooting of Keer Kriisa, Justin Kier and Dalen Terry, plus another inside strength player with Azuolas Tubelis who drops 14.5 points per game.
Kriisa suffered an ankle sprain in the Pac-12 quarterfinals but head coach Tommy Lloyd think there is a good possibility that he is able to play in the tournament.
This team is very well rounded and has a strong bench. They are fourth in scoring, 13th in rebounding and third in assists in college basketball. The have all areas covered and are my favorite team to win it all at +650 on Everygame.
CHAMPS! AGAIN! ???? pic.twitter.com/7Cz247whfp
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) March 13, 2022