We’re only a couple of weeks into the season. Some teams will be overhyped once conference play begins, and others will go under the radar. While top-rated sportsbooks believe UConn and Duke are the favorites, analytical sites like KenPom have Auburn, Houston and Gonzaga ahead of Duke and UConn.
So, while Duke and UConn are the “favorites,” another highly regarded analytical site likes three other teams. Those three teams could be solid value right now.
Let’s talk about it below.
March Madness Odds
Below, you will find the current odds for the top college basketball teams to win this season’s national College Basketball Championship.
All updated odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review).
| Team | Opening Odds | Current Odds at Caesars |
|---|---|---|
| UConn Huskies | +1200 | +700 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | +1100 | +900 |
| Duke Blue Devils | +1100 | +900 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +2000 | +1400 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +2000 | +1600 |
| Houston Cougars | +1400 | +1800 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +1600 | +2000 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +2000 | +2000 |
| Baylor Bears | +2000 | +2200 |
| Auburn Tigers | +3000 | +2500 |
| Iowa State Cyclones | +3000 | +2800 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | +4000 | +3000 |
| UCLA Bruins | +8000 | +3000 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +1800 | +3500 |
| Florida Gators | +4000 | +3500 |
| Michigan State Spartans | +2500 | +3500 |
| St. John’s Red Storm | +8000 | +4000 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | +2500 | +4000 |
| Creighton Bluejays | +3500 | +5000 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | +8000 | +5000 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | +4000 | +5000 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | +2500 | +6000 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +10000 | +6000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +6600 | +8000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +8000 | +8000 |
| Miami (FL) Hurricanes | +5000 | +8000 |
| BYU Cougars | +6000 | +8000 |
| Ole Miss Rebels | +8000 | +8000 |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | +8000 | +10000 |
| Xavier Musketeers | +10000 | +10000 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | +3500 | +10000 |
| Louisville Cardinals | +15000 | +10000 |
| Oregon Ducks | +8000 | +10000 |
| Villanova Wildcats | +4000 | +10000 |
UConn Huskies (+800)
The UConn Huskies are +800 and one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament in March and April.
The Huskies are 3-0 with wins over Sacred Heart, New Hampshire and Le Moyne. Those are three teams that absolutely stink. The Huskies’ real season begins on November 25 when they play Memphis. Later in the year, they will also have Baylor, Texas and Gonzaga on their non-conference slate. By then, we’ll know what this UConn team is made of.
So far, UConn has ranked 7th in offensive efficiency and 8th in defensive efficiency. That’s really good and championship material. The Huskies have shot 67.4% from inside the arc and held teams to 36.7% from inside.
Again, these numbers are skewed. They’ve played a bunch of nobodies. Still, UConn has won two consecutive titles and will be going for a third this year. That certainly matters.
Duke Blue Devils (+800)
The Duke Blue Devils are also +800 to win the National Championship. Unfortunately, Duke already lost to Kentucky on a neutral court this season. Analytically, the Blue Devils are still very legit though.
Duke has the 11th-ranked offensive efficiency and ranks No. 2 in defensive efficiency. Still, after taking a loss to Kentucky, it’s hard to bet them at +800. Duke is struggling to get to the foul line and has allowed more than 9% of steals to begin the year. This is a problem that needs to be addressed.
There’s plenty of time left in the season. However, I wouldn’t put my money on Duke at +800.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (+1000)
Gonzaga has never won a National Championship under Mark Few. The Bulldogs have come close, but it’s never happened. So take that for what it’s worth.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga slapped Baylor with a 101-63 win at home and added solid wins against Arizona State and UMass Lowell. This seriously could be Gonzaga’s year. The Bulldogs have the best offense in the nation but are just 33rd in defensive efficiency. That defense must improve if Gonzaga wants to make a run this season.
After all, the Bulldogs have watched teams shoot 51.4% from inside the arc this season. That can’t happen if Gonzaga wants to go all the way.
Kansas Jayhawks (+1200)
Kansas is ranked No. 7 via KenPom. However, this team is very well-balanced.
Kansas has struggled to add offensive rebounds and also isn’t getting to the foul line much. Still, the Jayhawks have shot 37.5% from deep and 56.9% from inside the arc.
While Kansas doesn’t see the line, the Jayhawks have also hit below 70% from the foul line. They must take advantage of the foul line when they get there because it’s not often they do. If Kansas can’t hit foul shots, it’s hard to trust them late in games against high-caliber opponents.
That said, Kansas has already beaten North Carolina and Michigan State and is 4-0 on the season.
Auburn Tigers (+1400)
The Auburn Tigers are +1400 but No. 1 on KenPom.
You might’ve heard about Auburn’s flight making an emergency landing after a fight broke out on the team plane a week ago. Yet this team is still undefeated, having won against Houston in a semi-round environment.
Auburn has the country’s No. 2 offense and No. 5 defense. They’ve dominated the rim and continue to play well in all phases. Don’t be afraid to add some change on Auburn. This is likely the best bet on the board right now.
Houston Cougars (+1500)
Houston lost to Auburn but has other wins with at least 91 points.
The Cougars’ defense is still ranked the No. 1 in the nation, and Houston’s offensive efficiency is ranked No. 4 per KenPom. You’d like to see Houston get to the foul line more. It’s also hard to imagine the Cougars will continue to hit 48.2% from three the rest of the season.
I also haven’t enjoyed Houston from inside the arc. The Cougars have shot just 48.9%, which is inexcusable to begin the year. However, you need defense to win championships. Houston has that in its DNA. I’d wait a little on Houston, regardless.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
College Basketball Betting FAQs
Where can I bet on the 2024 NCAA Basketball National Championship?
Answer: The best online sportsbooks are the safest online sportsbooks, which are those licensed in jurisdictions where online sports betting is legal in the United States.
The top-rated books are BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, Bet365, BetRivers, DraftKings and FanDuel. All offer a wide variety of NCAAM props, futures and point spreads.
What types of bets are popular with NCAA Basketball?
Answer: The most popular bet is the point spread bet where the underdog is getting points or the favorite is giving points. However, moneylines, where no point spread is involved have grown increasingly popular, as have over/under, or total bets, where bettors can wager over or under on the combined total of the two teams in that game.
Do I have to bet a lot?
Answer: No, the minimum bet is as low as $1 and accounts can be funded with as little as $10 at many of the books across the nation.
Props and Bonuses
You can find a list of prop bets at all of the best U.S.-licensed online sportsbooks found right here at OddsTrader. Online sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, Bet365, BetRivers, DraftKings and FanDuel all feature props and futures like conference winners, Final Four participants and national champions, as well as offering generous signup bonuses.
Shop for Odds
If you want to compare the various NCAA Basketball odds, then click on the link and you will see the point spreads, moneylines and totals at all of the best books in the industry. Remember, it’s important to be able to compare and contrast lines at a glance so that you get the best odds for your betting buck.
NCAA Basketball Power Rankings
Getting keen insight into how each of the playoff teams stacks up is easy when you check out the OddsTrader NCAA Basketball Power Rankings page. Here you will see the average line, the power line suggested by OddsTrader’s AI algorithms and Bettor’s Edge, which is the difference between the two.
NCAA Basketball Computer Picks
If you go to the OddsTrader NCAA Basketball Computer Picks section you can see what the OT algorithms project and how the results compare to those predictions.
