Updated Men's College Basketball Championship Betting Favorites, Upsets, Long Shots

Updated Men’s College Basketball Championship Betting Favorites, Upsets, Long Shots

Immediately after Super Bowl 56, sports bettors will turn their attention to the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament. March Madness is the second most important sports betting event in the United States. Check out current College Basketball National Championship odds and our analysis for favorites, upsets, and long shots to win the Men’s College Basketball National Championship.  

National Championship Tournament Favorites, Upsets, Long Shots | NCAA Basketball Betting

NCAA Men’s College Basketball National Championship

  • When: Monday, April 7
  • Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
  • TV/Streaming: CBS / Paramount+ 

Favorites

  • Gonzaga Bulldogs +700
  • Duke Blue Devils +1075
  • Purdue Boilermakers +1175

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are an underlay. The Zags went undefeated last season and didn’t beat Baylor to win the National Championship. Why does anyone believe Gonzaga, which has lost to Duke and Alabama this season, can win it all in 2022?

Duke is also an underlay. Coach K hasn’t led Duke to the Final Four in 6 seasons. Not only that, but the ACC isn’t nearly as formidable this season as it has been in the past. So we must question how good Duke really is. 

Purdue’s last trip to the Final Four happened in 1980. The Boilermakers might be due. Even then, the Big Ten is deep, which means the Boilermakers may, or may not, secure a decent draw. Like Duke and Gonzaga, Purdue is a play against to win the title. 

Upsets

  • Kentucky Wildcats +1425

Don’t look know, but Coach Cal has one of his best teams ever in Kentucky. Why? For the first time since taking the job in Lexington, Calipari isn’t relying on underclassmen. 

Forward Oscar Tshiebwe leads the Wildcats in scoring and rebounds with 16.3 points and over 15 boards per game. Tshiebwe spent two seasons at West Virginia. He’s a junior. 

Sahvir Wheeler was Georgia’s top point-guard the past two seasons. Now, he’s Calipari’s best point player. Wheeler and Tshiebwe are upper classmen, making this Calipari’s most experienced Final Four contender. 

  • Arizona Wildcats +1850

The Arizona Wildcats have everything required to win the National Championship, inside presence with Christian Koloko, Azuolas Tubelis,  and Oumar Ballo, and an outside presence with Player of the Year candidate Bennedict Mathurin, Kerr Krissa, and Dalen Terry.

Coach Tommy Lloyd has installed Gonzaga’s style of play, which has led the Cats to becoming the highest-scoring team per game in college hoops.  

  • UCLA Bruins +1975

The one team in the Pac-12 the Arizona Wildcats must fear are the UCLA Bruins. Led by Johnny Juzang, the Bruins are as good as the Wildcats in almost every area.

UCLA’s defense might be the best in the nation. The fact Juzang, Tyger Campbell, or Jaime Jaquez Jr. can take over on any given night, makes the Bruins a serious National Championship contender.

If the selection committee sends the Bruins and Wildcats to opposite sides of the bracket, expect both to have a huge chance to make the Final Four.  

Long Shots

  • Villanova Wildcats +2200

The odds make the Villanova Wildcats a long shot. At the odds, Jay Wright’s squad is an overlay.

Nova is a perennial title contender. This season, Wright is loaded. Few teams have a Big 3 as talented as point-guard Collin Gillespie and forwards Jermaine Samuels and Eric Dixon. 

  • Wisconsin Badgers +4000

Heading into February, Wisconsin is the Big Ten’s best team. Guard Jonathan Davis, who leads the Badgers in points, rebounds, and assists each game, is developing a nice rapport with forward Tyler Wahl. 

Stopping or containing Davis doesn’t mean you will beat the Badgers. Wisconsin is the epitome of a team first college hoops squad, meaning if you stop Davis, someone will step up. 

  • Texas Longhorns +5800

The Horns rank first in points allowed per game. Opponents score just 55.5 each game versus Texas.

The Longhorns must get their offense into gear to have any shot at making the Final Four. That should happen soon. Any hoops team with former Minnesota Golden Gopher Marcus Carr, Timmy Allen, who came to Austin after playing at Utah, and Brock Cunningham should average much more than 68.5 points per contest.

If Texas’ offense catches up to the defense, watch out. Texas could become a serious National Championship contender. Like Nova, the odds make the Longhorns an overlay.    

 
 

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