The college basketball season is still a few months away. But as we approach the 2018 NBA Draft, it’s never to early to start looking at futures. To no one’s surprise, Duke enters the season as the favorite, according to BetDSI Sportsbook.
The usual suspects top the odds again. Duke is the favorite at +700 with the defending champions from Villanova on their heels at +750. The Blue Devils lost Marvin Bagley III, Grayson Allen and Wendell Carter Jr., among others. However, they brought in the top three recruits in R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish and Zion Williamson. They will be in the mix as they are every year, thanks to Mike Krzyzewski.
The Wildcats are coming off their second national title in three years, and Jay Wright will have his hands full with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges gone. But Eric Paschall and Phil Booth will have more of a chance to show what they can do, and Jahvon Quinerly leads a very good freshman class. Kansas comes in at +900, and even though Malik Newman and Lagerald Vick are gone, Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson are excellent freshman players. Also, the transfer of Dedric Lawson could be huge.
Next are Kentucky and Gonzaga at +1000, and of course, the Wildcats have a slew of freshman stars coming in. This year, John Calipari persuaded Ashton Hagans to lead this year’s class. However, keep an eye on P.J. Washington and Quade Green, two returning players who will be important while the freshman figure it out. The Bulldogs will have to replace Johnathan Williams III, but getting Killian Tillie and Rui Hachimura to come back was crucial to their national-title hopes.
North Carolina are rated at +1200, and they will miss the leadership of Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson. But the Tar Heels are fortunate that Luke Maye decided to come back for another season. Nassir Little and Coby White are freshmen that will contribute right away, if not start. Virginia are valued at +1400, and the Cavaliers have to come out hungry after becoming the first-ever #1 seed to lose to a #16 in the NCAA Tournament. Also, Kyle Guy leads a deep group of players that will power what should be, once again, one of the best defenses in the country.
Nevada has odds of +2000, and they gained a lot with twins Caleb and Cody Martin deciding to come back. They also picked up Jordan Brown, a player that many of the top schools tried to lure to their program. Finally, Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee are all rated at +2500. Charles Matthews will lead the Wolverines in the Big Ten, while their rivals, the Spartans, suffered some big losses in Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. But the Volunteers might be the team to watch out of this group. Grant Williams won the SEC Player Of The Year, and decided to come back for this season. In fact, most of Tennessee’s top players are returning and they could be a darkhorse to watch.
Odds To Win 2019 March Madness (odds via BetDSI.eu)
Duke 7/1
Villanova 15/2
Kansas 9/1
Kentucky 10/1
Gonzaga 10/1
North Carolina 12/1
Virginia 14/1
Nevada 20/1
Michigan State 25/1
Michigan 25/1
Tennessee 25/1
Oregon 33/1
Auburn 33/1
UCLA 33/1
Virginia Tech 33/1
West Virginia 33/1
Syracuse 33/1
Florida 40/1
Purdue 50/1
Texas Tech 50/1
Wichita State 50/1
LSU 50/1
Louisville 66/1
Arizona State 66/1
Cincinnati 66/1
Clemson 66/1
Maryland 66/1
Miami, Fl. 66/1
Ohio State 66/1
Vanderbilt 66/1
Indiana 66/1
Florida State 75/1
North Carolina State 75/1
Penn State 75/1
TCU 75/1
Texas 75/1
Mississippi State 100/1
Baylor 100/1
Butler 100/1
Seton Hall 100/1
St. John’s 100/1
Texas A&M 100/1
Xavier 100/1
Arizona 100/1
