Upcoming Match-ups

NCAA Tournament Title Odds Update Before Season Tipoff

Blair Johnson

by Blair Johnson in College Basketball

Updated Mar 5, 2021 · 8:17 AM PST

Corey Kispert (F) drives towards the basket
Corey Kispert and the Gonzaga Bulldogs will play their first game in over two weeks on Saturday when they visit undefeated Iowa in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire)
  • The 2020-21 college basketball season tips off Nov. 25 and is set to wrap April 5 in Indianapolis
  • Baylor, Gonzaga, and Villanova are co-favorites (all at +950) to cut down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium
  • Read below for odds and analysis on the top teams heading into the upcoming NCAA hoops season

After its longest offseason in history, college basketball is set to return on Thanksgiving Eve.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament and spurred changes to the upcoming campaign. Now, with the sport’s normal bluebloods listed as favorites, anticipation is high for the 2020-21 season.

2021 NCAA Tournament Odds

Team Odds
Baylor +950
Gonzaga +950
Villanova +950
Iowa +1000
Virginia +1100
Kentucky +1200
Illinois +1500
Duke +1600
Kansas +1800
Michigan State +1800
Wisconsin +1800
Arizona State +2300
Creighton +2300
West Virginia +2300
Florida State +2500
Houston +2500
Indiana +2800
Michigan +2800
North Carolina +2800
Ohio State +2800
Oregon +2800
Tennessee +2800
Texas +2800
Texas Tech +2800
Stanford +3300
UCLA +3300
Connecticut +3600
Florida +4000
LSU +4000

Odds taken Nov. 20 at FanDuel

Kansas was the favorite heading into last year’s tournament. The Jayhawks are in the mix again this season, but Villanova is the chalk in our 2021 March Madness title odds. Baylor and Gonzaga are listed as co-favorites with the Wildcats, who won it all in 2016 and 2018. The Bears and Bulldogs also sit atop the KenPom.com ratings, with Duke, ‘Nova, and KU rounding out the top-5.

So, how will this unique season shake out?

We know the maximum number of games allowed for teams will be no more than 25. Programs may also participate in only one multiple-team event. The season was originally set to begin Nov. 10 with the Champions Classic involving Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kentucky. Now, three of those teams open the reduced slate at home against smaller schools on Wednesday, with preseason No. 1 Gonzaga taking on No. 6 Kansas on Thanksgiving Day in Fort Myers, Florida.

Let’s analyze some of the notable future prices on the board.

Zig-Zag

The only thing left to do on Mark Few’s already impressive resume is to win an NCAA title. He’ll have a great chance yet again this season.

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This year’s roster has a good balance of experience (returning players like forward Corey Kispert, who averaged 14 points per game last season, and Joel Ayayi, who put up over 10 points per game last year), and incoming talent (including five-star recruit guard Jalen Suggs).

The Zags will be tested right out of the game by a stacked KU club led by defensive whiz Marcus Garrett. The loser of that Turkey Day tilt shouldn’t see their title odds drop too much. But, the winner will certainly see a bump.

I loved Gonzaga last season, and I love them again this season. Yes, the program said goodbye to WCC Player of the Year Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie. But, simply put, Few is due.

Former eastern Washington coaching counterpart Tony Bennett (who roamed the Washington State sideline in Pullman prior to landing in Charlottesville) finally broke through and won a title at Virginia in 2019, Now, it’s Few’s turn.

Dynamic Duo

When considering the next tier of contenders, bettors should invest in Illinois at +1500 for two reasons.

With point guard Ayo Dosunmu and seven-foot Kofi Cockburn back for Brad Underwood’s team, the Fighting Illini are poised to not only qualify for their first Big Dance since 2013 but make a deep run. Illinois has over 70-percent of its minutes returning from last year’s 21-10 squad, and as I wrote recently, they’re deserving of the preseason hype.

The Illini aren’t rated as high on KenPom.com as some of the other teams on the board (they’re at No. 17, behind teams like Wisconsin, Creighton, and West Virginia), but Dosunmu and Cockburn’s star power are undeniable.

Love It in Lubbock

If you’re looking for a relative deep-sleeper, look no further than the school the Cavaliers beat in the most recent national championship game.

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Baylor and Kansas may garner most of the attention in the Big 12. But at +2800, I love Texas Tech in our preseason odds.

Tech is rated No. 17 in longtime NCAA hoops writer Andy Katz’s preseason Power 36 and features players like VCU transfer Marcus Santos-Silva, Kyler Edwards, and Avery Benson. All are incredibly talented players who could deliver a third-straight Elite Eight (and maybe more) appearance for the program.

Chris Beard’s unit is rated No. 6 on KenPom.com — one of FIVE teams in the top-10 from a stacked Big 12.

That type of league parity should serve the Red Raiders all the way to Indy.

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