At the onset, there are the traditional blue blood powers atop the futures board. Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Villanova, Louisville, and Gonzaga are favored. FBI Investigations and hints of scandal don’t seem to matter. Indeed, the same marquee brands remain the most popular choices to win the National Championship. The ultimate NCAA basketball betting question for gamblers is if there is a viable low-priced alternative. Let’s examine the top teams and players for 2019-20.
Michigan State Spartans and Cassius Winston
Namely, the Spartans lead NCAA basketball betting with head coach Tom Izzo. Notable among his achievements is the John Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. Izzo has led Sparty to eight Final Fours and the 2000 national championship. Team captain and guard Cassius Winston returns for his senior season. Above all Winston was the catalyst for Izzo’s 2018 Final Four team. Winston was named Big Ten Player of the Year. He led the Spartans with 18.8 points and 7.5 assists per game. Additionally, Winston shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range. And he was .840 from the charity stripe.
Kentucky Wildcats and Ashton Hagans
John Calipari begins his eleventh season leading this blue blood of the blue grass. While Kentucky did win the 2012 national championship U of K fans feel the program has underachieved. Supporting that sports betting theory is that the Wildcats last trip to the Final Four was in in 2015. And Coach Cal has produced only four Final Fours in his 11 years. Contrarily to their “one and done” reputation Kentucky has an important starter returning. Guard Ashton Hagans scored 7.7 points per game in limited action last year. But now as a starter with game experience production should improve.
Duke Blue Devils and Tre Jones
Last season as a freshman Duke guard Tre Jones boasted a team best 5.3 assists per game. That number figures to increase with the additional playing time he will get this season. Further, Jones added 9.4 points per outing with a field goal percentage of .414. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski is now 72 years old with his last national title in 2015. Although Duke went 32-6 straight up in 2018-19 they covered only 18 games.
Kansas Jayhawks and Dedric Lawson
Certainly, there is a solid case that Kansas head coach Bill Self should be on trial. That is based on his embarrassing comments heard on the FBI tapes. Yet Self has not only walked but has a Final Four contender for this season. Senior center Udoka Azubuike son is a big reason why. Azubuike is the Jayhawks top NCAA basketball betting asset with 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was .705. In turn Self returns for his 17th season. KU is coming off a Final Four in 2018.
Villanova Wildcats and Collin Gillespie
Naturally, Nova head coach Jay Wright is celebrated as perhaps the best in the game. Wright led the Wildcats to 2016 and 2018 National titles. In the same way, last year was a massive rebuild. Junior guard Collin Gillespie is set to take center stage as floor quarterback. In 2018-18 Gillespie average 10.9 points per game. In this situation, he will get much more playing time and responsibility. Gillespie averaged .829 on free throws last year. Also, back is junior forward Jermaine Samuels. In like manner, Samuels 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game should increase.