Now that college football is done with, all eyes turn toward men’s hoops. We’re halfway through the college basketball season, which makes for an opportune time to pick teams to win the NCAA championship. You’re going to want to stick with us to get our updated predictions on March Madness!
We start with the latest NCAAB title odds, though. This year, perhaps more than ever, the title picture is scattered. That’s reflected in the futures odds available at top basketball betting sites. Just take a look at this hodgepodge list of favorites:
| Team |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | +650 | +650 |
| Kansas | +1000 | +1000 |
| Connecticut | +1200 | +1200 |
| Tennessee | +1200 | +1200 |
| Arizona | +1400 | +1400 |
| UCLA | +1400 | +1400 |
| Alabama | +1400 | +1400 |
| Purdue | +1400 | +1400 |
| Gonzaga | +2000 | +2000 |
Aside from Houston (maybe), the college season has been void of “elite” teams. Three of the top-4 in the preseason rankings — North Carolina, Gonzaga and Kentucky — have a total of 12 losses amongst them. It’s setting up for an even more chaotic March Madness, if you can believe that. That’s why this article is so crucial. It’s an updated look at the college basketball betting landscape, which is sorely needed if you made a futures bet before the season started. Let’s jump into our picks below.
Top Picks To Win 2023 NCAAB Championship
Given how much of a crapshoot this season has been so far, you’d be crazy to drop only one pick on the 2023 NCAAB championship winner. Three choices feel like a minimum requirement — especially when the favorite is as long as +650 to win.
Houston
Is it safe to call Kelvin Sampson the best coach in the country? We mean, who else would have this type of success at Houston, an American Conference school? A few years of success might be fluky, but Sampson is up to 10 now. And honestly, this might be his best Cougars roster yet.
They’ve just reached No. 1 status for the first time since 1983 — back when Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were running the court. Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark are fully healthy after missing last year’s run to the Elite 8. Freshmen Jarace Walker and Terrance Arceneaux have become impact players. This makeup gives them a delicate balance of experience and youth.
And one more thing: the Final Four will be held in Houston this year. Home-court advantage can be an extra factor that finally gets Sampson “over the hump” per se.
Purdue
Surprise has been the name of the game this college season — most of it being disappointed-level surprise from underachieving teams. However, the Boilermakers are one of the good surprises, as in the team has well over-performed.
The Boilermakers were on no one's preseason top 25. Not after losing a lottery pick in Jaden Ivey, all-conference selection Trevion Williams, and a few other pieces from last year’s squad. But despite that, Purdue raced out to a 13-0 start and reached a No. 1 ranking recently. A loss to Rutgers has knocked them down to No. 3, but either way, we sense the Boilermakers are for real.
Our confidence in Purdue comes because of Zach Edey. The big man is averaging 21.9 points (on 63.1 percent shooting) and 13.2 rebounds per game. He’s well on pace to win the Wooden award. Flanking Edey is a pair of high-flying freshmen, Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. With this talent, we could very well see this group “run the table” from here.
Kentucky
Admittedly, this is a complete flyer bet. There’s a reason why the Wildcats are as long as +3300 to cut down the nets — this team looks as far away from a title contender as we’ve seen in the John Calipari era. The coach is on the proverbial hot seat and things appear to be at a boiling point. So yes, we acknowledge the risk of things blowing up more (and Calipari possibly leaving) but the risk is worth the reward at these odds.
Kentucky is still loaded with talent. It’s not unthinkable that Calipari — one of the game’s best coaches this century — can turn things around and save face with a fanbase that’s turning on him by the day. Reigning Wooden Award winner, Oscar Tshiebwe, is still in the mix. So is a projected lottery pick (Cason Wallace). Then there are tried-and-true veterans like Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin. C’mon, a turnaround is plausible, right?
Screw it, we’re throwing money the Wildcats' way. Not a lot, but the good thing is you don’t need that much to make a profit on the slim chance Calipari can work a miracle.
How To Bet On 2023 NCAAB Season?
We still have half the college hoops season ahead of us — including most conference games, conference tourneys, and then March Madness. To bet on the 2023 NCAAB season ahead, follow one of the sportsbooks listed below. All the sites you see in the table were top-rated in our latest sportsbook review section.
We know that’s A LOT of possible bets on college basketball. If you need spare spending money, take a hard look at the lucrative sign-up bonuses offered from site to site. The best ones available right now are featured in the table. Pick one and you could wager on NCAAB for free!
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