Odds on Which Men’s College Basketball Team will Cut Down the Nets

Every year around March Madness time, there are always statistical improbabilities offered at what is more likely than an average basketball fan picking every game correctly. But there is no reason to hope lightning strikes to make money off one of the biggest betting events of the year—opportunities to try and find good numbers on teams fluctuate from day to day.

Predicting the team that will cut down the nets in early April following the March Madness basketball tournament is difficult to do in February. While there are always a few favorites, there are no guarantees in a single-elimination tournament. Thankfully, online casino sportsbooks offer other ways to bet futures and get plus money on a winner.

One good way to get a number at plus money is to bet on which conference the champion will come from. Here’s an idea of where some conferences sit with March Madness on the horizon.

Big 12 is Deep as Ever

The Big 12 is a ferociously competitive league with four teams sitting inside the top 25 and two teams that have been consistently in the top 15 all season. The league is sitting at +300 to have a team win the championship.

Defending national champion Baylor is once again a strong unit with four players averaging in double figures scoring. The Bears are the only team nationally that ranks in the top 50 in scoring offense and defense.

Kansas is ranked inside the top 10 and is leading the regular season race. The Jayhawks haven’t made the finals since 2012 and last reached the Final Four in 2018. Texas Tech and Texas are both dangerous teams that could make a run.

Don’t Forget the Big East

Of the big-time basketball conferences, the Big East is priced at +700 to produce the NCAA champion. Villanova, which has won championships in 2016 and 2018, has been inside the top 15 for most of the season. The Wildcats have another strong team and are under the strong leadership of Jay Wright.

Providence is having a strong season and has seen time inside the top 10. UCONN is a mercurial team, but is a threat under Danny Hurley to make a move in the postseason.

Can the Big Ten Do It?

The Big Ten conference is considered one of the best basketball conferences annually, but hasn’t produced a champion since Michigan State won in 2000. Maryland won in 2002, but it was a member of the ACC then. The Big Ten is +400 to produce a champion this season and have plenty of capable teams. 

Purdue, which hasn’t reached the title game since 1969 and the Final Four since 1980, have been in the top 10 all season. Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan State also have strong programs that have been ranked throughout much of the season.

The question for this group, as always, will be can they get it done in March?

Betting on WCC Prop Better than Betting the Zags

Gonzaga, which lost in the finals to Baylor last season, is +500 if you bet the Bulldogs outright to win the title. However, if you bet the conference prop it is +600. Betting the West Coast Conference is really a bet on the Zags.

St. Marys and San Francisco have put together strong seasons and have a shot at the tournament, but aren’t really a threat to winning the national championship. If you like Gonzaga, for which there are many reasons to with its offensive prowess and experience, bettors are better off taking a shot at betting any team in the WCC to win.