College Basketball Futures: Best Bets for NCAAB Champion (2021)

by Ryan Coleman |
Jan 20, 2021

With the season roughly halfway through, I am here to provide my updated best bets for the NCAAB champion this season. While you may see some repeats from my article back in November, there are definitely some teams who have stepped up in a big way so far this season. With that being said, here are my favorite bets for teams to take down the college basketball crown in early April.

All odds via BetRivers Illinois

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Gonzaga +350

It can be boring taking a consensus-favorite to win March Madness, but honestly, +350 still seems like a solid value considering how this team has played. The Bulldogs have played eight top-100 KenPom teams and have beaten them all by an average of 17.6 points. They can score at will from inside-the-arc, with a 2p% of 64.6, ranking first in the nation. Jalen Suggs might be the most talented player in the entire country. Combined with the effectiveness of Drew Timme, Andrew Nembhard, Joel Ayayi, and their seemingly never-ending depth, there seems to be no stopping Gonzaga. It's tough to really identify a weakness for this college basketball juggernaut, and I will gladly take them at +350.

Iowa +1700

As the 3rd ranked team on KenPom, the Hawkeyes can blow anyone out of the water with their number-one ranked offense. Luka Garza has been posting supreme numbers and is a prime candidate for the Wooden Award. While Iowa's defense is far from elite, it can be incredibly tough to beat this team when they consistently post 90+ points. Every game left on their schedule is against a top-50 team (yes, the Big Ten is that good), so they should be prepared for anything come March.

Virginia +2500

After their loss to San Francisco earlier this season, a lot of people wrote of Virginia. But since December 1st, they are a top-five team in the nation per Bart Torvik. Overall, they rank 11th in offensive efficiency and 10th defensively. They are just one of nine teams to be in the top-20 in both categories and only one of three teams to be top-11 in both. If the Cavaliers can continue to shoot as they do, they can be dangerous come tourney time with the stingy defense they are known for. Jay Huff has been elite for them, and the complementary pieces gel well together, as shown by an 85 point effort versus Clemson a few days ago. To grab them with the 16th best odds is an absolute treat.

Alabama +3000

This is, without a doubt, my favorite college basketball futures bet available. Since January 1st, Alabama ranks as Bart Torvik’s best team, and deservedly so. The Crimson Tide have been absolutely electric of late, beating Kentucky by 20, Arkansas by 31, and LSU by 30. Their speed and depth are enough to blow by any team, and they can shoot the lights out as well. All of that offensive prowess is combined with an 11th ranked defense per KenPom. I wrote about Alabama pre-season when they were +8000 to win the championship, and I love them even more now. Hop on the bandwagon as soon as you can because +3000 won't be around for too long.

Kentucky +10000

I know, I know, Kentucky at +900 was not a great decision; I will give you that, but at +10000, it's at least worth a dart throw. Their 4-8 record is ugly, but there is still a lot of season left to right the ship for John Calipari and Co., and they have shown some promise. This is still a team with an abundance of talent, and if they can figure it out, they can easily win an at-large bid to the tourney if they don't take down the SEC tournament first.

Pittsburgh +20000

With the way that Pittsburgh has played since the return of Justin Champagnie, this has got to be the best +20000 bet ever offered. The dual-threat of Champagnie and Xavier Johnson makes the Panthers a deadly team. They sit with a record of 8-2 (4-1 in conference play), and with the ACC seemingly down again this year, Pittsburgh can easily earn an at-large bid to the tournament. They're top-40 defense, and the offensive threats they pose offers incredible value at +20000.

View consensus odds from all major sportsbooks for the NCAAB Champion >>

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Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.

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