College Basketball Betting Top Ten (Week of January 24th)
The College Basketball season is now knee-deep in conference play and the cream is starting to rise to the top. March Madness is not that far away so let’s take our first look at my top ten with NCAA Title odds in parenthesis.
Top Ten (Week of January 24th)
#10. Baylor (14-4) (+3000) - Baylor has a coach with a championship pedigree, and solid guards and will be battle-tested thanks to a deep conference. Last Week’s Rank: -
#9. Tennessee (14-4) (+1800) - The Volunteers have quality veteran leadership and one of the best defenses in the country. Can they put it all together in the tourney this year? Last Week’s Rank: -
#8. Kansas (15-3) (+2000) - Talent-wise, the Jayhawks are loaded. Self is a great tourney coach and this is likely still a team finding themselves while playing in the rough and tumble Big 12. Watch out for this team when it matters in March. Last Week’s Rank: -
#7. Duke (13-4) (+2200) - Like Kansas, the Blue Devils have too much experienced talent not to be dangerous by the time March rolls around. Interestingly, the Dukies may suffer a bit this year from playing in what seems to be a down year in the ACC. Last Week’s Rank: -
#6. Auburn (16-2) (+1600) - The Tigers seem to be quietly motoring along with little fanfare thus far. They are a top-ten team in efficiency on both offense and defense. They play fast but are rarely sloppy. This team is built to be a big problem for other teams in the tourney. Last Week’s Rank: -
#5. Houston (16-2) (+1000) - The Cougars could head into March this season with a worse record than they had last season but better equipped for the tournament thanks to playing in the Big 12 this season for the first time. They are one of the most physical and grind-it-out teams in the nation. Last Week’s Rank: -
#4. Kentucky (14-3) (+1200) - The Wildcats play fast and efficiently on offense. Calipari teams traditionally peak as the tournament approaches. This team already looks like they are ready to roll. Last Week’s Rank: -
#3. North Carolina (15-3) (+1500) - The Tar Heels look like a veteran team that is trying to prove last season was a fluke. After coming out of the gates as the #1 team in the nation, they fell flat and failed to make the tournament. That won’t happen this year. Last Week’s Rank: -
#2. Purdue (17-2) (+900) - Purdue looks very much like the team that rolled through the regular season last year before faltering in the tournament. It has become a theme that they’d like to change in this year’s tourney. Last Week’s Rank: -
#1. UConn (17-2) (+1100) - UConn has the look of a team that wants to make this championship feeling a habit. They have size, patience, and one of the most efficient offenses in the nation. Last Week’s Rank: -
Game of the Weekend, Season Record 0-0: Each week will look at the best matchup for the upcoming weekend.
Kansas State at #5 Houston: This is a good test for the Cougars. KState is efficient and battle-tested and will challenge the Houston defense. The Cougars will be ready. Take the Cougars in this spot.
In parenthesis, the odds to win the National Title in 2024. All odds Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle