The 2021-22 men’s college basketball season is just barely a week old. As is customary, the majority of programs will be playing in their fair share of early season tournaments in an effort to prepare for their upcoming conference seasons.
College Basketball Betting Sites
As we look ahead to next spring’s March Madness, the betting board reveals many familiar names in the race for the national champion. There is one name, however, that is not in the mix near the top. Here is a look at the 2022 March Madness futures odds.
Gonzaga Favored Again
It’s really no surprise. Gonzaga, which went 31-0 last season before losing to Baylor in the national final, returns Player of the Year candidate Drew Timme and has the nation’s No. 1 recruit 7-footer Chet Holmgren in the lineup. Five-star Hunter Sallis takes over for Jalen Suggs at point guard. Head coach Mark Few simply reloads and that is why the Bulldogs are the overall favorite to win the 2022 March Madness at +450.
Where is Baylor?
The Bears won last year’s title with the upset of Gonzaga. Head coach Scott Drew loses his top three scorers, but what’s left will still be a pretty good team. Oddsmakers simply don’t believe that what’s left will contend for a national title in 2022.
Just twice in the past three decades has a team won consecutive national titles. Florida last did it in 2006 and 2007. Baylor is given +3300 odds to do it this year.
Bluebloods Are Back
There was a point last season where traditional powerhouse programs like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and a few others were not in the top 25. All of them. At the same time.
That won’t happen in 2022 as Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, and UCLA are all in the next tier of teams just behind Gonzaga. Both Kansas (+1000) and Kentucky (+1200) went the transfer route to bring in tons of experience. Jayhawks head coach Bill Self may have landed the best transfer of them all in Remy Martin. He’s one reason why Kansas is favored to win the Big 12 conference this season.
Duke (+1100) will feature a lineup that includes freshman Paolo Banchero, who could be the best player in the country. It’s also coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last season. His players and the entire Duke basketball community would love nothing more than sending Coach K out with a title.
UCLA, also listed at +1200, has one of the nation’s best too – Johnny Juzang. The 6-6 swingman is looking to lead the Bruins back to the Final Four this season.
New Kids on the Block
Also in the mix are a handful of schools that have recently become basketball powers. Michigan (+1200) has been very good for the past several years. The Wolverines have been to the Sweet Sixteen in each of the past four NCAA tournaments. Last year, Michigan wound up in the Elite Eight.
Texas (+1200) and head coach Shaka Smart have been knocking at the door in recent years. Penny Hardaway is building something special at Memphis. The Tigers are another program given +1200 odds to win this year’s title. Villanova, which has two national championships in the last six seasons, added some transfers and is listed at +1600.
Sleepers
While their odds (+1600) might not make them look like a sleeper, Purdue is a team that went to three straight Sweet Sixteens from 2017 to 2019 under head coach Matt Painter. This year, Painter may have the best big man in the country in Trevion Williams.
Alabama (+3300) is a true sleeper. Head coach Nate Oats led the Crimson Tide to the SEC title in just his second season last year. Jahvon Quinerly and JD Davison make up what could be the best backcourt in the country.
2022 March Madness Futures Betting Lines
Gonzaga +450
Kansas +1000
Duke +1100
Kentucky +1200
Texas +1200
Michigan +1200
UCLA +1200
Memphis +1200
Villanova +1600
Purdue +1600
Oregon +2500
Illinois +2500
Baylor +3300
Ohio State +3300
Arkansas +3300
Alabama +3300
Texas Tech +4000
North Carolina +4000
Maryland +4000
Michigan State +5000
Florida State +5000
Houston +5000
Auburn +5000
LSU +5000
Syracuse +5000
Connecticut +5500
Louisville +6600
West Virginia +6600
Tennessee +6600
Arizona +6600
USC +6600
Oklahoma +6600
Virginia Tech +6600
St. Bonaventure +6600
Virginia +7500
Wisconsin +8000
Indiana +8000
Creighton +10000
Florida +10000
San Diego State +10000
Xavier +10000
Loyola Chicago +10000
Iowa +12500
Colorado +12500
Marquette +12500
Rutgers +12500
Arizona State +12500
Stanford +12500
Georgia Tech +12500
St. John’s +12500
Wichita State +12500
Clemson +12500
Oregon State +12500
Dayton +12500
BYU +15000
Seton Hall +15000
Richmond +15000
Notre Dame +15000
Georgetown +15000
NC State +15000
SMU +15000
Miami +20000
Butler +20000
Cincinnati +20000
Providence +20000
St. Louis +20000
Pittsburgh +20000
Temple +20000
Utah +20000
Utah State +20000
VCU +20000
Wake Forest +20000
Texas A&M +20000
UNLV +20000
Missouri +20000
Mississippi State +20000
Drake +20000
Colorado State +20000
Belmont +20000
Nevada +20000
Ole Miss +25000
South Carolina +25000
Davidson +25000
Iowa State +25000
Boise State +25000
Penn State +30000
Northern Iowa +30000
DePaul +30000
Rhode Island +30000
Saint Mary’s +30000
Washington +30000
Georgia +30000
TCU +30000
California +30000
Kansas State +30000
Vanderbilt +30000
Nebraska +30000
Minnesota +50000
Boston College +50000
