When Kansas forward Kevin McCullar Jr. withdrew his name from the draft, Kansas Jayhawk fans held their breath. Finally, McCullar decided to return to the Jayhawks for another season. Hence it cemented Bill Self’s team at No. 1 in the rankings. Previously, Duke had rocketed to No. 1 after Kyle Filipowski and Jeremy Roach announced their returns. And the Blue Devils seemed to have a strong hold on the top College basketball odds spot. However, the Jayhawks moved to No. 2 after landing Hunter Dickinson and overtook Duke with McCullar. Still, casual bettors have made UConn chalk.
2023-24 Men’s College Basketball National Championship Futures
| Date: | Season Begins November 6, 2023. |
|---|---|
| NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament “March Madness”: | Runs March 19 Through April 8, 2024 |
2023-24 Men’s College Basketball National Championship Futures
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | +1100 |
| Duke | +1300 |
| Arizona | +1500 |
| Alabama | +1500 |
| Kentucky | +1500 |
| Purdue | +1600 |
| Creighton | +2000 |
| Marquette | +2000 |
| Michigan State | +2000 |
| North Carolina | +240 |
| UCLA | +2500 |
| Arkansas | +2500 |
| Kansas | +250 |
| Houston | +2500 |
| Gonzaga | +2500 |
| Florida Atlantic | +3000 |
| Miami-FL | +3000 |
| Texas | +3400 |
| Tennessee | +3500 |
| TCU | +3500 |
| USC | +4500 |
| Auburn | +4500 |
| Baylor | +4500 |
| Maryland | +4500 |
| Ohio State | +4500 |
| All Other Teams | +5000 or higher |
Kansas Finds Its Inner Self
As was previously noted, With McCullar in the fold, Self now brings back three starters from a team that won the Big 12 regular-season championship. Also, KU earned a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament. At the same time, they were welcoming a ton of talent into the program. In addition to Dickinson, the nation’s best transfer, Kansas landed a pair of impact transfers in Nick Timberlake (from Towson) and Arterio Morris (from Texas). Additionally, KU boasts a top-15 high school recruiting class.
But McCullar was the key. He’s an elite defender that is one of the best in the country. Also, McCullar averaged double figures in scoring in each of the past two seasons. Further, he brings plenty of experience and should help with roster continuity.
Naturally, the incoming players, most notably Dickinson, are getting most of the attention this offseason. Yet the returning trio of Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar, and K.J. Adams Jr. makes the Jayhawks a national championship contender. Harris is one of the elite pass-first guards in the country and a terrific defender. While McCullar is versatile and defends. Adams’ role will change next to Dickinson. However, he was one of the breakout stars of last season. Hence he should take an even bigger step next season.
With their impressive roster upgrades, Kansas makes for a potentially huge offshore betting bargain. The casual sector has not caught on to the Jayhawks’ success.
UConn Getting Next Season Love Based on Last Year’s Title
Following its impressive national championship run, UConn opened the season No. 1. Most important of all, gamblers bet them up as the favorite with the College basketball lines. Of major concern is that the Huskies have dropped several spots. Following the departures of Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson to the NBA draft. But Dan Hurley got Tristen Newton back. Also, he brings in a top-five recruiting class. Including four ESPN 100 prospects. Donovan Clingan is poised for a huge season down low. At the same time, Alex Karaban should take on a bigger role offensively.
Specifically, UConn is the ultimate proof that future market betting is based on the past.