By Larry Rupp
It’s been just over seven months since the Baylor Bears completed their dominating March Madness run and took home the NCAA basketball national championship. Many rising stars have since made their way to the NBA and a new batch of recruits are set to explode onto the scene this fall.
Another season of crazy buzzer-beaters and insane poster dunks is set to get under way soon, which means the preseason favorites to win it all have already been established. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three of the top college basketball contenders, with all odds according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (+650)
Gonzaga enters the season as heavy favorites to finish on top after falling just short in the title game back in April. Their core remains highlighted by junior forward Drew Timme, who averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds during his sophomore season. Timme is also the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America team.
However, the big story here is the arrival of freshman Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the 2021 class. The 7-foot center has proven to be a menace on the defensive end. Overall, this team is a mix of experience and excitement, which is why the Bulldogs find themselves at the top of the odds.
.@Kaden_Perry20 brought the house down ❗️ pic.twitter.com/vDcSa2X1Wi
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) November 1, 2021
Michigan Wolverines (+1200)
There’s a rather considerable gap between Gonzaga and the rest of the field, but the Michigan Wolverines have a legitimate shot at winning their second NCAA championship. Coach Juwan Howard knows the success of this team comes from its suffocating defense. Returning big man Hunter Dickinson and five-star recruit Moussa Diabate have the potential to be one of the best frontcourts in all of college basketball.
On the offensive end, Coastal Carolina transfer DeVante’ Jones is expected to have the ball in his hand a lot. Simply put, Michigan’s title hopes may depend on their ability to efficiently score outside of the paint. Nevertheless, the Wolverines have the pieces in place to be the first Big Ten team to take home the title since the 2000 season.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss them…#GoBlue 〽️🏀#WeAreNotForEveryone pic.twitter.com/Uraf0BsMSW
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) October 27, 2021
UCLA Bruins (+1400)
Entering the year as the No. 2 team according to the AP Poll, UCLA brings back a majority of its starters from a team that made a miracle run to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed. Johnny Juzang, Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell all averaged double digits in scoring last season and create a nightmare trio for opposing squads to defend.
It’s safe to say the Bruins were weak on the defensive side of the ball last season and needed to make some changes. That’s where Rutgers transfer Myles Johnson steps in. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 2.4 blocks per game last year and gives UCLA a monster on the boards. This team is positioned well to win a lot of games and should not be overlooked by bettors in these odds.
UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. (@jaquez_jr) and @JohnnyJuzang have been selected to the 20-person preseason watch list for the @NABC1927 Player of the Year Award.
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) November 4, 2021
🗒️: https://t.co/mSbbSZ7vg0 pic.twitter.com/IwYxFnGwy1
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
