Posted on
4/29/2008 6:39:19 PM
NCAA Basketball Futures Betting – How Favorites Stack Up For Next Year
By Charles Jay
I know that the March Madness Betting and Final Four betting has just concluded, but with BetUS Sportsbook coming out with its brand new odds to win NEXT season's NCAA basketball title, we couldn't resist the urge to chime in with an opinion. There are so many teams listed in the field that I could go on and on analyzing everyone's chances, but here I'll take a look at the five favorites and what their chances are.
Keep in mind that some factors matter, such as the ability of players who declared themselves early entries to the June 26 NBA Draft having the ability to pull themselves out of the process by June 16 if they did not hire an agent. .
NORTH CAROLINA (+625 in BetUS odds) -- The really good news for this program was that Tyler Hansbrough, the college basketball player of the year, elected to stay in school. Dion Thompson will once again be alongside him. With recruits like seven-foot center Tyler Zeller and 6'8" Ed Davis, the Tar Heels could have a truly menacing front line. There are potential casualties - Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and sixth man Danny Green have declared for the NBA Draft. Green is one player who will probably come back to school. Another freshman, Larry Drew, some of the former Atlanta Hawks star, will be called upon to replace Lawson at point guard. Replacing Ellington, the shooting guard who could take over games, is going to be tough; that is, if he stays in the draft. If he changes his mind and pulls himself out, this is a team so overloaded with talent that it is going to be hard to catch up with. WOULD I TAKE A SHOT? YES.
DUKE (+800 in BetUS odds) -- Anyone who knows me understands that I'm not a fan of Coach K's ability to go far in the NCAA's unless he has overwhelming talent. Well, Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Greg Paulus lead a bunch of Blue Devils who will be coming back to campus, but I'm not sure that is overwhelming. DeMarcus Nelson is graduating, and he will be replaced by Eliot Williams, a talented left-handed guard out of Tennessee. But this team won't be big enough or tough enough to compete inside, and certainly not with the likes of North Carolina. WOULD I TAKE A SHOT? NO.
TEXAS (+1200 in BetUS odds) -- You know that with players like Damion James, Connor Atchely and Gary Johnson, this is going to be a team that can go get it on the boards. But there is the possible loss of both DJ Augustin and AJ Abrams, who have both declared for the draft. This was the best little backcourt in the country last season. The feeling here is that Augustin will go ahead and stay in the draft process, as he could be the second point guard taken (behind Derrick Rose), but that Abrams will likely come back to school for his senior season. That certainly makes them viable, though Augustin's floor leadership as critical. Of course, if both stayed, this is a potential national champ. Do-everything forward Devin Ebanks, who got out of his Indiana commitment, may be a possible freshman signee. WOULD I TAKE A SHOT? NO.
CONNECTICUT (+1500 in BetUS odds) -- the Huskies took a bitter pill in the NCAA tourney when they were upset by San Diego. Center Haseem Thabeet announced he was coming back to school, which is important, because it is rare that you see his brand of defensive intimidator in the college ranks. Then there are holdovers like inside scorer Jeff Adrien and guard A.J. Price, both of whom elevated their game last season. A blue-chip recruit out of New York, Kemba Walker, can run this offense, and another freshman, 6'10" Ater Majok, has a chance to be a Charles Villanueva-type. WOULD I TAKE A SHOT? MAYBE.
LOUISVILLE (+1500 in BetUS odds) -- David Padgett, a great passer out of the pivot, leaves the program as a senior, and that is a blow. Juan Palacios is also gone, and Derrick Caracter, classified as an underachiever, declared early for the NBA. that is a lot of frontcourt to replace, but Louisville is gushing about freshman Samardo Samuels, a first-team Parade All-American who can give them a dimension on offense that the aforementioned guys couldn't. Terrence Jennings, a shot-blocker, also come aboard. And there are plenty of returnees, like Terrence Williams and Earl Allen. this could be the real deal. WOULD I TAKE A SHOT? YES.
The next time we explore this subject, we'll address longer shots who deserve a longer look.
Go to the BetUS.com online sportsbook today to bet on NCAA basketball. We have the most current NCAA basketball odds and lines, as well as player and game props. Join BetUS.com to experience the best in online sports betting action!
(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)