All five starters return from a North Carolina team that won 29 games and reached the Elite Eight last season, reason enough for sportsbooks to list the Tar Heels as 4/1 future book college basketball betting favorites to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in New Orleans, next April. UNC also may get the benefit of some good karma in that the Crescent City has been kind to the Tar Heels before, with Coach Dean Smith winning his two national titles there in 1982 and 1993. The 2011/12 season tips off the second week in November.
While North Carolina returns the ACC's top two scorers in Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes (15.7 PPG each), leading rebounder (10.1 RPG) in John Henson, and top assist man (6.2 APG) in Kendall Marshall, it's possible the Tar Heels aren't even the best team in their conference. In fact, some college basketball betting fans like Duke to win it all at future book odds of 8/1. A lot will depend on just how much freshman guard Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, can bring to Durham.
Kentucky is nestled in between North Carolina and Duke in futures at odds of 5/1. Coach John Calipari did it again, signing a superb freshman class, led by forward Anthony Davis, to complement the returning sophomore backcourt of Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, both of whom were SEC All-Freshman picks a year ago. Calipari is going to win a National title some season…maybe this season.
Ohio State has come on difficult times on the gridiron but the hardcourt franchise appears secure. The Buckeyes, a solid 8/1 proposition in futures, will feature first-team All American Jared Sullinger (17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG), guards William Buford (14.4 PPG, including 44 percent from behind the arc) and Aaron Craft, the latter the Big 10's reigning Sixth Man of the Year who will move into the starting lineup, and newcomer Shannon Scott, the son of former North Carolina standout Charlie Scott. There's reason for optimism in Columbus.
Once you get past North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke and Ohio State, cagey college basketball betting fans should be able to find double or triple digits on any other team, including Big East behemoths Louisville, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Connecticut, 10/1, 12/1, 20/1 and 25/1 respectively,
The Cardinals could be the best in the country's top conference, the Big East. Coach Rick Pitino lured a consensus top 10 recruiting class to Louisville and there's depth and athleticism in abundance but the Cards need to hit the boards.
The Orange have a pair of Big East all-stars in Kris Joseph (14.3 PPG) and Scoop Jardine (5.9 APG) and plenty of depth to make a run…if Syracuse can keep teams honest from the perimeter.
Ashton Gibbs (16.8 PPG, .490 3pt) will be the centerpiece for the panthers but look for heralded freshman Khem Birch, an athletic big man who can block shots and rebound, to live up to expectations if Pittsburgh is to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
The Huskies won the national title last season after finishing ninth (yes, ninth) in the Big East last season and return four starters from that team though the one who is missing, Kemba Walker (23.5 PPG), will be impossible to replace. Still, Connecticut should be a force in the Big East, and maybe beyond that.
Memphis and Florida, a pair of 20/1 shots, are two more teams that could have legitimate title aspirations. The Tigers have the most talent in Conference USA and those jumpy freshmen starters are now sophomores this season but 20/1 will be future book value on Memphis only if touted recruit Adonis Thomas makes his presence felt in the paint.
It's not a stretch to say that Florida has the best backcourt in the nation but can the Gators, who lose their entire front line (32 PPG, 19.4 RPG), get enough production from an inexperienced trio to justify their future book price? That's a question only bettors can answer.
If anything, UConn's march to the National Championship after finishing ninth in its own conference should embolden college basketball betting practitioners to look for other viable longshots this season. That betting bonanza list should include Vanderbilt and Michigan.
Vanderbilt? Really? Yes. The Commodores return every player from the squad that won 23 games last season while beating Kentucky in Nashville and losing by a bucket to the Wildcats in Lexington. At 30/1, why wouldn't you take a shot?
It may be Michigan, not Michigan State that challenges Ohio State for Big 10 supremacy this season The Wolverines, 40/1, lost just one player off last season's 21-win team but need to develop a point guard and not wither under the glare of greater expectations.
With more options than any sport, college basketball betting offers the future book gambler value at several levels.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
