NCAAB Teams to Watch
Following two months of action, the oddsmakers have adjusted a handful of title odds with several teams from power conferences receiving plenty of notice. Past favorites Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, and Wisconsin, a trio of ACC squads is starting to make a push and becoming serious threats in March. We’ll take a look at seven clubs that you need to consider jumping on before all the value gets sucked out inching closer to the NCAA Tournament.
Texas
Biggest wins: The Longhorns knocked off defending champion UConn, 55-54 in late November as a two-point road underdog. Texas also picked up a 14-point blowout of Iowa at Madison Square Garden in November, but haven’t had a quality victory since December.
Look-ahead spots: UT will be tested at the end of January with a three-game set starting with Kansas (1/24), followed by road trips to Iowa State (1/26), and Baylor (1/31).
Gonzaga
Biggest wins: The ‘Zags took care of SMU early in non-conference action, while also picking up victories at UCLA and BYU. Gonzaga’s only loss so far came in a three-point setback at Arizona back in December.
Look-ahead spots: The WCC is basically a three-horse race with BYU and St. Mary’s chasing down Gonzaga. The Bulldogs face the Gaels on January 22 in Spokane, while heading to St. Mary’s on February 21. Gonzaga wraps up conference play on February 28 against an uptempo BYU squad.
Virginia
Biggest wins: The Cavaliers haven’t lost a game yet this season, as UVA has solid road victories at Maryland, VCU, and Notre Dame. All three non-covers for the Cavs this season came as a favorite of 14 ½ or more, while limiting 12 opponents to 57 points or less.
Look-ahead spots: Virginia will have its hands full in late January/early February with a rough three-game stretch against Duke (1/31), at North Carolina (2/2), and hosting Louisville (2/7). UVA concludes ACC play with a trip to Louisville on March 7.
Maryland
Biggest wins: The Terrapins are making noise in their first season as part of the Big Ten, beating Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Michigan State – all away from College Park. Besides losing to old ACC rival Virginia in non-conference play, the only defeat that can sting heading towards March is a road setback at Illinois.
Look-ahead spots: Maryland still has tough road trips to Indiana (1/22), Ohio State (1/29), Iowa (2/8), and Nebraska (3/8). The Terps should be able to take care of their home court, as a February 24 showdown with Wisconsin is the key game at the Xfinity Center down the stretch.
North Carolina State
Biggest wins: The Wolfpack picked up their signature victory of the season by trouncing previously unbeaten Duke last Sunday, 87-75 as nine-point home underdogs. Prior to that win, N.C. State owned a bunch of home victories over substandard competition, while getting run out by Cincinnati and even losing at home to Wofford.
Look-ahead spots: The road schedule isn’t terribly difficult for the Wolfpack, who heads to Florida State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Clemson. However, N.C. State gets a rematch with Virginia in Raleigh on February 11, while traveling to North Carolina and Louisville in a 10-day span in February.
Notre Dame
Biggest wins: The Irish held off Michigan State in overtime as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge back in December, but Notre Dame came through in its first road game of the season by upsetting North Carolina in Chapel Hill earlier this month as an eight-point underdog.
Look-ahead spots: Notre Dame takes on Duke twice in a 10-day span (1/28 and 2/7), while its home schedule isn’t too tough the rest of the way. The Irish battles Boston College, Wake Forest, and Clemson a combined five times, while also welcoming in a down Syracuse squad on February 24.
Utah
Biggest wins: The Utes continue to make strides towards the top of the Pac-12 with three home blowouts to tip off conference play. Utah grabbed a pair of upsets in non-conference action by beating Wichita State and BYU, while having a massive rally fall short against Kansas back in December.
Look-ahead spots: Utah’s biggest road test by far in conference action comes on Saturday at Arizona, while hosting the Wildcats on February 28. The Utes avoid a trip to Stanford, as the Cardinal visits the Huntsman Center on February 12.
Below are the updated odds for the National Championship:
College Basketball Future Odds
Team Open Current
Kentucky 2/1 2/3
Duke 10/1 9/1
Arizona 7/1 12/1
Wisconsin 10/1 12/1
Texas 25/1 13/1
Gonzaga 20/1 15/1
Virginia 30/1 20/1
Louisville 25/1 25/1
Kansas 15/1 30/1
Villanova 30/1 30/1
Iowa State 30/1 35/1
North Carolina 15/1 35/1
Florida 15/1 40/1
Wichita State 30/1 55/1
Ohio State 50/1 75/1
Maryland 300/1 80/1
Michigan State 50/1 80/1
UConn 40/1 80/1
Utah 100/1 80/1
VCU 40/1 80/1
NC State 300/1 100/1
Notre Dame 200/1 100/1
Oklahoma 60/1 100/1
SMU 75/1 100/1
Syracuse 50/1 100/1
Field (Any Other Team) 100/1 100/1
