College basketball fans have waited almost two years for a return to normalcy and a chance to attend a game – with all the thrills and tension, music and media that entails.
We are now well into the men’s college basketball season and it’s time to look at the predictions for the 2022 Final Four, as well as the Freshman of the Year, National Champ and National player of the year.
These are all great categories when it comes to live college basketball odds, so we have rounded them up to make your betting choices easier and more convenient. Let’s take a look.
Our Top 3 Predictions
Gonzaga
This team has played two of four NCAA Tournament title games, which are unarguably at a championship level. Their victories over the last two years have included UCLA, Kansas, Arizona and Virginia to name a few.
Although three out of four of their top scorers are no longer with the team, coach Mark Few has a few aces up his sleeve, such as CBS Sports Preseason National Player of the Year Drew Timme and the No.1 prospect in the Class of ’21, Chet Holmgren.
He’s also mixed the old blood and the new with veteran point guard Andrew Nembhard and freshman Hunter Sallis.
The team is a betting favorite, with even odds of +100.
Purdue
A few feel this is a bit out there, but even more say this may be the best Boilermakers team coach Matt Painter has put together yet. Last year was not a good run for them, and they haven’t reached the Final Four since 1908, but 2022 is where that may all change.
There’s an experienced and dangerous trio made up of forward Trevion Williams and sophomores Jaden Ivy Ans Zach Edey. This roster has what it takes to make it a formidable team.
The team’s betting odds are sitting at +180.
Kansas
Four starters that beat the national champion Baylor in February last year will be returning to the Jayhawks, including Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson. Coach Bill Self has also added Remy Martin, an Arizona State transfer who was voted Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.
There are some other teams that, on paper, seem to have a higher level of NBA talent than that of Kansas, but that should not rule them out completely. Bill Self has a career that’s been recorded in the Hall of Fame and has already guided this team to three other Final Four Programs.
The team’s betting odds are sitting at +300.
The Final Four Dark Horse
We’re backing the Arkansas Razorbacks this year. There is the perfect combination of returning players (such as Davonte Davis, Jaylin Williams and JD Notae), with an injection of transfers (four starters). The regional final where they lost to Baylor was fiercely argued, so they aren’t that far off from the national championship in the Final Four program in our opinion.
National Player of The Year
Drew Timme from the Zags is the overwhelming favorite to win this title this year, and after his stellar run, it’s easy to see why. He started the year with 37 against Texas and 32 at Santa Clara, and he is averaging 6.0 rebounds and 18.6 points a game.
Freshman of The Year
Kofi Cockburn is a third junior playing for Illinois and is favored to win with +200 odds. He is averaging 11.2 rebounds and 21.6 for each game, putting him fifth in the country for rebounds per game.
What About the National Championship?
Gonzaga gas what it takes in terms of coaching, experience, skill and talent. Timme’s dominates offense and is a great partner to Holmgren’s shot-blocking prowess, with newbies Sallis and Hickman injecting their own breath of fresh air. 2021’s title game loss will no doubt fuel them to push harder than before.
