The college basketball season is close to conference play starting up, which means it is time to take a look at some postseason bets. The Big 10 is full of some deep and talented squads, but three stand out from the rest when it comes to who can make a deep March and April run, including Purdue and Michigan State.
Out West, Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats are looking to return to the Final Four for the first time since the Lute Olsen days.
National Champion Winner: Purdue (+850)
Purdue has the experience, shooting, defense, and depth to truly complete the gauntlet of winning a National Championship this year. Led by the backcourt duo of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, this team will most definitely end the year as a one or two seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Their three bigs in Oscar Cluff, TKR, and Daniel Jacobsen each provide a different skillset, but all three bigs are extremely physical and can outrebound anyone in the country. The x-factors come in the forms of C.J. Cox and star Freshman out of Tel Aviv, Omer Mayer.
Cox has been a key contributor for the Boilermakers dating back to last season, while Mayer was a star on the FIBA U19 Israeli team this summer. These two have shown in spurts how Purdue can make a March to April run. This is their best team and most complete team, maybe ever.
To Make Final Four: Arizona (+330)
It is finally Tommy Lloyd and Arizona’s year. While Sean Miller took the Cats to a handful of Elite 8s, his amazing Arizona squads could never get over the hump (thanks in part to the Wisconsin Badgers). Now, Arizona has one of the top guards in the country in future NBA player Jaden Bradley, and one of the top freshmen in Koa Peat.
Arizona has already beaten UConn away, UCLA in Los Angeles, and Florida on a neutral floor. Their bigs between Awaka and Krivas can rotate seamlessly while Anthony Dell’Orso, Brayden Burries, and Ivan Kharchenkov provide solid wing depth and can really knock down shots when open.
The X-Factor could become Dwayne Aristode, the Freshman from the Netherlands. He is a big bodied 6’8 wing that can really handle and shoot the rock. If Peat and Bradley get cold one night in March, Aristode could be the guy to lift the Cats over the edge.
To Make Final Four: Michigan State (+750)
Izzo brings his best in March, and Michigan State, led by PG/QB sophomore Jeremy Fears (9.7 APG) and senior Jaxon Kohler (14.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG), are two of the best at their positions.
Coen Carr brings a change of pace and athleticism that Izzo has never seen, while the rest of the team is full of lanky defenders that propelled this team to 5th in defensive efficiency via KenPom.
MSU has three quality wins against Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina – I’ve seen enough from this 7-0 team to believe they will get a top-three seed and make some real noise this postseason.
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