The 2024-2025 college basketball season continues to roll along. We’re just a month away from selection on Sunday, March 16th with the first four tipping off on March 18th. Teams are trying to secure those key wins now, and looking forward to their conference tournaments as March Madness gets ready to ramp up. Let’s take a look at the NCAA college basketball futures updates and best bets.
The Auburn Tigers and Duke Blue Devils currently the #1 and #4 ranked teams in the nation respectively lead the championship winner market. They control the top of the board, as the Houston Cougars and Alabama Crimson Tide more than double their number as the next two teams on the board.
NCAA College Basketball Futures Update and Best Bets
Auburn Tigers +400
Duke Blue Devils +400
Houston Cougars +900
Alabama Crimson Tide +900
Florida Gators +1100
Iowa State Cyclones +1400
Tennessee Volunteers +1800
St. John’s Red Storm +2500
UConn Huskies +2500
Kentucky Wildcats +3000
Michigan State Spartans +3000
Kansas Jayhawks +3000
Arizona Wildcats +3500
Purdue Boilermakers +4000
Texas Tech Red Raiders +4000
Texas A&M Aggies +500
Gonzaga Bulldogs +5000
Marquette Golden Eagles +6000
Michigan Wolverines +6000
Mississippi State Bulldogs +6000
Illinois Fighting Illini +6000
Creighton Bluejays +8000
Ole Miss Rebels +8000
Clemson Tigers +8000
Maryland Terrapins +8000
UCLA Bruins +8000
Louisville Cardinals +10000
Wisconsin Badgers +10000
Missouri Tigers +10000
Memphis Tigers +12500
Baylor Bears +15000
Ohio State Buckeyes +15000
Drake Bulldogs +20000
West Virginia Mountaineers +25000
Saint Mary’s Gaels +25000
California Irvingdale Anteaters +25000
Cincinnati Bearcats +25000
Arizona Razorbacks +25000
NCAA College Basketball Futures Update and Best Bets
Iowa State to Make the Final Four (+300)
This Iowa State team feels special. The Cyclones sit at 19-5 heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats. They faced some recent setbacks with back-to-back-to-back losses to Arizona, Kansas State, and Kansas. Those losses have dipped their odds a bit, and now is the perfect time to buy in.
Iowa State just beat the same Kansas team 74-57 back on January 15th, right after toppling Texas Tech on the road. They took #1 Auburn down to the wire back in November when the teams matchup up. The team is led by senior guard Curtis Jones who averages 17.4 points per game. His running mate at guard Keshon Gilbert, another senior and leader on the court averages 14.7 points per game.
Creighton to Make the Final Four (+1200)
Looking for a longer-shot team to make the final four, you’ve got to find a team who has shown they can compete with great teams, and Creighton has done that. Two years ago they lost in the Elite Eight by just a single point and went back to the Sweet 16 last year. They scored a win over St. John’s and Kansas before ringing in the New Year. They kept it close against a tough Alabama team on the road as well as Texas A&M.
The Bluejays are led by Ryan Kalkbrenner, their star 7’ 1” center. Kalkbrenner is the senior leader of this team. He averages 19.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds. Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal are fellow senior leaders. I love to bet on teams loaded with veteran college players with post-season experience.
Florida Gators National Champions (+1100)
The Gators look well on their way to a high seed and right now are looking at a #1 seed in March Madness. Going into Saturday they are 20-3 on the year and 8-3 in the toughest conference in college basketball. The Gators have been tested and will continue to be. They have matchups against Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss over the next few weeks.
The Gators have been banged up this season, but Junior center Micah Handlogten is returning to the team after suffering a lower leg injury last March. The team is hopeful Alijah Martin will return from injury soon. Senior guard Walter Clayton leads the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game. Clayton, along with Martin and Will Richard make up a strong backcourt of experienced senior guards.
Gonzaga National Champions (+5500)
If I’m looking for a long shot, why not Mark Few and the Bulldogs of Gonzaga? A Final Four team last year, Few is a coach who seemingly always has his team in the mix. Gonzaga still needs to earn their spot in the dance, but as ESPN’s Joe Lunardi said during Thursday’s broadcast the Zags “are not missing the NCAA Tournament.”
For nine consecutive seasons, Few has gotten his team to the Sweet 16. Gonzaga is 19-7 entering Saturday’s game against Pepperdine, and while their season hasn’t been overly impressive, it wasn’t last year either. The team was a borderline tournament team that made a run all the way to the Sweet 16. The team is led by Senior forward Graham Ike, and Senior guard Khalif Battle. Ryan Nembhard, Braden Huff, and Nolan Hickman lead a contingency of players that returned from last year’s Sweet 16 run.
