Following a month of college basketball games, the interest of both followers and wagerers is growing. There are a ton of storylines to follow in a sport like college hoops. It’s a good idea to evaluate our progress and determine how bettors may take advantage of the remaining value after the first few weeks.
These are five narratives that viewers of CBB ought to keep an eye on.Player of the Year in the Nation
Prior to the season, Zach Edey was a lock to earn National Player of the Year, provided he remained healthy. Is there a player other than the Purdue big man who would be more valuable? At this moment, the answer is most likely not.
Edey had +230 odds at Sports Betting News to win POY before the season started. By the end of November, he was down to +160, and his case has only gotten stronger. His numbers are comparable to those from the previous campaign, and Purdue is currently atop the rankings.
With Hunter Dickinson (+300) and Kyle Filipowski (+800) looming just below him, it would be astonishing to see anyone other than Edey take home the win, barring an injury. Investing in Edey now, before those probabilities decrease once more, would make sense.
Is Purdue Able to Put Things Right?
Speaking of Purdue, after losing to a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament the previous year, many wondered if the Boilermakers were really deserving of the preseason fanfare. The Boilermakers passed all of their preseason examinations. They are still unbeaten after winning the Maui Invitational.
Purdue has taken the top spot in the AP poll, and it looks like the Boilermakers are here to stay. Purdue is available at +900 to win the national title and +340 to advance to the Final Four.
In the Big East, who wins?
There were two Big East teams in the preseason top 10. There are two more who have a good chance of being notable this season. Currently ranked No. 3 is Marquette, while No. 4 is UConn, the reigning national champion. Villanova, a consistent competitor, is ranked 18th, and Creighton is ranked No. 15.
The favorite to win the conference title is Marquette, at +220. Up next at +250 is UConn. Villanova is listed at +550 and Creighton is given +400 odds. As the conference calendar gets underway in January, these chances are bound to alter.
Will Florida Atlantic Make it Again?
During the preseason, it’s interesting to wonder if Florida Atlantic was really worth all the excitement. The Owls had a remarkable run to the Final Four last year and returned all of its key players, but analysts couldn’t agree on how to rank them. FAU was ranked No. 19 a week ago. With a 5-1 record, the Owls are now rated 13th in the nation.
After a slow start that including a disastrous home loss to Bryant, Florida Atlantic seems to be getting back on track. And with Alijah Martin fully recovered, the Owls defeated Texas A&M and Virginia Tech to cap out an undefeated Feast Week. FAU has the same +1000 odds as Maryland and Arkansas to return to the Final Four.
Cinderella Team?
There are still Cinderellas, like Florida Atlantic, but are there any others? This season, two clubs immediately spring to mind. James Madison is one of them. The Dukes caused the first major upset of the season when they defeated Michigan State with a furious march into East Lansing. The Dukes are still unbeaten at 6-0 and have risen all the way to 73rd in the KenPom rankings.
Another potential Cinderella is Colorado State, which could boast Isaiah Stevens, the greatest point guard in the country. Many predicted Creighton to make the Final Four before the season began, but the Rams pulled off a surprising surprise. Colorado State is still off the board as of right now, and JMU is favored to make the Final Four at +1000.