2020-21 NCAA College Basketball Season Betting Preview | Odds and Picks

The 2020-21 men’s college basketball season is set to begin on Wednesday, and it is set to become a season unlike any other.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still sweeping through the United States, the college basketball landscape will have to be shifted.

There is still plenty of hype and anticipation for the upcoming season, and the action on the court will still be tremendous.

Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the US, but college basketball is not far behind.

This betting preview will discuss some of the changes for the upcoming season before discussing some of the top teams in each conference as well as the country.

NCAAB Championship Betting Odds

NCAA Championship betting odds are already out, and these odds will change frequently as the season goes along.

Now is a good time to make a future bet on which team will win the 2021 NCAA Championship, but there will be other opportunities as well. 

Here are the current odds from the best March Madness betting site for the top 16 teams:

Team	Odds
Baylor	+950
Gonzaga	+950
Villanova	+950
Iowa	+1000
Virginia	+1100
Kentucky	+1200
Illinois	+1500
Duke	+1600
Kansas	+1800
Michigan State	+1800
Wisconsin	+1800
Arizona State	+2300
Creighton	+2300
West Virginia	+2300
Florida State	+2500
Houston	+2500
Everyone Else	+2800 or Higher

NCAA Basketball Tournament In One Location

The first major change to the 2020-21 season won’t be felt until the month of March, but it is a major change.

The entire 2021 NCAA Tournament is set to be held in one location, and Indianapolis will likely be chosen as the host. 

It’s unclear how much of an effect the tournament change will have, but it is something to keep in mind when making NCAA championship bets.

Teams could also be dealing with COVID-19 at that time, and it could knock out some of the favorites. 

Schedule Changes Will Be Frequent

Another thing that will be common throughout the college basketball season is that games will be forced to be canceled or postponed each week.

This same thing has happened to the 2020 college football season, and there is simply no way around it.

These schedule changes could certainly affect some conference races as the season plays out, but each league is hopeful that it is able to play an entire season.

If you are planning on making some conference outright bets, then it might be wise to wait until a little closer to conference action. 

NCAA Season’s Favorites

Winning the NCAA Championship is never an easy task, and technically all of the teams listed above could be considered the favorite.

There are some other teams that stand out more than the rest, and these three teams will be tough to beat this season.

Baylor +800

Baylor spent a majority of last season ranked No. 1 in the country, and the Bears should be loaded again this season.

The Bears have a very experienced team, and this team knows how to defend.

The Big 12 Conference should be tough again this season, and that will have Baylor ready to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga +500

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are now a perennial Final Four contender, and they always put up huge numbers in the regular season.

Head coach Mark Few has accomplished a ton during his career, but a national title is still missing from his resume.

This could be the year that Gonzaga finishes the season on top and cuts down the nets. 

Iowa +750

Iowa center Luka Garza is coming back to school, and he is the best player in the country.

The Hawkeyes will have one of the deepest teams in the country this season, and they can really score the basketball. 

NCAA Season’s Underdogs

Even though these three teams below are listed among the top 16 teams above, each of them enters the 2020-21 season with something to prove.

Don’t be surprised to see one of these underdogs win the title this season.

Illinois +1200

The Illinois Fighting Illini are led by Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, and both players will likely be lottery picks in the NBA Draft at the end of this season.

Illinois was one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, and that momentum should carry over into this season. 

Michigan State +1650

The Michigan State Spartans have just one national championship under head coach Tom Izzo, but this team is a perennial Final Four contender.

In a year that will have a lot of uncertainty, this could be the time for Izzo and the Spartans to break through and win it all.

Creighton +2000

The Creighton Bluejays were one of the most underrated teams in the country a season ago, but they were a team that had a chance to win it all.

Creighton can score points in a hurry, and this team will have plenty of experience. 

Power 5 Conference Previews

Along with betting on which team will win the 2021 NCAA Championship, conference outright betting is also available.

This is a bet on which team will win the regular-season title in each conference. 

ACC

Team	Odds
Virginia	+190
Duke	+250

In the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), it appears to be a two-team race, though Florida State and North Carolina could also be in the mix.

Virginia is the reigning national champion, and Duke once again had one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

Virginia is the team to beat in the ACC this season, and they are the smart pick here. 

Big 12

Team	Odds
Baylor	+140
Kansas	+200
West Virginia	+500

Kansas was the winner of the Big 12 regular-season title a season ago, and it has absolutely dominated the conference over the past decade.

Even though Baylor is likely the team that will advance the farthest in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas at +200 is the team to beat in the Big 12 Conference. 

Big Ten

Team	Odds
Iowa	+240
Wisconsin	+310
Illinois	+340
Michigan State	+450

The Big Ten Conference will be the best conference in college basketball next season, and there are four teams that have a legitimate shot of winning the regular-season title.

This conference could also produce numerous Final Four contenders as there is a ton of talent in this league.

The best pick to win the Big Ten Conference is Illinois at +340. The Fighting Illini are led by a pair of potential lottery picks, and this team is loaded with young talent as well.

SEC

Team	Odds
Kentucky	+120
Tennessee	+350

The SEC will likely be a two-team race next season between Kentucky and Tennessee. There are some other teams that will be in the mix, but the Wildcats and Volunteers are easily the conference’s two best.

Kentucky is the easy pick, but don’t be surprised to see Tennessee surprise everyone this season and win the SEC. Take the Volunteers at +350 to win the SEC in 2020-21. 

Pac-12

Team	Odds
Arizona State	+230
UCLA	+300
Oregon	+450

Oregon is considered a team that could reach the Final Four this season, but it is not even favored to win its own conference.

The Arizona State Sun Devils are the preseason favorites in what should be an exciting race in the Pac-12.

The smart money is still on Oregon as it is simply too talented. Take the Ducks at +450 to win the Pac-12 this season.