NCAAB Futures Picks For The 2020-21 Season

Last year, for the first time since the NCAA Tournament began in 1939, there was no champion. March Madness was among the first major sporting events to fall victim to the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. College basketball is ramping up for the 2020-21 season, and the usual suspects are right there listed among the favorites. With the pandemic still looming large, depth could prove a team's most vital quality. 

• Villanova, the 2016 and 2018 NCAA men's basketball champions, are the +700 favorites to win the 2020-21 title
• Baylor, Gonzaga, and Iowa are co-second betting choices at +800
• Virginia, the 2019 champs, are at odds of +900

Familiar faces are atop the odds boards in the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament odds. The Villanova Wildcats, winners of March Madness in 2016 and 2018, are opening as the +700 favorites to win yet again. Not far off the pace are the 2019 champions, the Virginia Cavaliers. They can be had for odds of +900. In a group at +800 are the Baylor Bears, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Iowa Hawkeyes.

If there's anything that bettors should glean from NCAA Tournament history, it's that preseason favorites don't always survive to be postseason contenders. Oddsmakers are weighing returning players alongside the potential of second-stringers who must become starters, as well as the strength of recruiting in terms of incoming freshmen. Sometimes, the equation doesn't add up to the expected outcome.

For that reason, it's never a bad idea to consider schools a little further down the odds board. Traditional powers such as the Kentucky Wildcats (+900), Kansas Jayhawks (+1100), and Duke Blue Devils (+1200) shouldn't be overlooked.

Odds to win the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament
Villanova	+700	+800	+1000
Baylor	+800	+1200	+1200
Gonzaga	+800	+1000	+1000�
Iowa	+800	+1000	+1000
Virginia	+900	+1800	+1800
Kentucky	+900	+950	+1400
Kansas	+1100	+2000	+2000

Villanova To win the NCAAB National Championship

+700

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One COVID-19-induced change to the 2020 format - the entire NCAA Tournament will be played in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. There will be no regional rounds held at other venues. Among March Madness betting tips to consider, this might make Duke offer intriguing value. The Blue Devils are 9-1 in NCAA tourney games played in Indy under coach Mike Krzyzewski. He's won three of his five NCAA titles there.

Wild About Wildcats

Jay Wright might be the best coach in college basketball and Villanova returns eight of its top nine scorers.

Champs in 2016 and 2018, the Wildcats couldn't beat the March Madness odds in 2017 or 2019, making first-weekend exits from the tourney both years.

Bullish On Bulldogs

Always an usher, never a bridegroom. That's been Gonzaga's March Madness lament. Why should this year be any different?

Fighting COVID-19 as well as the schedule, the Bulldogs are among the NCAA's deepest teams. Corey Kispert is a preseason All-American and frosh Jalen Suggs is already being labeled the best recruit in school history.

Eyes Of Texas Upon Baylor

A school from the state of Texas hasn't beaten the March Madness odds since Texas Western won the NCAA title in 1966. The most recent Final Four appearance by the Bears was in 1950.

This Baylor team brings back four starters from last year's 26-4 squad, led by Naismith Award contender Jared Butler. The Bears are deep in backcourt talent.

Cavalier Attitude

You have to go back to the 2005-06 and 2006-07 Florida Gators to find a school with successive NCAA Tournament wins. Virginia technically wouldn't be back-to-back because no one won in 2020.

The Cavaliers always play tournament-tough defense under coach Tony Bennett. The addition of Marquette transfer Sam Hauser, who is a 44.5% 3-point shooter, adds an outside threat to the Virginia lineup.

Will Big Ten Be The One?

It will have been 10 times two plus one years since a Big Ten school ruled over NCAA men's basketball when this season's tourney gets underway. In that span, the conference has sent 21 teams to the Final Four and gone 0-7 in the championship game since the Michigan State Spartans won it all in 2000.

As is the case every season, a number of Big Ten teams will be serious threats to take the title. Perennial contenders such as MSU and Wisconsin can't be counted out.

Led by Naismith Award hopeful Nate Garza, Iowa may have its best team since reaching the Final Four in 1979. With Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn deciding not to opt into the NBA Draft, Illinois could end an NCAA tourney drought that extends back to 2013.

Where To Bet On NCAA Tournament

"NCAAB Georgetown v Rutgers 052" by tsavoja is licensed under CC BY 2.0

There are a number of leading online sports betting sites that will provide bettors the chance to place a wager on the March Madness odds. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the best deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out BetUS and MyBookie as examples.

The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you'll get a good deal wherever you go, why not shop around and find the best fit for your needs?

Do you want a risk-free first bet as a signup bonus? Perhaps you find a no-deposit bonus to be enticing. Or maybe you simply like the feel of cold, hard cash in your account and you want to go for a matching first deposit bonus. Whatever option you choose, you're already a winner.

See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you: