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Handicapping 2015 College Hoops Futures & NCAAB Gambling Lines

Future Betting Odds

It hasn’t been long since Connecticut won its fourth national title at the end of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, but odds for next season’s title are already out.[ad-4468020]

Here are the top 25 favorites to win the 2015 men’s national title, courtesy LVH.

Arizona 6 – 1

Arizona was a one-seed entering this year’s NCAA Tournament, and they appear headed there once again this upcoming season. Head coach Sean Miller has restocked the shelves with a strong recruiting class, headlined by Stanley Johnson, one of the top players in the Class of 2014. Aaron Gordon is likely to leave, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes of Nick Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Brandon Ashley hang around to play on what could be a special team.

Duke 7 – 1

Everything in the college basketball world gets spun on its head if Jabari Parker does in fact return to Durham for another year, an option he is reportedly legitimately considering. Rodney Hood hasn’t declared yet, either.

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Either way, the Blue Devils bring in point guard Tyus Jones and center Jahlil Okafor, each the top-ranked player at their positions. Key contributors Rasheed Sulaimon, Quinn Cook, and Amile Jefferson will be back as well, and with a sour taste in their mouths after an early tournament exit.

Kansas 12 – 1

There’s no way to positively spin the losses of Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid. The loss of Embiid stings especially bad, because there were signs pointing to a return for his sophomore season. In any case, the Jayhawks bring in another strong freshman class headlined by the nation’s top power forward, Cliff Alexander, and highly touted small forward Kelly Oubre. Perry Ellis took a big step forward this past season and will hang around for another year, as will Wayne Selden Jr. and Naadire Tharpe.

Kentucky 12 – 1

Kentucky’s taken a bit of a step back in recruiting, though that was to be expected given they were coming off of arguable the greatest recruiting class of all time. Still, bigs Trey Lyles and Karl Towns will make the Wildcats a force to be reckoned with. Their guard situation could be a problem, though if John Calipari can convince the Harrison twins to hang around for another year, watch out.

Wisconsin 12 – 1

Wisconsin isn’t regarded this highly because of a strong incoming class. Instead, they return many of the same faces that helped the team to the Final Four. Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker will again play significant roles, while Josh Gasser and Traevon Jackson will be entering their senior seasons. The loss of Ben Brust will hurt, but that should be offset by the emergence of Nigel Hayes.

Florida 15 – 1

The losses of players like Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, and Patric Young would cripple most programs, but head coach Billy Donovan has set up the Gators well for a smooth transition into the next era. A solid recruiting class will bolster the talent already on campus, as Chris Walker, Kasey Hill, and Dorian Finney-Smith will all step into bigger roles. Michael Frazier II is also hanging around to help things along.

North Carolina 15 – 1

Many project North Carolina to be better than what these odds would indicate. The return of Marcus Paige is a real boost to the team, as he could end up as college basketball’s best point guard a year from now. Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson will need to learn fast, though, along with Joel Berry, they give the Tar Heels plenty of depth along the perimeter.
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Wichita State 20 – 1

Cleanthony Early was the best player on the court by a country mile the last time we saw the Shockers on the hardwood, and there’s no way of sugar-coating his departure. However, many of the others will return, including Fred VanVleet and Tekele Cotton. Ron Baker also made a surprising decision to return to school for another year, putting the NBA off for the moment.

Villanova 25 – 1

Villanova was back in the hunt last season after some down years. The team was knocked off by the eventual champions, so that could ease some of the wounds that came from their early exit. Many of those players will be returning for another go at it.

Louisville 30 – 1

The Cardinals’ championship pedigree is going to take a major hit in the offseason. Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, and Stephan Van Treese are all gone. Montrezl Harrell was expected to return, but it now sounds like he’ll be NBA bound after a strong season. Luckily for Louisville supporters, Rick Pitino has the fourth-ranked recruiting class coming to town, including four players in the top-100.

SMU 30 – 1
Virginia 30 – 1
Iowa State 30 – 1
Michigan 30 – 1
Michigan State 40 – 1
Syracuse 40 – 1
VCU 40 – 1
Gonzaga 50 – 1
Ohio State 50 – 1
Oklahoma 50 – 1
San Diego State 50 – 1
Texas 50 – 1
UCLA 50 – 1
Iowa 60 – 1
Nebraska 60 – 1

By Gino Bottero

Gino is new to CappersPicks.com but NOT new to the online gambling industry.He's got an AMAZING knack for discovering hidden gems when it comes to betting on sports. Stick with him as he predicts when a team will have a letdown! Check Gino out for NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB betting articles all season long!