Trent Reinsmith
- What: 2023 NCAA Basketball Championship Game
- Date & Location: Monday, April 3, 2023 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
- Time: TBA
- How to Watch: TBA
When the 2022 NCAA Basketball Season came to a close, the Kansas Jayhawks walked away with the national title. Following the 2021 Final Four, the Jayhawks were listed at +1800 to win the 2022 NCAAB title. Meanwhile, the team they defeated in the final, the North Carolina Tar Heels, checked in at +2500. The favorites coming out of the 2021 title game were the Gonzaga Bulldogs (+900), who lost to the Baylor Bears (+1600) in the 2021 NCAAB championship game.
The current defending NCAAB champions are in the mix according to the early odds for the 2023 NCAA basketball title. However, they are not the team favored to take home the title in 2023.
Before we look at picks, odds and predictions for the 2023 NCAAB title, check out the best sites for March Madness betting. Also, be sure to check out our NCAA College Basketball betting page for tips and advice on how to wager on NCAA basketball.
2023 NCAA Basketball national title picks
| To Win 2023 NCAA Basketball Championship |  |  |  |  |
| Kentucky | +1000 | +1100 | +1150 | +1150 |
| North Carolina | +1000 | +1100 | +1075 | +1075 |
| Houston | +100 | +1000 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Duke | +1200 | +1100 | +1225 | +1225 |
| UCLA | +1400 | +1600 | +1425 | +1425 |
| Arkansas | +1400 | +1400 | +1250 | +1250 |
| Kansas | +1600 | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Creighton | +1600 | +2500 | +2300 | +2300 |
| Baylor | +1800 | +1500 | +1575 | +1575 |
| Gonzaga | +2200 | +1800 | +1650 | +1650 |
| Arizona | +2200 | +1800 | +1675 | +1675 |
| Michigan | +2800 | +2000 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Texas | +3300 | +4000 | +4200 | +4200 |
| Texas Tech | +3300 | +3000 | +2700 | +2700 |
| Indiana | +3300 | +3000 | +4800 | +4800 |
| Villanova | +2500 | +3500 | +3700 | +3700 |
| Tennessee | +4000 | +3500 | +3200 | +3200 |
| TCU | +4000 | +7000 | +5600 | +5600 |
| Illinois | +4500 | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Florida | +5000 | +6000 | +8000 | +8000 |
| San Diego State | +5000 | +6000 | +6400 | +6400 |
| Auburn | +5000 | +4500 | +4100 | +4100 |
| Alabama | +5000 | +3500 | +3400 | +3400 |
| Virginia | +6600 | +5000 | +5600 | +5600 |
| Michigan State | +6600 | +8000 | +4900 | +4900 |
| Oregon | +6600 | +5000 | +4900 | +4900 |
| Purdue | +6600 | +4500 | +4600 | +4600 |
| Memphis | +6600 | +6500 | +9000 | +9000 |
| Louisville | +8000 | +10000 | +11000 | +11000 |
| Ohio State | +8000 | +8000 | +7500 | +7500 |
| Connecticut | +8000 | +9000 | +7000 | +7000 |
| Butler | +8000 | +20000 | +14000 | +14000 |
| USC | +8000 | +70000 | +6400 | +6400 |
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats finished the 2022 NCAA Basketball season with a record of 26-8. That record was good enough for the second spot in the SEC. The team’s play — and finish — during the regular season, did not help it during the NCAA tourney. The Saint Peter’s Peacocks, who made an impressive run to the Final Four, eliminated the Wildcats in the first round.
Kentucky is losing some name players ahead of the upcoming season, but Oscar Tshiebwe is coming back for John Calipari’s program and that is good news. Tshiebwe led the Wildcats in points (17.4), rebounds (15.1), steals (1.8) and blocks (1.6) in 2022.
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels put together a 29-10 record last year and finished in the second spot in the ACC. The Tar Heels fell short in the championship game, losing to the Kansas Jayhawks by a score of 72-69, but they are expected to challenge for the title again in 2023.
One reason the Tar Heels are in the mix is that four of their five starters opted to return to Chapel Hill instead of declaring for the NBA draft. One of the players coming back is Armando Bacot. Bacot led the Tar Heels in points (16.3), rebounds (13.1) and blocks (1.7). Also coming back is Caleb Love, who was second on the team in scoring (15.9) and R.J. Davis, who led the team in assists (3.6) and steals (1.0).
Houston Cougars
In 2022, the Houston Cougars complied a 32-6 record and finished at the top of the American Conference. The Cougars made it to the South final before falling to Villanova by a score of 50-44. Had the team won that game, Houston would have made it to the Final Four in back-to-back years.
The Cougars look like they will have a good mix of returning players to go with a solid recruiting class. With that and their experience in the NCAA basketball tournament, Houston is expected to once again be in the mix when the 2023 NCAA Basketball season comes to a close.
Kansas Jayhawks
The big reason the Kansas Jayhawks are not favored to repeat as NCAA Basketball Champions in 2023 is that the team is going to look very different in the upcoming season. Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Remy Martin, Mitch Lightfoot and Jalen Coleman-Lands will not be back and the return of Christian Braun is still a question.
If the Jayhawks are to contend, the team is going to need some contributions from prospects like Gradey Dick, M.J. Rice and Ernest Udeh.
Our pick
With the quality of players who are coming back, it’s difficult to pick against the North Carolina Tar Heels right now.
Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels to win 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
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