Eric Uribe
College basketball is (almost) back in business! The season tips off on November 9 and the beauty of things is most schools are optimistic about their futures — in their respective conferences and even March Madness. We’re optimistic too, which is why we’re giving you our favorite betting picks to advance the 2022 NCAA Final Four.
Yes, it’s early, but at the same time, you’re locking in value-rich odds this time of the year. For all you know, Duke is about to rip off 10 straight wins to begin the season, which would shoot their NCAA Tourney Final Four odds way up (and lessen your potential payoff). With that in mind, let’s see how current NCAA odds are shaking out:
| Team |  |  |
| Gonzaga | +190 | +190 |
| Michigan | +330 | +330 |
| UCLA | +380 | +380 |
| Villanova | +380 | +380 |
| Texas | +425 | +425 |
| Duke | +425 | +425 |
| Memphis | +425 | +425 |
| Purdue | +450 | +450 |
| Kansas | +450 | +450 |
| Kentucky | +450 | +450 |
| Baylor | +500 | +500 |
| Ohio State | +500 | +500 |
| Arkansas | +750 | +750 |
NCAA Final Four Betting Pick — Gonzaga
Let’s begin our predictions with the school that online bookmakers are marking as the odds-on favorite to win their region, the Zags. It makes sense why the Bulldogs are a modest +190 — no team has an easier path to the Final Four than Gonzaga and it’s not even close.
Year in, year out, the chatter with Gonzaga is always the same: the West Coast Conference is a cakewalk and doesn’t prepare them for the stiff competition that comes with the NCAA Tournament. There’s reason to believe that’s true (the Zags have yet to win a national title despite all their success over the past two decades) but there’s also reason to believe it’s not (they’ve made the championship game twice in the last four years). We have no dog in this fight besides the Bulldogs are talented enough to advance to the Final Four — no matter its playing conference.
Here’s a crazy but true stat: all seven freshmen and sophomores on the team are either four- or five-star recruits. Every single one, but none with more hype than Chet Holmgren. The seven-foot freshman is widely regarded as the best prospect of his class thanks to a unique blend of ball skills, shooting, and size (with mobility). There’s not a bigger no-brainer bet to make here than Gonzaga. Just do it!
NCAA Final Four Betting Pick — Duke
Without question, the biggest storyline in college hoops this year is Mike Krzyzewski’s pending retirement. Coach K is calling it a career at year’s end after 42 years at the helm of the program that’s come to symbolize the collegiate sport. The looming retirement has added extra pressure to a Duke program that’s almost always a title contender anyway.
As the saying goes, “pressure either creates diamonds or bust pipes.” We’re betting the former happens with this year’s Blue Devils team. Look, we know the core of this roster is barely 18 and 19 years old — born long before the glory days of Grant Hill and Christian Laettner — but even they’ll realize the magnitude of this season and Krzyzewski’s illustrious legacy. The team is talented as is, now they’re especially motivated to send their coach out on top, which is a dangerous one-two punch.
Krzyzewski’s swan song will be led by three five-star freshmen, the only school in the nation that can lay claim to that distinction. The trio consists of Paulo Banchero (No. 4 on ESPN’s Top-100 for Class of 2021), A.J. Griffin (No. 14), and Trevor Keels (No. 19). Two of the three could very well be top-10 NBA Draft picks next summer.
NCAA Final Four Betting Pick — Kansas
While our first two betting picks will be very dependent on freshmen to make a deep March Madness run, the same can’t be said about the Jayhawks. You see, Kansas is returning four of its top-five scored from last season — a team that went 21-9 and finished second in the Big-12. But Bill Self, entering his 19th season with the program, also added new talents to help his team “get over the hum.”
Chief among them is point guard Remy Martin. He was the No. 1-rated transfer on the market during the offseason before picking Kansas. The junior averaged 19.1 points and 3.7 assists per game with Arizona State a season ago. That’s game-changing production to a team already rich in talent.
NCAA Final Four Betting Pick — Arkansas
Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman has taken an unconventional approach to building a title contender — stocking up on tried-and-true transfers rather than one-and-done talent like his coaching peers. The Hogs added four double-digit scorers via the transfer market, including Chris Lykes (averaged 15.5 points at Miami) and Au’Diese Toney (14.4 points at Pitt).
There’s reason to believe Musselman’s counterintuitive method might just work. He took the Hogs all the way to the Elite 8 in 2021 — the furthest the school had gone since 1995. He did so in only year two with the program, which to us, signals another step forward coming in year three, especially with the new additions. A big step, in fact!
How To Bet College Basketball Online
Looking for a one-stop-shop to betting on NCAA basketball this season? MyTopSportsbooks knows exactly where to find it and it’s with the bookmakers outlined below. These betting sites have you covered with any and all NCAAB odds, from early-season tournaments to the regular season to March Madness.
Right now, you could even earn hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play by merely signing up to one of the sportsbooks. Sign-up bonuses currently available are listed in table underneath. Take your pick at what big-money deal you want!
