Wooden Award Betting Odds & Picks
February 28, 2022
West Coast Conference Tournament Picks
March 1, 2022
Don’t have the stones to bet the outright winner of the 2022 NCAA Tournament? Then hedging the Final Four betting odds at drastically reduced prices is just for you! This betting market type only became en vogue with the surge of regulated US sportsbooks infiltrating the market and offering its patrons options never before seen. If you can hear the sarcasm, you can tell I’m not a big fan of these offerings. No guts no glory; that’s my spin – take it or leave it! In terms of the odds to reach the Final Four, DraftKings Sportsbook seems to have the most competitive prices, so we’ll take their offerings for a spin and see if we can’t add to the bankroll. Here’s a list of teams I believe have it in them to be one of the last four teams standing come the end of March.
Final Four Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Gonzaga -120
Arizona/Kentucky +180
Auburn +220
Purdue +200
Duke +240
Baylor +300
Kansas +260
UCLA/Villanova +400
Texas Tech +500
Houston +600
Illinois/Ohio State/Tennessee +700
Alabama +800
Texas/Arkansas +1000
UConn/Providence/LSU +1200
Wisconsin/Iowa +1400
USC/Michigan State/Marquette +1500
Xavier +1600
Wake Forest/Indiana +1800
Florida/St. Mary’s/Memphis +2000
Davidson/Seton Hall/Oregon/Notre Dame/UNC/Michigan/Miami/Wyoming/Iowa State +2500
Colorado St/Wash St/SMU/SD State/San Fran/Oklahoma +3500
Rutgers +4000
FSU/UAB/Creighton/Cincy/Fresno St/BYU/Utah St/TCU/St. Louis/Miss St +4500
Virginia Tech +6000
Dayton/Belmont/Virginia/VCU +7000
Toledo/Mizzou St/St. Bonnies/NM State/N Texas/K-State +8000
Iona +9000
Drake/Furman/UCF +10000
Richmond +11000
S Dakota St/UNLV/Temple/UMass/UNI +12000
Favorites to Bet:
Arizona Wildcats +180
You’ll notice the Gonzaga Bulldogs have been omitted from this list. I’m not buying this year’s team being better than last’s. Chet Holmgren is a solid addition, but the Zags are without too many of last year’s runner-up team. Instead, I’m rolling with Tommy Lloyd’s Cats who look to have all the traits of a team readily able to reach the Final Four. It’s an international team that possesses all the key ingredients to cut down the nets.
Kentucky Wildcats +180
I personally believe KY Jelly is the best overall team in the land when all the pertinent pieces to the puzzle are readily able to take the hardwood. While the team has survived without TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler, it simply won’t have the excelled guard play needed to win it all if either continues to be nicked up. When 100 percent healthy, I don’t think there’s a team in the country that can withstand their onslaught.
Villanova Wildcats +400
Collin Gillespie going down to a season-ending injury last season cost the Wildcats a shot at once again cutting down the nets. Though Nova’s defense is no longer elite, the offense can flat-out fill the hoop with basketballs. The unit’s long range shooting always seems to rise to the occasion for every big game, and Gillespie is the best ringleader in the game. This team’s got alligator blood and will be extremely tough for any of the 63 other teams to dispose of.
Texas Tech Red Raiders +500
Is it possible the Red Raiders are better under Mark Adams than they ever were with Chris Beard calling the shots in Lubbock? With Terrence Shannon Jr. and company just rattling off an 18th straight win at home, it’s debatable. Regardless, Tech’s defense is no joke (No. 2 per KenPom) and the offense has really evolved into a competent group (No. 44). This squad has the intestinal fortitude to not only reach the Final Four, but also cut down the nets.
Houston Cougars +600
When the 3’s are dropping and the Coogs get out to a lead, they’re incredibly tough to deal with due to slowing the game down to a crawl (No. 320) and playing lock down defense (No. 15). The job Kelvin Sampson has done is amazing with the early losses of Mackey Sasser and Tramon Mark taken into account. A bulk of this squad got a taste of the Final Four last year and remains hungry!
Tennessee Volunteers +700
The SEC version of the team up above, the Vols are a team that can either make a deep run or get bounced in the first weekend. The defense will always show up (No. 3), but the offense has been prone to go on numerous scoring droughts. It’ll be up to Santiago Vescovi, Kennedy chandler and Zakai Ziegler to ultimately prevent the latter from ending their season prematurely.
Arkansas Razorbacks +1000
Come on DK! The Hogs are 55-1 to win the whole enchilada bit just 10-1 to reach the Final Four? It doesn’t add up! Regardless, there isn’t a hitter team in the SEC right now than J.D. Notae and his mates who’ve only fallen once in their last 14 games. Likely a chic pick to win the SEC tourney next week, the Razorbacks are taking money in the F4 futures market as well so don’t be late to the party!
UConn Huskies +1200
After getting bounced by Maryland in the first round a season ago, is this the year UConn returns to relevance on the big stage of the NCAA Tournament? With R.J. Cole at the controls and Adama Sonogo down low to do all the dirty work, the Huskies certainly have the ingredients needed to make some noise. Though the 12-1 offering is a joke, it’s still worthy of your attention.
Providence Friars +1200
The Providence Friars should change their name to the Rodney Dangerfield’s since nobody gives the team the respect they so rightfully deserve. While there hasn’t been a luckier team in the country per the Pomeroy Ratings Luck Rating, they’ve still gone out and won a majority of the close wins. That must count for something in a win or go home format. In Ed Cooley I trust!
USC Trojans +1500
Though Andy Enfield now only has one of the Mobley twins to unleash upon the opposition, it’s still worked for the Trojans who will be out to mimic last year’s run to the Elite Eight. The squad looks to be coming into its own to close the year. With Mobley, Drew Peterson, Boogie Ellis and Chevez Goodwin, USC has four double-digit scorers at its disposal. The defense has also started to pick up the intensity. This team is dangerous!
San Diego State +3500
Routinely overlooked, the Aztecs got themselves a squad that I foresee coming out of nowhere as a mid-range seed to make some major noise. This Matt Bradley kid is no joke! He’s built like a linebacker but has one of the sweetest strokes in the game. When he’s on, nobody can stop him from deep or down low where he causes havoc with his pro-level spin moves. Add a defensive dominator like Nathan Mensah into the mix, and nobody will want to get in the way of SDST!
Colorado State +3500
In David Roddy I trust! Colorado State is another intriguing squad out of the rough and tumble Mountain West that looks destined to be an 8/9 seed that goes on one of those patented runs that blows up a number of brackets. The Rams offense is legit with Isaiah Stevens, John Tonje and Roddy all ready to go off any given game. It’s the defense that leaves me hesitant (No. 78), but not enough to prevent throwing a dart.
North Texas +8000
With the exodus of a number of pertinent pieces to last year’s squad that upset Purdue in the first round before getting blasted by Villanova, the Mean Green weren’t expected to be back in the NCAA Tournament picture this season. Grant McCasland yelled hold my beer! North Texas owns the best scoring defense in the land (55.3 PPG) and shoots the 3-ball at a 37.1 percent clip (No. 39). Of all the lottery tickets, this one caught my attention the most.
