Last Updated on March 15, 2024 4:35 pm by Erwin Noguera
College basketball will have its month of protagonism with the arrival of March Madness, where the champion of the NCAA, currently the UConn Huskies, will be defined. There are 68 universities that will compete until reaching the Final Four at the beginning of April in Glendale, Arizona.
First, the First Four will be played between Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20, while the main draw will take place on the 21st.
NCAA March Madness Preview and Betting Odds & Free Pick – Info
Where can I watch it?
CBS, TBS, and TNT
NCAA March Madness Top Contenders
To get the heavy favorite for the NCAA title, you don’t have to go far: UConn Huskies, the reigning college basketball champions. The team is on a hot streak, winning nine of its last ten games. They also just won their first Big East Conference regular season title in 25 years, so their confidence is at an all-time high.
Their most outstanding player is Tristen Newton, a guard with remarkable offensive ability, averaging 15 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. In addition, they have Cam Spencer to put together a powerful duo with the ball in their hands. This will probably be Newton’s last year in college, as well as for center Donovan Clingan and shooting guard Stephon Castle, both of whom will enter the NBA draft.
Then it’s time to talk about the Houston Cougars, who have won nine games in a row and boast a 26-3 regular season record. That goes hand in hand with a strong program, which in four years has only 17 losses.
One player stands out, guard L.J. Cryer, who has 15.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. It is clear that his strength is scoring because the set-up runs through the hands of Jamal Shead, who distributes 6.2 assists per game.
Purdue Boilermakers has a 26-3 record in the regular season, but it is a team with a basketball player that stands out among the rest that can aspire to the NBA next season. We are referring to center Zach Edey, who has a great three-point shooting hand, averaging 50% and delivering for his quintet of 24.2 points per game. He also grabs 11.7 boards.
His squire is Braden Smith, who has a great reading of the game, demonstrated by his 7.2 assists per game and only losing 2.7 turnovers.
Closing this section of favorites are the Arizona Wildcats, who if they make it to the Final Four, could count the crowd in their favor. They have a 25-7 overall record and have only lost two of their last 13 games. Pay close attention to Caleb Love, an 18.7-point player.
NCAA March Madness Outside picks
With a prolific scorer like Dalton Knetch, Tennessee Volunteers is among those teams that want to aspire to give a blow on the table.
This guard averages 21.4 points, making the most of what his backcourt partner, Zakai Zeigler, who assists six times per game, can do.
The seven wins in a row also make North Carolina Tar Heels a university that can cause fear to any opponent, plus, they have a fantastic RJ Davis, with 21.1 points per outing.
Closing this list of teams to watch out for are the Duke Blue Devils and the Kentucky Wildcats, who have the best American player in the upcoming draft, according to several analysts, Reed Sheppard.
This shooting guard is living his first year in the NCAA and has 12.7 per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. But it’s of note that he shoots 52% from three-point range.
2024 NCAA March Madness Podium Betting Picks
UConn Huskies
Houston Cougars
Arizona Wildcats
Betting Odds
UConn Huskies 5.8
Houston Cougars 7.5
Purdue Boilermakers 8.5
Arizona Wildcats 14
Tennessee Volunteers 14
North Carolina Tar Heels 18
Duke Blue Devils 21
Kentucky Wildcats 23
Creighton Bluejays 26
Marquette Golden Eagles 31
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