Sports Betting: UConn favored for
men, South Carolina for women in college basketball
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[October 30, 2024]
By RYAN HANNABLE of BetMGM Sportsbook
When the college basketball season starts next week, UConn will be
trying to become the first men’s team to win three straight national
championships since UCLA won seven straight from 1967-73.
At the BetMGM Sportsbook, UConn opens the 2024-25 season +850 to win
the national championship — tied for the shortest odds with Kansas.
For the women, South Carolina is looking to win back-to-back titles.
That hasn’t happened since UConn won four straight years from
2013-16.
South Carolina has the shortest odds at +150 to win it again.
Men’s national championship betting
Both UConn and Kansas have seen their odds improve since opening
last spring. The Huskies opened at +1200, while the Jayhawks opened
at +1100.
While those two teams have the shortest odds, they are not the most
popular team among bettors.
Duke (+900) is drawing the most money (14.5%) on the most tickets
(13.3%). UConn is next, drawing the second-most money (13.8%) on the
second-most tickets (10.4%). Kansas rounds out the top three with
8.5% of the money on 9.9% of the tickets.
As for other teams with short odds, Alabama is +1200, while North
Carolina, Iowa State and Baylor are all +2000.
Women’s national championship betting
South Carolina has the shortest odds, but bettors don’t seem to be
expecting them to win again. The defending champions are taking in
the fourth-most money (14.2%) on the fourth-most tickets (10.5%).
UConn (+375), USC (+375) and Notre Dame (+900) are all more popular.
The Huskies are drawing the second-most money (21.7%) on the most
tickets (23.8%), while the Trojans are drawing the most money
(25.3%) on the second-most tickets (12.4%). The Fighting Irish are
pulling in the third-most money (17.3%) on the third-most bets
(12.4%).
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Clayton State guard Armani Shaw (22) looks to shoot against South
Carolina guard Bree Hall (23) during the second half of an
exhibition NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Monday,
Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Texas (+600) has better odds than Notre Dame, but
are only taking in 4.8% of the bets and 1.7% of the money.
Wooden Award betting
Three players are the favorites to win the Wooden Award, given to
the nation’s best player.
RJ Davis of North Carolina and Mark Sears of Alabama are +700, while
Hunter Dickinson of Kansas is +750. No other player is less than
+1100.
Sears is bringing in a massive 29.3% of the money on the second-most
bets (13.2%). Dickinson is drawing the most bets (14%), but only 5%
of the money. Davis is taking in 5.3% of the bets and 12.1% of the
money.
Cooper Flagg of Duke will be added to the mix once he turns 18 on
Dec. 21.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online
sportsbook.
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