2013 NCAA Basketball National Championship Odds and Predictions: Top 5 Mid-Major National Title Contenders: When picking college basketball teams that have a chance to reach the Final Four at win the national title, it is only natural to gravitate to powerhouses like Kentucky, Kansas and Duke. At the very least, the teams chosen are generally limited to those from the six major power conferences. However, the mid-major conferences have been making headway in recent years with teams like George Mason and VCU making the Final Four and Butler reaching the title game in back-to-back years. With that in mind, here are a few of the mid-major teams with a chance to make some noise in March.
2013 NCAA Basketball National Championship Odds and Picks: Top 5 Mid-Major National Title Contenders
1. Creighton Blue Jays, Missouri Valley Conference
For starters, the Blue Jays have a true star player on their team in forward Doug McDermott. The junior is a nightly double-double threat and one of the more productive, efficient scorers in the country. He is joined in the frontcourt by the defensive-minded Gregory Echenique, who controls the glass and blocks shots at a high level. Creighton is also blessed with plenty of frontcourt depth led by senior point guard Grant Gibbs. Meanwhile, senior Josh Jones and sophomore Austin Chatman are both explosive scorers that can get hot and provide a nice counterpunch for McDermott. Add it all up, and Creighton has the size, experience and offensive firepower to be a very dangerous team come March.
2. UNLV Rebels, Mountain West Conference
Double-double machine Mike Moser gets a lot of the attention, but the Rebels are much more than just their star forward. Senior point guard Anthony Marshall provides leadership and takes care of the decision making for a team loaded with young, talented players. Sophomore guard Bryce Dejean-Jones looked every bit the player ready to take the next step in UNLV’s season-opening win while highly-touted freshman forward Anthony Bennett dropped a team-high 22 points in the opener. Perhaps the biggest surprise thus far was the perimeter scoring added by freshman guard Katin Reinhardt. With a rock solid frontcourt and an experienced frontcourt, the recipes have the pieces in place to win come tournament time, especially if Reinhardt and Dejean-Jones continue to provide added offensive firepower.
3. San Diego State Aztecs
Thanks to Chase Tapley and Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State has one of the best backcourts in the country. Both guards are multi-category contributors, and when they are hot, they can provide all the offense the Aztecs need to win games. The dynamic duo also fits nicely with the defensive-minded play of guard Xavier Thames and forward Deshawn Stephens. While Tapley and Franklin give the Aztecs a puncher’s chance in just about any game, five-star freshman Winston Shepard will be the X-factor. If the 6’8” forward can be the athletic scorer in the frontcourt that this team has been lacking, San Diego State could make a serious run in the tournament similar to when Kawhi Leonard was on the roster.
4. Gonzaga Bulldogs, West Coast Conference
Gonzaga used to be America’s Cinderella team, and while the novelty has worn off a bit in recent years, the Bulldogs have assembled another roster that should worry any team they face when March rolls around. The frontcourt consists of senior forwards Elias Harris and Guy Landry Edi as well as 7’0” freshman center Przemek Karnowski. Harris and Edi are both double-digit scorers and solid rebounders, and considering Karnowski was pursued by the likes of Duke and Kansas, his upside is obvious. Meanwhile, young guards Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. are now a year more experienced, and they are part of a backcourt loaded with 3-point shooters. With all of their size inside, the Bulldogs are going to be tough to stop if they are also hitting from the perimeter.
5. Murray State Racers, Ohio Valley Conference
As long as point guard Isaiah Canaan is healthy, the Racers are dangerous. When he is dialed in, he is an absolute scoring machine and has range well out beyond the 3-point line. Granted, most of Canaan’s fellow starters from last year’s two-loss team are gone, but this is far from an inexperienced team. Senior forwards Stacy Wilson and Ed Daniel are both going to get the chance to play expanded roles this year, and in the season opener, the two combined for 36 points. If Wilson and Daniel can continue to provide consistent production in the frontcourt, Canaan’s scoring ability will take care of the rest. Come tournament time, a hot night from Canaan and company could spell the end for a lot of teams.
Stop by NSAwins.com daily throughout the NCAA Basketball season for daily Free College Basketball Predictions and Vegas College Basketball Odds plus daily updated Men’s 2013 National Championship Betting Odds.
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on 2013 NCAA Basketball Odds Now! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN YouWager Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get EXCLUSIVE BONUSES upto 135% FREE added to your YouWager Account Funds. |