2014-15 College Basketball Picks & Predictions: Early Favorites to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament

2014-15 College Basketball Picks & Predictions: Early Favorites to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament: The 2013-14 college basketball season came to a close with the Connecticut Huskies celebrating the program’s fourth NCAA tournament title since 1999, and while it will be several months before the 2014-15 season tips off, odds are already posted for next year’s championship favorites. Obviously, placing a bet nearly a year before the champion will be crowned has its drawbacks. Players get hurt, others jump to the NBA earlier than expected, and some teams just don’t live up to expectations. However, early bets can also have their benefits. If you happen to bet on the one or two teams that prove to be the best in the country once actual games start to be played, you can end up getting more-favorable odds than you would if you waited until right before March Madness begins. With that in mind, here is a first look at the frontrunners for the 2014-15 NCAA tournament title.

Arizona Wildcats (6/1): Aaron Gordon is as good as gone, and while there is a chance point guard Nick Johnson could also bolt for the NBA, the Wildcats will be loaded even if both leave early. Forward Brandon Ashley will be back after an injury sidelined him at the end of last season, and he will join slasher Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, center Kaleb Tarczewski and guard T.J. McConnell as returnees that played significant minutes last year. They will be joined be No. 3 prospect Stanley Johnson and JUCO standout Kadeem Allen, making next year’s Wildcats just as athletic and even deeper than the team that came within a point of the Final Four this season.

Duke Blue Devils (7/1): I’m assuming Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood are both jumping ship early, but that still leaves an experienced backcourt of Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon. By the way, the Blue Devils have three top-10 recruits coming to town in center Jahlil Okafor, point guard Tyus Jones and forward Justice Winslow. The addition of Okafor is particularly huge because he gives Duke its first low post-scoring option and rim-protector in what seems like a decade. Coack suddenly has himself a lot of weapons to work with.

Kentucky Wildcats (12/1): It is still a little unclear who will stay and who will go. Julius Randle, James Young and Willie Cauley-Stein are all likely taking their games to the next level. Meanwhile, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson and Alex Poythress could all conceivably leave, as well. I’m assuming a couple of those players will stay, along with center Marcus Lee. Of course, John Calipari also has his typical crop of stud freshmen coming in. Trey Lyles and Karl Towns should instantly bolster the frontcourt, and Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker will provide some perimeter firepower. As we just saw during Kentucky’s run to the title game, good things happen when you have that much talent on one team.

Wisconsin Badgers (12/1): Ben Brust will be the lone departure from this year’s Final Four squad, and while losing him isn’t ideal, keeping Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker as it appears Wisconsin will certainly softens the blow. Meanwhile, Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes both showed flashes this year and should thrive in expanded roles. It’s hard not to fall in love with a Final Four team that returns four starters, including its two-best players, and has a couple of potential stars set to see more minutes.

Kansas Jayhawks (12/1): Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins have already announced they will head to the NBA, but the Jayhawks will still have plenty of talent in house with Perry Ellis, Jamari Taylor, Naadir Tharpe and Wayne Selden Jr. all returning. Not to mention that the Jayhawks will also be adding star recruits Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre and possibly Myles Turner. Kansas is going to have a ridiculous amount of size and athleticism even if Turner goes elsewhere, but rest assured that if he picks Kansas, you won’t be getting 12/1 odds. The Jayhawks will be title contenders either way so why not throw down the bet before Turner makes his pick.

North Carolina Tar Heels (15/1): Dynamic point guard Marcus Paige is coming back, which goes a long way to making North Carolina a legitimate title contender. Meanwhile, the return of Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto provides stability up front. Throw in a pair of top-20 recruits in Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, and the cupboard is suddenly loaded in Chapel Hill. Granted, James Michael McAdoo did announce he will enter the NBA draft, but I think the Tar Heels could actually be better without the big man opting to chuck up jump shots rather than attack the basket.

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