The 2018-19 college basketball season brought all kinds of memorable moments, particularly during the NCAA tournament.
There was Ja Morant putting on a show with a triple-double in No. 12 Murray State's upset of No. 5 Marquette that sealed his future as a top NBA draft pick. We had Duke barely escaping No. 9 UCF behind some heroics by Zion Williamson. And again vs. Virginia Tech. And, of course, we had an epic overtime win by eventual champion Virginia against Purdue. Plus, who could forget the bettor who had a $1,500 title bet on Texas Tech that would have netted $300,000?
So what's in store for the 2019-20 season? Sports betting analyst Doug Kezirian, Insider Jordan Schultz and VSiN's Matt Youmans offer some of their best bets for the upcoming season.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted.
Top 2019-20 NCAA title picks
Michigan State Spartans (11-2 to win title)/Over 25.5 wins (DraftKings)
Youmans: Twenty years after winning his only NCAA championship, Tom Izzo is the favorite to win another one. Aside from senior point guard Cassius Winston, the Spartans will start a front line consisting of 6-foot-6 senior Kyle Ahrens, 6-foot-6 sophomore Aaron Henry and 6-foot-8 junior Xavier Tillman. Izzo has an experienced team with muscle and toughness. What he does not have -- at least until January -- is senior guard Joshua Langford, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Langford will be replaced by freshman Rocket Watts, who scored 64 points with 15 3-pointers in a high school game last season. Izzo has another challenging schedule, highlighted by a season-opening test against Kentucky, a trip to Seton Hall, a potential date with Kansas in the Maui Invitational and a home game against Duke. Michigan State will likely suffer a couple of losses before January. The Spartans are starting the season No. 1 and -- good health permitting -- could finish there for the first time since 2000.
Schultz: This is one of Izzo's most complete teams in East Lansing. Sparty will lean heavily on Wooden Award front-runner Winston, a more talented version of Mateen Cleaves, who ran the show as well as anyone.
Louisville Cardinals (10-1)
Youmans: The messy end to the Rick Pitino era is in the rear-view mirror, and the Cardinals can be national title contenders in Chris Mack's second season. It was a huge boost when Jordan Nwora, who averaged 17 points and 7.6 rebounds, decided the NBA could wait. The junior forward will be one of the ACC's top players. Louisville returns six of its top seven scorers and adds point guard Lamarr Kimble, a graduate transfer and a three-year team captain at Saint Joseph's, to go with a highly rated freshman class. Pitino once compared Malik Williams, a 6-foot-11 junior, to Kevin Durant. Williams is a standout on the defensive end with an improved offensive game. This team has depth, experience and plenty of talent. Mack is a great coach, too. The Cardinals stood toe-to-toe with Duke last season and will do so again.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-1)
Kezirian: Gonzaga has now become a regular mention in college basketball discussions -- and for good reason. Mark Few has built a strong program that is now attracting elite talent. The Bulldogs lost two first-round picks off a squad that reached the Elite 8, but they seem to have reloaded. First, Few landed three highly regarded freshmen who stand at least 6-foot-10, including Drew Timme. He turned down blue bloods to play at The Kennel. Additionally Few returns 6-foot-10 senior Killian Tillie, who admittedly has battled numerous injuries but could be a monster this season. Plus, transfer point guard Admon Gilder comes over from Texas A&M and figures to have a pivotal role. It might take some time to jell, and some losses over the holidays to quality opponents could drive up the odds, but I'll still grab the 25-1 now.
Washington Huskies (50-1)
Schultz: Mike Hopkins has done a tremendous job in Seattle, already having won Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in his first two seasons. Having attended the Huskies' first practice of the season, I can tell you they are extremely long, athletic and talented. Freshman wing Jaden McDaniels and fellow freshman power forward Isaiah Stewart are both potential top-five picks in the 2020 NBA draft.
Oregon Ducks (50-1)
Youmans: The Ducks started slow but finished strong last season, getting to 25 wins and reaching the Sweet 16. Dana Altman rebuilt his roster over the summer, and the incoming talent is impressive. It all revolves around senior Payton Pritchard, one of the nation's top point guards. This is the best team in the Pac-12, and the ceiling is high enough for a Final Four.
West Virginia Mountaineers (100-1)
Kezirian: This is a long shot and for good reason. The Mountaineers finished dead last in Big 12 play last year at 4-14. The offense was often a joke, and nothing suggested they could win the national championship one year later. However, that's why they have 100-1 odds. What is there to like? It starts with Bob Huggins and the type of physicality and full-court pressure his teams implement. Can they make a run in the NCAA Tournament? That's doable, since we've seen low seeds make runs seemingly every year. A unique style is one recipe, and the Mountaineers have that. The question is whether they can make the Big Dance with a solid regular season. WVU returns four starters (albeit from a bad team), adds McDonald's high school All-American center Oscar Tshiebwe and brings in some quality transfers. Basically, at 100-1, you're hoping Huggins puts together a tough team that can muck it up and has some talent. Prior to last year, the Mountaineers reached the Sweet 16 three times in a four-year stretch.
Top Over/Under plays
Florida Gators over 23.5 regular-season wins (DraftKings)
Youmans: Any value on the Gators in the NCAA title futures market disappeared after center Kerry Blackshear announced he was headed to Gainesville as a graduate transfer. Blackshear chose Florida over Kentucky and Tennessee. Three sophomore starters -- Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke and Keyontae Johnson -- will benefit from Blackshear's leadership and playmaking ability in the low post. The recruiting class brought in by coach Mike White is led by forward Scottie Lewis and guard Tre Mann, both McDonald's All-Americans. Florida will give John Calipari a run for the money atop the SEC.
Indiana Hoosiers over 17.5 regular-season wins (DraftKings)
Youmans: Michigan State, Maryland, Purdue and Ohio State project as the Big Ten's top four teams. Indiana could be the surprise team that rises to the fifth spot. The Hoosiers won 19 games last season despite bad luck with close losses and injuries. Romeo Langford's one-year stay was a bust, but coach Archie Miller has more talent on his roster than most pundits think. The Hoosiers will be stronger around the basket with 6-foot-9 freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis and 6-11 center Joey Brunk, a transfer from Butler. Indiana can feast on a cupcake schedule in November and should have 10 wins by the beginning of January.
Memphis Tigers under 26.5 regular-season wins (DraftKings)
Youmans: Penny Hardaway has attracted an abundance of talent, including five-stars James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa and D.J. Jeffries. The 7-foot-1 Wiseman is the favorite to be the top pick in the next NBA draft. Memphis is becoming a rest stop on a highway from the AAU ranks to the NBA. This is the most intriguing team in the nation. Hardaway, a second-year coach still with much to learn, has a roster with no returning starters and 12 freshmen or sophomores. The hype is off the hook, but the growing pains will be real. The Tigers face Oregon, NC State, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia in addition to a competitive American Athletic Conference schedule that includes Cincinnati, Houston and Wichita State. A 25-win regular season against that schedule would be a major accomplishment for an inexperienced coach and a baby-faced team.
Top Final Four bets
Wichita State Shockers (75-1 at Westgate SuperBook)
Youmans: When looking for long shots, look first for the best coaches. Texas Tech and Chris Beard fit the profile for me last season. It's a stretch to say the Shockers can be last season's Red Raiders, who reached the NCAA championship game after being picked to finish in the bottom half of the Big 12, but Gregg Marshall is coaching a sleeper team of sorts. Wichita was rebuilding last season and started 8-11. Marshall pushed a young team to a 14-4 record down the stretch. Jaime Echenique, the team's top returning scorer and rebounder, is 6-foot-11 and 260 pounds. Dexter Dennis, Jamarius Burton and Erik Stevenson are talented guards with good size. On top of that core four, Marshall hauled in an outstanding recruiting class led by Tyson Etienne, Grant Sherfield, DeAntoni Gordon and Trey Wade. After Wichita missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years, Marshall plans to be back with the potential to make a March run.
Youmans: Louisville 4-1 (Westgate SuperBook)
Youmans: Oregon 15-2 (Westgate SuperBook)