Vegas: Villanova is best Big East bet to win 2015 NCAA national basketball title

[Tugg Speedman]

Vegas: Villanova is best Big East bet to win 2015 NCAA national basketball title

http://www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2014/4/28/5661646/st-johns-basketball-predictions-vegas-odds-2015-national-title-st-johns-fifth

It's April, and the draft deadline has passed for players who want to enter the NBA. So why not run some Vegas odds of winning a championship? We turn our eyes to Bovada for some intel from their freshly published post-deadline day odds - and then parse where the Big East schools land.

First on the national scene, Kentucky is the title favorite with 5/1 odds - and rightfully so, with nine McDonald's All-Americans on the roster, with actual sophomores and juniors playing in the post. Duke (9/1) follows, with Wisconsin (12/1), Kansas (14/1) and Arizona/ Florida/ North Carolina (16/1 odds) sharing the fifth spot.

The first Big East school is the list of odds? Villanova, with 25/1 odds of standing under the falling confetti at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is tied for eighth with Louisville and Michigan State.

Before last season (in the fall), Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, Duke, and Michigan State were the title contenders by Vegas' odds. Creighton was the first Big East school listed at 50/1 odds.

So in a sense, the top of the Big East is getting more cred this year than it did last year.

But that's only the top. Last year's predictions were an indicator of the parity in the league, with six teams with 100/1 odds or better in the Big East.

This coming season, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Marquette have 100/1 odds, while the rest of the league doesn't rate positively in Vegas' eyes.

Big East teams: odds to win the 2014-15 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
Big East Team    2014-15 Prediction Last year's prediction
Villanova                25/1                    75/1
Georgetown       100/1                   50/1
Marquette             100/1                    66/1
Seton Hall               100/1                   [Off Board]
Providence               150/1                   [Off Board]
St. John's               150/1                   66/1
Creighton               200/1                   50/1
Xavier               250/1                   [Off Board]
Butler               500/1                  100/1
DePaul               500/1                  [Off Board]

Odds are just predictions, easily changed by play on the court; and the 2014 recruiting season is not yet done. But St. John's, in particular, has lower odds to win it all than they had last season, despite returning most of their contributors - JaKarr Sampson and Orlando Sanchez are the players who were expected to make large impacts last season who are now gone.

[Tugg Speedman]

Odds for Each Major College Basketball Conference Champ to Repeat in 2014-15

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2041438-odds-for-each-major-college-basketball-conference-champ-to-repeat-in-2014-15/page/9

Villanova won the first Big East title of the league's new version in 2013-14, but don't tell the Wildcats the championship is any less distinguished than the one they claimed in 2006 en route to the Elite Eight.

They haven't won back-to-back regular-season titles since 1982-83, but the chances of a repeat are looking pretty good.

Nova only loses James Bell, its top scorer from this past season, but it has plenty of other guards to replace his production like No. 2 scorer Darrun Hilliard and scrappy Ryan Arcidiacono as well as incoming 4-star freshman Phil Booth.

Where the Wildcats are lacking, though, is the same place they struggled last season: inside.

But even without much beef up front, the losses suffered by the rest of the Big East might make it so no improvement there is needed.

Villanova's only two league losses last year were to Creighton, which has the immense void left by Doug McDermott to deal with, same with Providence and do-everything guard Bryce Cotton. Xavier saw top scorer Semaj Christon leave early for the NBA draft and No. 2 guy Justin Martin transfer, while St. John's roster is a mess and Marquette is breaking in a new coach.

Odds to repeat: 3-1

[GooooMarquette]

Anyone know what UConn's odds were at the beginning of last season?  I wouldn't be surprised if they were 100-1 or worse....