Could the reigning national champion Virginia Cavaliers use their brand of suffocating defense to win back-to-back national championships? Will the preseason No. 1 Michigan State Spartans live up to their billing? Will Duke contend after losing three stars to the NBA Draft and will Memphis handle expectations associated with landing the nation’s top recruiting class? With the 2019-20 season quickly approaching, It’s time for some fun-filled, yet, expert 2020 college basketball betting predictions on what could lie ahead for a bunch of teams this coming campaign.
2020 College Basketball Regular Season Betting Predictions
Conference Champions
ACC
The Tar Heels (29-7) won six fewer games than Virginia a year ago, but Carolina looks poised to win the ACC this season over the Cavaliers and perennial rival Duke, seeing as how Roy Williams has everyone back from last season’s team except star point guard Coby White and one other player.
Big 12
While I enjoyed seeing the Jayhawks get surpassed by both, Texas Tech and K-State last season, play time is now over for Bill Self’s squad. Kansas gets back on top in the Big 12, although Baylor looks dangerous to me.
Big East
While every single team in the competitive Big east is ranked in the national Top 100, I’m going with Villanova to win their fourth straight Big East crown. Five-star freshmen Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl look fantastic and I believe Jay Wright is undeniably the best coach in the conference.
Big Ten
With Purdue and Michigan both reloading, Michigan State is the super easy pick to win the Big Ten as a +140 pick.
Pac-12
Oregon (+250) finished fourth in the Pac-12 a year ago, but the Ducks have boosted their roster in a big way this offseason and I believe they have plenty of Final Four potential!
SEC
Despite their uninspiring ninth place finish in the SEC last season, the Gators are loaded and many (like me) believe they have a great chance to reach the Final Four.
Sweet 16
- Villanova, Virginia, Duke, Marquette, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Texas Tech, Baylor
- North Carolina, Kansas, Louisville, Villanova, Michigan State, Florida, Memphis, Oregon
Elite Eight
- North Carolina, Kansas, Louisville, Villanova, Michigan State, Florida, Memphis, Oregon
Final Four Participants
- Michigan State, Florida, Memphis, Oregon
2020 National Championship Winner
Michigan State
I generally don’t like backing the prohibitive favorite, but I genuinely believe it’s going to be super difficult for anyone to dispatch preseason No. 1 Michigan State. Point guard Cassius Winston is the smartest player in all of college basketball and swingman Joshua Langford is a future NBA lottery pick. Head coach Tom Izzo is as elite as they come and the Spartans will be hungry after coming up just short last season. The Spartans are a great bet to win it all, along with a handful of other title contenders.
