Way Too Early 2018 College Basketball Betting Predictions

With the conclusion of the 2017 March Madness national championship tournament some ended up a bit down in the dumps and that’s why I’ve got just what the basketball doctor ordered! You see, I’ve got an ‘octagon’ of college basketball betting predictions for the 2018 college basketball season that will cheer you right up, no matter how far away the start of the new campaign is. With all of that said, let’s rock and roll.

Way Too Early 2018 College Basketball Betting Predictions

 

Wichita State Shockers

2016-17 Record: 31-5 2016-17 Finish: Second Round The Wichita State Shockers are one of my very favorite hoops programs in all of college basketball and I believe they’re going to make a run to the Elite Eight at the very least next season simply because they will likely return every player from this season’s 31-win squad, that, I you didn’t know, was ranked inside the national Top 10 at one point this past season.

West Virginia Mountaineers

2016-17 Record: 28-9 2016-17 Finish: Sweet 16 With their heady backcourt of Daxter Miles and Jevon Carter returning, I’m expecting the Mountaineers to press their opponents into a run to the Final Four at the very least next season.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

2016-17 Record: 37-2 2016-17 Finish: National Runners-Up If second-team All-American Nigel Williams-Goss and potential lottery pick Zach Collins both return, the Bulldogs will undoubtedly contend for the national championship. However, if both bolt for the NBA, the Zags will be nothing more than a Round of 32 or Sweet 16 kind of team next season a best.

Villanova Wildcats

2016-17 Record: 32-4 2016-17 Finish: Second Round I’m a huge Villanova follower, but head coach Jay Wright is going to find replacing first-team All-American shooting guard Josh Hart almost impossible, not to mention the fact that he’s losing sweet-shooting forward and iconic hero Kris Jenkins. Still, I love point guard Jalen Brunson and believe the Wildcats could challenge for another Big East title if they get decent production out of blossoming role players like Donte DiVincenzo, and Mikal Bridges.

Kansas Jayhawks

2016-17 Record: 31-5 2016-17 Finish: Elite Eight Kansas is losing the National Player of the Year in Frank Mason and freshman superstar Josh Jackson, but Bill Self generally reloads as well as any coach in the country and they’ll get their share of five-star recruits. I’m thinking Sweet 16 at best though right now, if that.

Michigan State Spartans

2016-17 Record: 20-15 2016-17 Finish: Second Round It was a bit of a shock to see Michigan State play mediocre basketball this past season, but right now, I’m thinking Tom Izzo’s program could be in a bit of trouble simply because more elite recruits are choosing other Big Ten programs like Purdue, or rival Michigan that are now on the national map.

Miami Hurricanes

2016-17 Record: 21-12 2016-17 Finish: First Round Miami loses Davon Reed and Kamari Murphy, but returns heady combo guard Bruce Brown (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg), former five-star forward Dewan Huell (5.8 ppg) and point guard Ja’Quan Newton (13.5 ppg), not to mention the fact that the Canes are adding three Top 100 recruits in 5-star, 6-4 shooting guard Lonnie Walker, 5-7 point guard Chris Lykes and 6-10 big man Deng Gak.

Xavier Musketeers

2016-17 Record: 24-14 2016-17 Finish: Elite Eight If electrifying guard Trevon Bluiett bolts for the NBA, the Musketeers will be mostly average next season, If he returns, I’m expecting Xavier to challenge for the Big East title while making an appearance in next season’s Elite Eight at the very least.