Super Early 2018 College Basketball Betting Predictions

For college basketball lovers and betting enthusiasts that are suffering from withdrawal after the conclusion of this season’s thrilling March Madness NCAA championship tournament, don’t despair. You see, I’ve got some college hoops 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.

Super Early 2018 College Basketball Betting Predictions

   

North Carolina Tar Heels

2016-17 Record: 33-7 2016-17 Finish: National Champions The Tar Heels will lose first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson and center Kennedy Meeks at the very least, but point guard and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Joel Berry and potential star Tony Bradley could both return to make the Heels formidable again next season. However, I’m going on record to say that no matter who returns, North Carolina won’t be quite as good as they’ve been the past two years. Think Sweet 16 at best next season.

Duke Blue Devils

2016-17 Record: 28-9 2016-17 Finish: Second Round Duke will have another great recruiting class of elite freshmen coming in next season and they could see either Luke Kennard or Grayson Allen or both, return next season. Duke will contend for the ACC title at the very least in 2017-18 and they could very well exceed all expectations if they mature quickly, although I’m thinking the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight is as far as they’ll go.

Arizona Wildcats

2016-17 Record: 32-5 2016-17 Finish: Sweet 16 The Wildcats lost only one senior this season in Kadeem Allen but they could lose two of their four talented underclassmen. Still, I’m thinking the Wildcats are going to be very dangerous next season if they return at least two of the four. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arizona in the Final Four next season.

Louisville Cardinals

2016-17 Record: 25-9 2016-17 Finish: Second Round Point guard Donovan Mitchell and small forward Deng Adel could both bolt or the NBA or they could both return. If one or the other returns, Louisville will have seven of their top eight scorers back and of both return, I’m thinking a Final Four appearance could be in the works.

Kentucky Wildcats

2016-17 Record: 32-6 2016-17 Finish: Elite Eight Kentucky will lose it gifted backcourt of De’Aaron Fix and Malik Monk, but the Wildcats will have another great recruiting class coming in next season that reportedly has an insane five, 5-star recruits, including Philly point guard Quade Green. I’m thinking the Cats are going to make a deep tourney run next season, like to the national championship.

Alabama Crimson Tide

2016-17 Record: 19-15 2016-17 Finish: NIT First Round Don’t be surprised to see Alabama on this list. Avery Johnson is in the midst of building a very solid program and will return sophomore stars Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram from a team that beat national semifinalist South Carolina twice this past season. More importantly, Johnson has somehow managed to land a top five recruiting class headlined by one of the class of 2017’s top players in 6-2 point guard Collin Sexton.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2016-17 Record: 26-10 2016-17 Finish: Second Round With All-ACC small forward Bonzie Colson and point guard Matt Farrell both likely to return, I’m thinking the Fighting Irish are looking at a run to the Set 16 next season, even though Mike Brey’s teams get overlooked each and every year.

Northwestern Wildcats

2016-17 Record: 24-12 2016-17 Finish: Second Round Head coach Chris Collins returns nearly every key contributor from his 2016-17 squad including junior guards and top two scorers Bryant McIntosh (14.8 ppg) and Scottie Lindsey (14.1 ppg). In case you forgot, not only did the Wildcats make history be reaching the NCAA Tournament, but they narrowly failed to take down national champion runner-up Gonzaga while getting robbed on a missed goaltending call in the final minutes.