Baylor is not getting enough respect in NCAAB futures
Baylor guard Jared Butler (left) drives against Kansas State guard DaJuan Gordon. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
February 17th, 2020
Baylor is the No. 1 team in the country, tops the Big 12 standings, and is on a 22-game win streak. So why aren’t the Bears getting more respect in college basketball futures betting?
Odds to win the 2020 NCAA national championship
| Team | 2020 NCAA championship odds |
|---|
Gonzaga | +200 |
Kansas | +1000 |
Baylor | +1200 |
Duke | +1200 |
Louisville | +1400 |
Baylor has serious credentials
Baylor is currently tied for third in BetAmerica’s 2020 NCAAB national championship odds, at +1200, even though it was named the overall top seed the Division I men’s basketball committee’s preliminary rankings.
The Bears have some serous wins under their belts, including six wins over KenPom top 50 teams, and a 12-point win over Kansas. That game at Allen Fieldhouse was coach Bill Self’s worst loss of his career in that building.
Baylor has plenty of offensive weapons
What makes this Baylor team especially dangerous is its combo of defensive efficiency and offensive depth.
Kansas will be having nightmares about Jared Butler. pic.twitter.com/DqE244alKU
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 11, 2020
The Bears have one of the deepest backcourts in the country, with Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, and Davion Mitchell. That three-headed monster currently averages 39 points per game, and has a combined field goal average of 41%.
They also have Devonte Bandoo on the bench for reinforcement. Bandoo averages eight points per game and four rebounds. He’s a danger from beyond the three-point arc (42.7% shooting).
Dominant defense
Baylor’s suffocating presence on the defensive side of the ball should not be overlooked. The Bears rank fifth in Division 1 scoring defense, and fourth in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings.
Baylor’s opponents average 57 points per game, and they’ve held nine opponents to 55 points or fewer. That includes two wins over Texas, in which the Longhorns scored only 44 and 45.
So why aren’t bettors giving the Bears a more serious look?
Though Scott Drew has led his team to several tournament appearances, including runs to the Elite Eight in 2010 and 2012, a national title would be unprecedented for the program. The last time Baylor was in the national championship game was 1948 and the Bears haven’t made the Final Four since 1950.
But this could be the year Baylor puts all the pieces together and breaks through to win its first national championship.
Place a bet of $5 or more with BetAmerica and get $20 in free bets.
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