Very Early March Madness 2015 Futures: Kentucky Now Top Betting Odds Position

Yes, the college basketball season just ended with Connecticut, at odds of 75/1, unexpectedly taking another national title.

Is it too soon to start thinking about next March? Of course not. As long as somebody is posting odds on it, we’re interested, right?

Here’s a quick look at some very early 2015 NCAA basketball championship odds.

Talent-laden Kentucky just made a surprising run to the national championship game - alright, maybe it wasn’t that surprising. Since then the Wildcats have gotten almost nothing but good news, as the Harrison brothers, Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress all said “no” to the pros.

They will form the core of what should be another very dangerous Kentucky squad.

Before the Harrison brothers made their announcement last week most books were listing Kentucky at around 12/1 to win next year’s title. But as of early this week the ‘Cats topped most 2015 NCAA championship odds boards at 5/1.

Duke just got knocked out in the first round of the NCAA tournament, and has since lost Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood. But the Blue Devils may have found a real difference-maker down low in 6-11 newcomer Jahil Okafor, who will join enough remaining talent to make Duke a contender again.

The Blue Devils are the second choice on Bovada’s board at 9/1.

With its recent run to the Final Four Wisconsin just gave coach Bo Ryan the gravitas he needed to solidify his standing as one of the best basketball coaches of his time. And in losing just one starter the Badgers have a chance to make another such run next season.

Wisconsin is the third pick on Bovada’s list at 12/1.

Kansas just fell in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and has since lost G Andrew Wiggins and C Joel Embidd. But the Jayhawks will just replace those two with two other top recruits and go about their business of winning the Big 12 again. KU comes next on Bovada’s list at 14/1.

Arizona may have lost Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson to the pros from the team that just came up a bucket short of the Final Four, but enough talent remains, with three returning starters and a couple of highly regarded freshman, to warrant the Wildcats as contenders again.

Arizona is the fifth choice on Bovada’s board at 16/1.

Other potential NCAA championship contenders for next season, according to the OddsShark.com March Madness odds listing, include Florida and North Carolina, both at 16/1; Louisville, Michigan State and Villanova all at 25/1; Wichita State at 28/1; Michigan, Larry Brown’s SMU, Syracuse and Virginia each at 33/1; Gonzaga and VCU at 40/1; Ohio State and UCLA at 50/1; and defending national champion UConn at 66/1.