Best College Basketball Bets Today – Free (Monday 2/26)

We are just a few weeks away from Selection Sunday, so it’s time to once again take a look at the Final Four market and find some potential winners. Over a month ago, I gave out a few underdog plays that had some longer odds. Today, I’m going to see the market as a whole and add some more to the portfolio. If you get enough options, you can potentially hedge depending on the bracket layout.

UConn and Houston to Reach the Final Four

UConn +120 (FanDuel Sportsbook), Houston +170 (DraftKings Sportsbook)

These are the two potential one seeds I like the most to make the Final Four, and getting them at a plus price seems a little too good to be true. I understand there’s randomness in a one-and-done setting, but these two squads are one and three in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings, and for good reason. You should be invested in both of them. Arizona and Purdue are both good, but I don’t trust them as much.

North Carolina to Reach the Final Four

+430 (FanDuel)

The Tar Heels play defense, and that could be the difference in making a deep run in March. The inside-out duo of RJ Davis and Armando Bacot will be tough to handle, but it’s the role players who add a lot more, including transfers Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan. UNC will most likely be a two or three seed, so the path will be a little tougher, but I think they’ve got the talent to make it. 

Kentucky to Reach the Final Four

+650 (FanDuel)

I’ve said it many times, but if this team plays defense, they can beat almost any team in the country. Kentucky has just one tournament victory since 2020, so they’ll have to overcome some recent bad history in March. UK’s offense excels in all the right places, as they are the best three-point shooting team in America and top 10 in fewest turnovers. Of course, they are 100% a candidate to lose in the first round if they don’t play defense and get the wrong 13 or 14 seed. So you may want to wait until the bracket is announced for this one. 

Creighton to Reach the Final Four

+750 (BetRivers)

The Jays have won at least one NCAA Tournament game in three straight seasons and are a candidate to do so in 2024. Their offense is one of the best in the country, and their defense has rapidly improved as well. They don’t allow opponents to shoot a ton of threes and can play games at any pace. It’s a veteran bunch that has a starting lineup of all juniors and seniors, which is what you want in March.