Today’s Best Bets
Sam Choudhury
The college basketball season is in full swing, and Nick Makowitz is guiding you through each conference and giving you the best bets to make. Here, we look at a preview of the Big East Conference.
Who is Favored to Win the Big East Basketball Championship?
Connecticut is the heavy favorite to win the Big East championship this season. After them, Creighton and Xavier pose the biggest threats to bring home the Big East title. Check out the list below for full 2022-23 Big East Championship odds.
(Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Connecticut -240
- Creighton +650
- Xavier +700
- Marquette +1000
- Villanova +1700
- Providence +3400
- St. Johns +6500
- Seton Hall +21000
- Butler +25000
- Georgetown +25000
- DePaul +25000
Why is Connecticut Favored to Win the Big East Basketball Championship?
Simply put, Connecticut has been dominant this season. The Huskies won every single non-conference game by double-digits and rank inside the top-10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency per Kenpom. After a couple games this season, I wrote that UConn had no glaring weaknesses yet, and heading into conference play, that’s still true. Dan Hurley’s squad has a deep bench, an efficient offense and a stifling defense led by two great big men. While I don’t expect the Huskies to finish the season undefeated with only double-digit wins, they certainly have all the tools to endure the grueling Big East schedule.
Villanova Odds to Win the Big East Basketball Championship
It’s going to be surprising to many to see that Villanova isn’t favored to win the Big East championship right now, as they’ve been the face of the conference for the last decade. Still, Nova has the fourth best odds to win the regular season Big East title, so it’s within their range of outcomes. That said, the Wildcats have not been impressive for much of the season. They did welcome in freshman Cam Whitmore after he dealt with an injury during the beginning of the year, and he’s been a nice boost to their offensive attack, but Villanova just might not have the horses this year to compete with the league’s most talented teams. Even at +1700, I will not be suckered into betting Villanova based on name only.
Past Big East Men’s Basketball Champions
Multiple teams indicate a tie
- 2022 – Providence
- 2021 – Villanova
- 2020 – Villanova, Seton Hall & Creighton
- 2019 – Villanova
- 2018 – Xavier
- 2017 – Villanova
- 2016 – Villanova
- 2015 – Villanova
- 2014 – Villanova
- 2013 – Georgetown, Louisville & Marquette
Best Bet to Win the Big East Basketball Championship
Creighton +650
The logic on this bet is pretty simple. Creighton began the year as the favorite to win the Big East, then they played their way into the top 10 of the AP poll in Maui by beating Texas Tech and Arkansas on a neutral court.
After that, the Bluejays lost six games in a row, two of which came against top-10 teams and three of which came without stud center Ryan Kalkbrenner. Now, Kalkbrenner is back and in their first two games since his return, Creighton won by an average 18.5 points. So, it appears that Greg McDermott’s group is back to being the team that was favored to win the conference pre-season, but their price is suppressed because of a stretch of games that likely isn’t indicative of the rest of their season. This team still has fantastic guard play, good shooting and a shot-blocking 7-footer down low.
Where Can I Bet on the Big East Men’s College Basketball Champion?
There are tons of legal online sportsbooks in the US. DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM are some of the most popular ones, but FTN will help you check out all the signup offers other books have as well. Be sure to check out the FTNBets College Basketball Guide before placing any wagers.
Step 1: Set Up a Sportsbook Account
Download any of the sportsbooks linked above, create an account and provide some basic personal information.
Step 2: Make a Deposit
Link your bank account or debit card to your account, or select an alternative method to make a deposit. Be sure to take advantage of any and all deposit bonuses that your sportsbook offers. It’s a great way for new bettors to build up their bankroll.
Step 3: Place a College Basketball Conference Outright Futures Bet
Within your sportsbook, navigate to the men’s college basketball futures section, find the conference outright or conference winners section and bet on the team you think is going to take home the conference crown.
