UCLA Men’s Basketball’s Opening 2024 NCAA Title Odds Revealed
The confetti is still getting cleaned off the court from Monday night’s title game, but it’s never too early to look ahead to next season.
The initial betting odds for the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball championship have been released, and UCLA is being heralded as one of the top contenders. The Bruins' season ended in the Sweet 16 this March, and they are projected to lose a significant amount of production, but they still lead in nation with 11 titles all-time.
DraftKings has UCLA at +2500 for 2024, which is tied for 13th alongside Texas, Gonzaga, Arkansas and USC. SI Sportsbook is in agreement on the Bruins' odds and their place in the national picture.
FanDuel also has UCLA at +2500, but that is tied for 11th with Houston, North Carolina, Arkansas and Gonzaga in their rankings.
Duke is the favorite to win it all, according to DraftKings and SI Sportsbook, while FanDuel is giving UConn the best odds. There hasn’t been a repeat champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007, but the Huskies are projected to return plenty of talent and experience next year.
UCLA, on the other hand, has many more question marks on its roster.
Guard David Singleton is out of eligibility, while guard Jaylen Clark has declared for the NBA Draft. Although Clark has retained his collegiate eligibility, the Achilles injury he suffered on March 4 required surgery, and he will be out through at least December as a result.
Guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. is likely headed to the NBA himself after making the AP All-American Second Team, and point guard Tyger Campbell is probably moving on as well. Guard Amari Bailey and center Adem Bona could return to Westwood after promising freshman years, but they could also test the waters in the draft and eventually elect to leave.
With so many outgoing veterans, the Bruins' current projected lineup is not one that would be expected to contend for a national championship. Only five players seem locked into returning – point guard Dylan Andrews, guard Will McClendon, guard/forward Abramo Canka, forward/center Mac Etienne and forward/center Kenneth Nwuba.
UCLA is bringing in three four-star freshman – guard Sebastian Mack, forward Brandon Williams and forward/center Devin Williams. The staff also seems to be making solid progress on French wing Ilane Fibleuil, who visited back in December.
Even with all that fresh blood, oddsmakers are likely banking on UCLA getting some veteran college players in the fold as well. That could take the form of Bona, Bailey or Clark, or it could mean a transfer market splash like USC guard Reese Dixon-Waters or Stanford forward Harrison Ingram – or potentially both.
Regardless, UConn had +7500 odds to win the 2023 championship in the preseason, and the Huskies wound up torching their way through the bracket when March rolled around. UCLA is in a favorable spot – considering how up in the air its lineup is – and it has plenty of time to win people over before the nets get cut down in 12 months.
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