March Madness is one of the enjoyable periods of the sports calendar.
College basketball games are scheduled fast and furiously throughout the day, and fans supporting over 60 of the nation’s most accomplished teams passionately root them on.
Sometimes, the most distinctive memories of the NCAA tournament take place when underdog schools defeat powerhouses. At the end of the day, though, most people root for the most deserving programs to make a deep run.
Even though their rosters don’t have the same type of familiar names as NBA squads, premier college basketball teams have a ton of talent to keep an eye on.
As college basketball betting lines start to take shape ahead of March Madness, we’ll look at three teams who are poised to win it all.
Purdue
The biggest teams usually captivate the sports audience, and with the Purdue Boilermakers, that is meant quite literally. One of the most interesting players to watch during March Madness this year will be Purdue center Zach Edey, who clocks in with a gargantuan 7’4”, 285-pound frame. As one might expect, the Boilermakers feed him the ball early and often, and he has delivered.
Edey averages around 22 points and 13 rebounds, to go along with over two blocks per contest. He has controlled the paint in nearly every matchup he’s been a part of and will be a problem for other teams to defend.
It’s going to be intriguing to see if Purdue’s NCAA Tournament opponents decide to double-team the low post force. It seems likely that other players on the team will be forced to play well if the Boilermakers are going to win a few games. Fletcher Loyer is one player who will be counted on to stretch the floor.
Alabama
There is arguably no team more talented in this year’s NCAA Tournament field than the Alabama Crimson Tide. Sports fans are used to the school dominating on the football field, but the basketball team has a real chance to bring a title home to Tuscaloosa in 2023.
The dynamic team is led by a couple of players who figure to be lottery picks in this year’s NBA Draft. Their frontline is led by Brandon Miller, who might be something special at the next level. He’s put the ball in the basket in every facet of the game, shooting well from three-point range and the free-throw line.
Joining him on the frontline is fellow freshman Noah Clowney. While not as heralded as Miller, Clowney possesses attractive physical traits that make the Crimson Tide tough to stop. Their best players are very young, but they have the ability to win based on sheer skill.
UCLA
With the exception of the Arizona Wildcats, the UCLA Bruins did not face too much of a challenge in Pac-12 competition this year. A relatively easy slate has led them to reel off an impressive number of wins, but questions surrounding their true mettle will circulate heading into March Madness.
While the lack of night-in, night-out pressure is a legitimate concern, UCLA has the type of team that can go on a hot streak when it matters most. That’s because Jaime Jaquez has been there and done that, performing in big games for the majority of his college career. His statistics are pretty solid, but his feel for the game catapults him into a unique tier of players.
The Bruins will need guard Tyger Campbell to play consistently in the tournament and will hope that freshmen Adem Bona and Amari Bailey can contribute against the best teams in the country.
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