The Arizona Wildcats’ first trip to the men's NCAA Basketball Tournament in four years didn’t end as many Wildcats fans would have liked, but the future appears bright in Tucson.
The Wildcats, who were knocked out of the dance in a 72-60 loss to the fifth-seeded Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16, are ranked in the 2023 national championship top 10 in odds on four Arizona sports betting sites.
Tommy Lloyd’s bunch has NCAA title betting odds that range from +1500 to +2000, speaking to the belief the Wildcats will rebuild and rebound from their third-round loss.
Here’s a rundown of the Wildcats’ 2023 college basketball betting odds across four of the major sportsbooks in the state.
Wildcats in Top 10 on NCAA Title Odds Boards
The Wildcats’ best odds at winning the program’s first NCAA title since 1997 can be found at Caesars Sportsbook, which has Lloyd’s team at +1500.
Arizona ranks in a tie for third overall with Duke and Kentucky and behind Kansas and Gonzaga on the site.
Elsewhere, the 'Cats find themselves at +1600 on FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona, which ranks ninth overall.
The folks at DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona have the Wildcats at +1800, which is good for seventh along with Villanova.
Meanwhile, BetMGM Arizona gives the Wildcats the longest odds of the four sites, putting them at +2000, which ranks in a tie with Houston and Michigan for 10th overall.
The Wildcats’ quest for the program’s first title in more than two decades will likely kick off in November, though a finalized schedule has not been released.
Futures Paid Off For One Arizona Bettor
One Arizona bettor won a big pay day off a college basketball futures bet this year.
WynnBET Sportsbook posted Tuesday on social media about an Arizona customer who bet $1,250 on Kansas at +1600 odds in November to cash out $21,000 when the Jayhawks won the national title Monday.
OVER $21K FROM KANSAS WINNING THE NATTY 🤯
— WynnBET (@WynnBET) April 5, 2022
A customer in Arizona bet $1,250 on KU at +1600 odds to win it all back in November and CASHED BIG last night👏 pic.twitter.com/rTM09LmqQ1
Should They Stay or Should They Go Now
If Wildcats fans are going to cash in next April, Lloyd will have to replace a quartet of starters from this year’s team, all of whom have been listed as NBA Draft prospects by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz.
The college basketball insiders have sophomore guard and 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year Bennedict Mathurin going in the lottery to the Portland Trail Blazers with the 10th pick of the draft and junior forward Christian Koloko going 27th overall to the Miami Heat.
Also included in ESPN’s mock draft were sophomore guard Dalen Terry (40th pick, Charlotte Hornets) and Azuolas Tubelis (53rd pick, Minnesota Timberwolves).
So far, Arizona’s 2022 recruiting class is thin, with four-star center Dylan Anderson of Gilbert being the only prospect signed to Lloyd’s first full season class.
There’s still plenty of time, however, for Lloyd and his staff to add to Arizona’s roster, both via traditional high school and international recruiting, as well as the NCAA transfer portal.
Regardless of who suits up in November, Arizona sports betting apps see the Wildcats as a force in the Pac-12 and beyond in the 2022-23 season.
