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NCAAB betting: Top 3 letdown candidates
For every NCAA men's basketball team that defies the odds and jumps from relative unknown to championship contender, there is a team that heads in the opposite direction. Every year, a handful of early-season favorites fail to meet expectations, whether due to injury, ineffectiveness or any number of additional factors.
Here are three teams that could struggle to reward bettors this coming season (odds courtesy LVH):
Florida Gators (12-1)
Oddsmakers and those in charge of the coaches' preseason poll - where the Gators come in at No. 8 - both seem willing to look past the fact that Florida enters the season in turmoil. Between Eli Carter (broken fibula) and Will Yeguete (right knee) recovering from serious injuries, Scottie Wilbekin only recently (and partially) reinstated from a suspension and several other players facing potential in-house sanctions, head coach Billy Donovan has been forced to run practices with far from a full complement of personnel. If the Gators struggle to mesh out of the gate, it could be a long and disappointing campaign in Gainesville.
Syracuse Orange (25-1)
The Orange are leaving a difficult conference (Big East) to join what will likely be an even deadlier one (ACC), and will do so without two of their standout players from last season. Head coach Jim Boeheim described Michael Carter-Williams as "the best defensive guard (Syracuse) has ever had, while Brandon Triche provided a consistent scoring punch. Any team boasting a lottery hopeful in power forward Jerami Grant, an electrifying guard in CJ Fair and a stud freshman in Tyler Ennis will have success, but an unforgiving conference schedule will put the Orange to the test.
Wisconsin Badgers (60-1)
Despite being led by one of the NCAA's best defensive-minded coaches in Bo Ryan, the Badgers have several things working against them. The biggest is the loss of Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans and Mike Bruesewitz, robbing Wisconsin of two top-3 scorers and its three leading rebounders from a season ago. Playing in the always-competitive Big Ten won't help matters - nor will a grueling nonconference schedule that has the Badgers racking up the miles, a development that could lead to fatigue later in the year. Given how much energy they expend on the defensive end, that could ultimately punish them in March.
For every NCAA men's basketball team that defies the odds and jumps from relative unknown to championship contender, there is a team that heads in the opposite direction. Every year, a handful of early-season favorites fail to meet expectations, whether due to injury, ineffectiveness or any number of additional factors.
Here are three teams that could struggle to reward bettors this coming season (odds courtesy LVH):
Florida Gators (12-1)
Oddsmakers and those in charge of the coaches' preseason poll - where the Gators come in at No. 8 - both seem willing to look past the fact that Florida enters the season in turmoil. Between Eli Carter (broken fibula) and Will Yeguete (right knee) recovering from serious injuries, Scottie Wilbekin only recently (and partially) reinstated from a suspension and several other players facing potential in-house sanctions, head coach Billy Donovan has been forced to run practices with far from a full complement of personnel. If the Gators struggle to mesh out of the gate, it could be a long and disappointing campaign in Gainesville.
Syracuse Orange (25-1)
The Orange are leaving a difficult conference (Big East) to join what will likely be an even deadlier one (ACC), and will do so without two of their standout players from last season. Head coach Jim Boeheim described Michael Carter-Williams as "the best defensive guard (Syracuse) has ever had, while Brandon Triche provided a consistent scoring punch. Any team boasting a lottery hopeful in power forward Jerami Grant, an electrifying guard in CJ Fair and a stud freshman in Tyler Ennis will have success, but an unforgiving conference schedule will put the Orange to the test.
Wisconsin Badgers (60-1)
Despite being led by one of the NCAA's best defensive-minded coaches in Bo Ryan, the Badgers have several things working against them. The biggest is the loss of Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans and Mike Bruesewitz, robbing Wisconsin of two top-3 scorers and its three leading rebounders from a season ago. Playing in the always-competitive Big Ten won't help matters - nor will a grueling nonconference schedule that has the Badgers racking up the miles, a development that could lead to fatigue later in the year. Given how much energy they expend on the defensive end, that could ultimately punish them in March.
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