The UConn Huskies are on a mission to become the second program in NCAA history to win three consecutive NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships.
The outlook is more hopeful now that the Huskies have won seven straight after a shaky start that included three straight losses at the Maui Invitational. However, the betting public is still undecided about Connecticut’s chances of making it three this April.
Is UConn ready to lure the college basketball bettor’s national title hopes? Can they win the Big East? These are serious questions on the minds of the UConn faithful and basketball fans as they prepare for March Madness.
Betting on the Huskies is prohibited in Connecticut, but there are plenty of UConn alumni in Massachusetts who are also eager to see if the Huskies can make history.
Let’s see if we can provide some answers when it comes to how to bet the UConn Huskies national championship odds.
Editor’s note: New to sports betting? Let our experts explain how to bet on sports.
UConn Huskies Men’s National Championship Odds (+1500)
Odds from January 3rd
The UConn Huskies remain atop a short list of favorites to win the national championship and complete a rare three-peat, despite losing four players from last year’s team to the NBA.
Seven straight wins (and a 3-0 start in the Big East) have helped ease the panic after three straight losses at the Maui Invitational, but are the two-time defending champions as good as they were a year ago?
No, but it’s a bit of a tough question because in 2024 UConn cruised through the NCAA Tournament, winning six games by a tournament-record 23.3 points per game.
This year’s early season struggles were due to the fact that they aren’t as good defensively as the top five units of a year ago.
UConn’s offense is a different story. The Huskies rank second in KenPom in offensive efficiency (124.8 points per 100 possessions), one spot lower than last year’s team. Exceptional movement (on and off the ball) remains; they are well balanced and extremely tidy with the ball.
This year’s version of the Huskies is different offensively for one specific reason: They have a true point guard. Hassan Diarra (6.4 apg) is a more natural fit at the position than last year’s point guard, Tristen Newton. The year before, UConn’s leading assist was punter Andre Jackson. With Diarra running the show, the offense is more under control than ever. But offense isn’t the problem this year so far.
Defense, a hallmark of Dan Hurley’s UConn teams and nearly every other Huskies team over the past three decades, is the problem.
The 2024 UConn team was ranked in the top five in defensive efficiency in KenPom. This group isn’t shut out (101.9, 94), but they lead the nation in blocked shots (6.8 per game), and the Huskies don’t give much room to score in the paint.
However, UConn’s opponents are draining 38% of their 16 three-point attempts per game. The Huskies don’t allow many long-range attempts, but they leave too many open looks, forcing the offense to do more than it needs to. This could be a problem both now and in the future.
Frosh sensation Liam McNeeley (ESPN’s ninth-ranked player in the Class of 2024) did not return from what appeared to be a serious ankle injury suffered early in the second half of UConn’s New Year’s Day win against DePaul.
Jon Rothstein reported that McNeely’s injury is likely not long-term, but that he is unlikely to play against Providence Sunday.
Dan Hurley said after the game that UConn’s Liam McNeeley (ankle) is unlikely to be out long-term, but he is not likely to play Sunday against Providence, according to a school spokesman.
He had 9 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes today against DePaul before the injury. https://t.co/IXwCwWdMX7
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 1, 2025
McNeeley (13.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 apg) is the second McDonald’s All-American Danny Hurley was able to lure to Storrs. He is the Huskies’ second leading scorer and second leading rebounder (5.8 rpg); plays heavy minutes at crucial times.
McNeeley was scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday, but was seen leaving Wintrust Arena in a walking boot. The Huskies’ three-point defense, being what it is, means they’ll have to score a lot every night. Solo Ball, the Huskies’ third-leading scorer (13.2 points per game) and their best 3-point shooter (44.7 percent) will need to step up.
The betting odds didn’t change much either way after UConn dropped three in a row in Maui, and likely won’t see any drastic changes unless McNeeley is ruled out for an extended period of time (or more improbably, the season).
The good news for the betting public? there is time Bettors have time to see how much action McNeeley misses and how the Huskies respond if he’s out for an extended period.
UConn’s initial response was allowing 46 second-half points to DePaul after the ice went off, so that’s a valid concern that bettors have time to see addressed before UConn moves up the odds ladder . They would have to win the Big East to get my share.
UConn Huskies Big East Regular Season Championship Odds (+170)
The Huskies are the second betting favorite behind the Marquette Golden Eagles to win the Big East regular season title. UConn’s odds to win the Big East are shorter than their national championship odds, and they have as good a chance as Marquette (or even St. John’s) to win the conference.
The Huskies can certainly score with both schools, but can they defend against Ken Pomeroy’s standout offenses? The betting public has to decide early on whether UConn and Hurley can fix their defensive issues from downtown, rebound and hit the ground running starting on February 1st.
If you were going to bet on UConn winning the Big East, it should probably be done before the Huskies’ Feb. 1 game at Marquette. If UConn beats the Golden Eagles, their regular season conference championship odds will change and all current value will disappear.
The Huskies follow the Marquette game with a home matchup against St. John’s, followed by back-to-back games at Creighton and Seton Hall. UConn has dropped five straight to Creighton and three of its last four to Seton Hall.
To win the Big East, they would likely need to go up .500 during this two-game swing. But if UConn can get out of this stretch with a win or two on the road, the Huskies have a real shot at winning the Big East. Three of their final four regular-season games are in Storrs (Georgetown, Marquette and Seton Hall), and if UConn enters this stretch within a game of the Golden Eagles, they can win the Big East.