Men’s College Basketball preview: Best bets to win the Big East

We are just days away from the start of the 2024-25 college basketball season, which means you still have time to place some futures bets on DraftKings Sportsbook!

With so many teams vying for a national title and a slew of players entering the transfer portal, separating the contenders from the pretenders has never been more difficult. However, there’s still enough information at our disposal to make some savvy bets on programs across the nation.

Let’s take a closer look at the Big East, home of UConn, the back-to-back defending national champions, and a host of other teams looking to make a run in March. Here are three squads offering the most value to win the conference’s regular season title on DraftKings Sportsbook.

First, a quick disclaimer: Connecticut is not on this list. As good as the Huskies have been the last two seasons, betting any single team to win a conference with +130 odds is a recipe for disaster. Keep in mind, this team lost loads of talent and they’ve only won the Big East once during Dan Hurley’s six years as head coach. I’d still call them the clear favorites, but UConn doesn’t offer up much value.

St. John’s Red Storm (+500)

While St. John’s did play Hurley and the Huskies tough in all three of their matchups last season, it was too little, too late. In Rick Pitino’s first year as head coach, the Johnnies were one of the most frustrating teams in America. They bounced between brilliance and mediocrity before a late-season surge that almost got them to the NCAA Tournament. The situation reached a boiling point in February, when Pitino called his team unathletic while vowing that the coaching staff would never again put together a team at the last second.

Months later, it’s safe to say the Hall of Fame coach wasn’t fooling around. St. John’s was one of the most active programs in the offseason, bringing in a promising collection of proven contributors. Their most notable move, perhaps the biggest for any school, was bringing in former Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond. The fourth-year guard was a statistical monster for the NIT-champion Pirates last season, putting up 15.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 5.1 APG en route to an All-Big East selection. He’ll be joined by several other transfers, including former Utah guard Deivon Smith and North Texas forward Aaron Scott.

With the dynamic backcourt of Richmond and Smith in tow, as well as the return of guards RJ Luis and Simeon Wilcher, the Red Storm have a great mix of experienced talent and players poised for a breakout. The biggest question will be down low, where USC transfer Vincent Iwuchukwu is projected to start at center. Still, there’s no question an already solid team got a whole lot better. At five to one odds, I like St. John’s chances at winning its first Big East title in over 30 years.

Marquette Golden Eagles (+800)

Unlike their conference rivals, Marquette didn’t make any big moves this summer, instead deciding to stand pat. Head coach Shaka Smart has done a remarkable job in Milwaukee, turning a mediocre program into a consistent top-25 team, and he’s gone about it in an unconventional way. Rather than focus on the transfer portal, the Golden Eagles have prioritized internal development from their recruits. It’s an approach that’s worked in the past, but can they survive losing stars Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro to the NBA?

It all depends on Kam Jones. After scoring 17.2 points per game as a junior, the dynamic guard is well-positioned to contend for Big East player of the year. However, Marquette will also see quality players return in David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell, and Sean Jones. Of the three, it’s Joplin, a 6’7 forward, that’s most crucial to the Golden Eagles. If the senior can emerge as a reliable second scoring option alongside Jones, there’s no telling where Smart’s squad can finish within the Big East standings.

Right now, plenty are sleeping on Marquette due to their quiet offseason, especially compared to their busier conference foes. However, this is one of the few groups that has had some recent success against UConn, winning two of their last six matchups with the Huskies. In addition, we saw the Golden Eagles win the conference title just two years ago. Sleep on this group at your own peril.

Xavier Musketeers (+1000)

Few teams in America were as snake-bitten as Xavier. After reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2023, the Musketeers regressed mightily last year. With a 16-18 record, X wasn’t even a threat to reach March Madness, despite nabbing a win over Butler in the Big East Tournament. To make matters worse, leading scorer Quincy Olivari (19.1 PPG) left for the NBA this summer.

So, why is Xavier a threat to win the conference? Simply put, things can’t go as poorly this time around. In the front court, big men Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter are set to play for the first time since 2023. Both missed last season with major injuries. The two seniors are expected to play a major role this year. Many believe Freemantle has a real chance at competing for Big East Player of the Year. Returning point guard Dayvion McKnight should have an even bigger workload going forward after averaging 12.4 points and 4.8 assists during his first season in Cincinnati. Add to that an enticing seven-man transfer class, and there’s plenty to like here.

Sean Miller has won at every level during his nineteen seasons as a head coach. This season’s Xavier roster is one of the most talented he’s ever had, so I wouldn’t expect a letdown. If you’re looking for a long-shot with some value, X makes a ton of sense at ten-to-one odds.

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.