NCAA Basketball: Top 5 future bets (long shots) to win 2020 championship

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Myles Powell #13 of the Seton Hall Pirates reacts in the second half against the Wofford Terriers during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

#1 Seton Hall Pirates

55/1 (NCAA Basketball 2019-2020 top 5 future bets)

Is Seton Hall back on the map? Depends what you consider “back on the map.” This Pirates’ team has made the tournament four out of the last five seasons, but only one of those appearances resulted in a tournament win. Do note that in those five appearances, they had an average seed as an 8.6. Kevin Willard, head coach of the Pirates, seems to have turned the ship around with this program and hopes to get it back to the P.J. Carlesimo days of the late 80’s/early 90’s with a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearance.

Seton Hall SG Myles Powell is a certified bucket!
@Myles_MBP_23 pic.twitter.com/PnNjg7Serx
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) September 1, 2019

Forward Michael Nzei is the only departure from last year, who averaged 9 PPG/5.2 RPG for the Pirates last season. Other than that, this team will return everyone and will add Florida State transfer Ike Obiagu to their roster. Obiagu sat out last season as a transfer, and this 7-foot-2-inch rim protector will be a great addition to this squad. His length will be a great addition to a pair of 6-foot-11-inch players, Sandro Mamukelashvili & Taurean Thompson, and 7-footer Romaro Gill. We haven’t even mentioned the leader and main scorer of this team, Myles Powell. Myles Powell will be one of the top scorers this season in all of college basketball, who averaged 23.1 PPG last season. Entering his senior season, I expect a lot out of Powell and am excited to see what he brings to the court in his final collegiate basketball season.

Now, let’s talk about the odds at hand for the Pirates to cut down the nets in April. 55/1 is higher than I would have expected for this team. I see no scenario where this team doesn’t advance to the NCAA Tournament, and they are my favorite to win the Big East. Players such as Myles Cale & Quincy McKnight round out this starting lineup, and this team is deep. The size and length of this team will cause fits for teams in the tournament, and I have the Pirates making a run in the dance.

Let’s hope that this team can get a five seed or higher this year, which will really boost their chances to make a deep run. This is the season were the Pirates find the buried treasure (well, at least get close to it), and bet on the Pirates at 55/1 to win the NCAA Championship.