NCAA Basketball: Best bets for 2021-22 regular-season power league titles
By Ian Mumm
Pac-12: Oregon Ducks +500
The Ducks captured their 4th regular-season conference title in the last six seasons. The consistency established by Dana Altman in Eugene has been astonishing to watch, as the team has managed to stay within the top-2 of the conference standings in seven of the last 10 years. Taking a chance on Oregon each season over this span, excluding the aforementioned seasons due to lack of historical data, would have netted bettors +9.41 units over that span. Given an average preseason ranking of 4.4 in the conference, the Ducks are no strangers to overcoming large odds.
The fact that Oregon has managed these results after experiencing significant rotational losses year after year, in upwards of five core players per season, is even more reason to have faith in Coach Altman to continue this trajectory. The Ducks again lost valuable pieces at the top of the roster in Chris Duarte, Eugene Omoruyi, LJ Figueroa and more. However, the team gained pieces in their place providing confidence and excitement in typical Oregon fashion.
As previously detailed on other bets to consider, Altman’s signings of Jacob Young (Rutgers) and De’Vion Harmon (Oklahoma) provide the program with a proven, veteran duo to accompany returning guards Will Richardson and Eric Williams. The Ducks backcourt is certainly one of the best in the conference, as well as the country, and will be leaned on frequently to disrupt opponents throughout the season.
However, Altman also landed physical forward Quincy Guerrier (Syracuse) and another 7-footer in 5-star recruit Nathan Bittle. Seemingly in a competition with Florida State for the most 7-footers in the nation, Oregon has amassed a formidable and incredibly talented group of bigs to clog the paint, dominate the glass and disrupt shots. Even if foul trouble enters the equation, the Ducks are set up for success and to maintain both offensive and defensive consistency on the floor.
While UCLA is the overwhelming favorite to take home the regular-season conference title (+100), there’s a strong feeling of recency bias due to their Final Four run in that price. The Ducks track record should speak for itself in any way you twist it and they give you more value with their odds.