The NCAA basketball 2020-21 season is on the way. After players, fans, and punters missed out on the NCAA Basketball Tournament in the spring of 2020, there is hope that this year’s tournament will be played and a full season will take place leading up to it.
The NCAA basketball 2020-21 season will begin on Wednesday, November 25 with games played around the United States. Remarkably, the season will commence just 15 days later than it was originally scheduled to tip-off.
College basketball teams were allowed to start practices on Wednesday, October 14. Unlike in years pasts, no preseason games or scrimmages were allowed in the lead up to the new season. A recommendation was made to each school that only four non-conference games should be scheduled. In total, teams cannot play more than 27 games in the regular season.
The NCAA basketball 2020-21 season is scheduled to finish with March Madness. The schedule for the postseason was released as follows:
| Selection Sunday | March 14 |
| First Four | March 16-17 |
| First Round | March 18-19 |
| Second Round | March 20-21 |
| Sweet 16 | March 25-26 |
| Elite Eight | March 27-28 |
| Final Four | April 3 |
| National Championship | April 5 |
NCAA basketball 2020-21 season: Who’s No. 1?
The AP Poll has Gonzaga Bulldogs as No. 1 in the country heading into the new season. Baylor Bears are No. 2 in the AP Poll, however, the Coaches’ Poll is reverse as Baylor takes the top spot in the Coaches’ Poll with Gonzaga being second.
Being No. 1 at the beginning of the season in NCAA basketball typically means little. Schools want to be the No. 1 team in the nation at the end of the NCAA Tournament instead.
The AP Poll’s top 5 going into the first games of the season on November 25 looks like this:
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Villanova
4. Virginia
5. Iowa
For a fully detailed set of top 25 polls, check out CBSSports.com.
Gonzaga finished the 2019-20 season with a record of 31-2. They look to be just as strong as last season having brought in new recruits Jalen Suggs and Julian Strawther. Here is the issue betting on Gonzaga, they have a weak conference and each time the NCAA basketball tournament rolls around, they are overhyped.
In terms of odds (which are below), Villanova is sportsbooks’ favorite to win the NCAA basketball championship. The Wildcats went 24-7 in 2019-20. The problem with Jay Wright’s team is last season’s leading scorer Saddiq Bey left the university. He averaged 16.1 ppg last season.
NCAA basketball championship odds
The NCAA basketball season is a typical sprint leading up to one of the most exciting sports events in the world, March Madness. College basketball experts and bookies have given their thoughts on the upcoming season and Villanova is tipped as the odds-on favorite to win the NCAA basketball tournament in March/April. Check out the odds below courtesy of Bovada.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Villanova | +700 |
| Iowa | +750 |
| Gonzaga | +1000 |
| Illinois | +1000 |
| Kentucky | +1000 |
| Baylor | +1100 |
| Virginia | +1400 |
| Duke | +1600 |
| Kansas | +1800 |
| Michigan State | +1800 |
| Wisconsin | +2000 |
| North Carolina | +2200 |
| Texas Tech | +2200 |
| Creighton | +2500 |
| Florida State | +2500 |
| Houston | +2500 |
| Michigan | +2500 |
| Tennessee | +2800 |
| West Virginia | +2800 |
| Connecticut | +3500 |
| Indiana | +3500 |
| Ohio State | +4000 |
| Oregon | +4000 |
| Florida | +5000 |
| Louisville | +5000 |
Which team will win the NCAA basketball tournament in 2021? You will need to follow along with the entire season, which begins on November 25 and stay tuned to Zcode System for the latest picks and predictions.
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