Two of the most significant pro sports leagues based in North America, the National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association, had to shut down their seasons in 2020. Major League Baseball delayed their season. Then, when MLB finally got onto the diamond, they played a shorter, 60-game regular season.
The MLB, NBA, and NHL had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. All three sports leagues, though, weathered the storm. Baseball crowned the Los Angeles Dodgers as their champion.
The National Basketball Association played out their season on hoops courts at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The National Hockey League finished their 2020 season via a hub city format with games in Toronto and Edmonton.
Those three leagues appear on track for an almost back to typical season in 2021. The Lakers had their first preseason game. The actual NBA Season starts on December 22, and nobody is mentioning a return to the bubble.
While the NBA, NHL, and MLB got to finish their 2020 by crowning champions, college basketball didn’t. The NCAA canceled both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Universities lost out on $375 million.
Sportsbooks are especially excited about the 2021 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament
The NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament is the second most important event for U.S. based sportsbooks and private gambling business owners. Only the Super Bowl is more important when it comes to single tournaments or sports events.
The annual NCAA Tournament attracts bets from all over the world. Not only that, but additional gambling activities, like Final Four bracket contests on CBS Sports, ESPN, and Yahoo, also happen.
The many games make the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament the most exciting three weeks for sports bettors. When March Madness does roll around, and if you want to place a few wagers, make sure to look for an American bookie, who are usually run by individuals that offer white label sportsbooks through providers like PayPerHead.com. They can provide a bespoke level of customer service that often larger online sportsbooks can’t. Make sure to look for a pay per head agent that uses bookie software if you want to wager on the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament finale.
NCAAB Final Four 2020-2021
It’s no wonder that Final Four contending teams are determined to play out the 2020-2021 College Basketball Season. Teams have already played their pre-conference schedules.
Last week, many, including the best in the Big 12, started conference play. Check out information on the top contenders for this year’s NCAA Tournament. We also add some info on the players who will lead their teams to the Promised Land.
Gonzaga and Baylor lead the list of Final Four contenders
Gonzaga – The Zags are solid across the board. Freshman Jalen Suggs shoots 56.7% from the field. He averages over 13 points, close to 7 assists, and grabs close to 5 rebounds per. Suggs tosses the rock to a couple of dominant inside players.
Drew Timme averages 20.3 points and 6.3 boards while shooting over 60%. Corey Kispert averages 20.3 points and 5 boards while also shooting over 60%.
Baylor – The Bears’ three-guard starting line-up is the reason they’re a contender. Jared Butler averages 15.3 points, 3.3 boards, and 4.8 assists, MaCio Teague drops 14 points and grabs 4.3 rebounds per while Davion Mitchell averages 6.8 assists, grabs close to 4 rebounds, and scores 12.5 each game.
Baylor and Gonzaga were scheduled to play on December 5. The Zags postponed that matchup due to someone in the program contracting the coronavirus. No word on when Gonzaga and Butler will play the game.
They may not if both teams continue destroying opponents. There will be no reason if both are in line for a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa – The story for Iowa is the likely Naismith Player of the Year, Luka Garza. Basketball betting future handicappers have already dumped on Garza to take the trophy. Luka averages 29.2 points, 9 boards, and an assist. He’s shooting a ridiculous 69% from the field.
Garza is unstoppable, but Iowa isn’t a one-person team. Guard Joe Weiskamp averages 15.2 points while grabbing close to 6 boards each game.
Jordan Bohannon, CJ Frederick, and Connor McCaffrey can all slash to the basket for easy buckets or set up Garza and Weiskampf. What makes Iowa so difficult to defend is that the entire starting five, especially Garza, can drain threes.
How good of a three-point shooter is Luka Garza? In 6 games, he’s made 13-of-19, which means he’s shooting 68.4% from behind the arc.
Michigan State – Iowa’s fellow Big Ten squad Michigan State is also undefeated. The Spartans don’t have a star player. Everyone on the team can score, grab boards, and dish the rock.
Michigan State does have an excellent inside-outside game. Aaron Henry racks up assists by passing the ball to Joey Hauser. Henry averages 5.2 assists per. Hauser averages 10 rebounds and 13.3 points each game.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan State can stop the juggernaut that is Luka Garza. The Spartans and Hawkeyes play twice. The first game happens on January 14 at Iowa. The second is on February 13 at Michigan State. Circle both dates on your calendar.
