Don’t look now, but we’re mere weeks away from the 2025 NCAA Tournament. There’s still over a month of college basketball to be played prior to the start of March Madness. However, that makes February the perfect time to place some savvy futures bets. Whether it’s backing a scrappy underdog or a dominant high-major program, there’s something for every bettor on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are my three favorite value plays heading into the final stretch of the regular season:
Houston to win the National Championship (+1000)
The SEC is considered the conference to beat this season (for good reason), but don’t sleep on the Big 12. While Kansas and Baylor have both won a title recently, Houston has been one of the nation’s most dominant programs. That’s continued this season, as the Cougars have raced out to a 20-4 (12-1) record. Head coach Kelvin Sampson always prioritizes defense, but this year’s unit has shown plenty on the other end of the floor. According to KenPom, UH’s adjusted offensive efficiency of 124.3 ranks sixth in the nation. That’s the highest mark during Sampson’s 11-year tenure with the school.
A well-rounded scoring attack makes Houston less dependent on one big name for an entire tournament. Four different players on the roster are currently averaging more than ten points per game. Of the team’s top eight scorers, seven are upperclassmen. Bettors might hesitate to back a school that’s been upset in the Sweet Sixteen two years in a row. However, college basketball history is littered with programs that couldn’t win ‘the big one’…until they did. Sampson and the Cougars are due for another deep March run. As one of the deepest and most experienced groups in the field, this squad offers value at 10-1 odds.
Gonzaga to reach the Final Four (+1400)
Gonzaga entered the season with plenty of hype, ranked #6 in the preseason AP poll. Things haven’t gone quite to plan so far, as the team’s record is a good, not great, 18-7 (9-3). Still, it’s clear that head coach Mark Few’s squad has plenty of talent. It starts down low with Graham Ike, a 17.0 PPG scorer leading the West Coast Conference in shooting (59.3%). In the back court, point guard Ryan Nembhard currently paces the nation with 9.8 assists per game. Guard Khalif Battle and big man Braden Huff give the Zags production from everywhere on the court.
While Gonzaga might be a bit top-heavy, they have quite the core to lean on. Most importantly, every major contributor other than Huff is a senior. An elite offense ranked 7th in AdjOE on KenPom (124.1) is supported by an underrated 44th-ranked defense (98.4). Other than a season-opening blowout against Baylor, the Bulldogs lack signature wins. To be fair, most of their losses were close affairs on the road against quality teams. The reasoning behind this pick boils down to a high-powered offense led by one of the game’s top coaches. If the Zags can put it all together, they’ll be one of the toughest outs on this year’s bracket.
Wisconsin to win the National Championship (+10000)
It’s important to remember that this is March Madness we’re talking about. Unexpected stuff is par for the course. Right now, #16 Wisconsin isn’t on most analyst’s radar as a national title contender, and it’s hard to blame them. While the Badgers started out hot with eight straight wins, they’ve gone 11-5 over their last 16 contests. Head coach Greg Gard’s group lives and dies from deep, having made the 22nd-most three-pointers in the country (245). Shooting is a necessity for any modern championship winner, but there’s always the possibility that a team goes into a slump.
With that being said, Wisconsin could just as easily catch fire from deep. Beyond the team’s shooting, leading scorer John Tonje is a big, athletic guard that could thrive in March. Twin seven-footers Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl are able to space the floor, while guard John Blackwell has averaged over 15 points per game this season. A key statistic for the Badgers is their 84.1% team free-throw shooting, the top mark in the nation. In a pressure-packed environment, that skill can’t be understated. At 100-1 odds, it’s not unbelievable to think this group can go on a heater. For a safer play, consider Wisconsin to reach the Final Four (+2000).
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