Best bets to win every major college basketball conference

College basketball is almost back, and with it, intense atmospheres, holiday tournaments, unpredictability, and entertaining coaching outbursts.

For true fans, the madness doesn't start in March.

It's a new day in college basketball, with the transfer portal and NIL playing major roles in athletes' decisions and programs' success.

Finding the right blend of veteran portal additions with young studs has been the chess match of the decade for college coaches. The only certainty is there's no irrefutable queen's gambit move to keep the king alive. Different strategies work for different programs.

While there are many unique conferences across the sport, and mid-majors certainly deserve their love, we're focusing on the six major conferences, with each team's odds to win and our picks to earn the conference crowns.

Big Ten odds

If the Pac-12 is - soon to be was - the "conference of champions," then the Big Ten is the conference of cannibalization.

Unlike last year, where one game separated seeds two through seven, there are clear tiers in the Big Ten this season.

No one blames the anti-Purdue crowd for failing to believe in Matt Painter's program after becoming the second-ever 1-seed to lose to a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

But the reality is Purdue steamrolled to Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles on the back of the unstoppable force: National Player of the Year Zach Edey.

Purdue looked unstoppable in the early part of conference play until the Big Ten began to figure out how to stifle the Edey-centric offense.

From Jan. 5 to Feb. 1, Purdue won nine straight games. It then went 4-4 in the final eight games of the regular season. Purdue's still a top team in the country but not as unstoppable as last year.

Maryland returns 60.8% of its scoring from last season and has one of the best backcourt duos in the conference with Jahmir Young and freshman DeShawn Harris-Smith. With a lethal homecourt advantage - it went 10-0 in home conference games last season, the second Big Ten team to finish undefeated at home - Maryland could be worth a bet as a semi-long shot.

The best team in the conference and the eventual champion, however, is Michigan State.

The Spartans are as well coached as any team and have the experience and talent to contend for a national title. AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker, Jaden Akins, Malik Hall, and Mady Sissoko are the best starting five in the conference - and maybe the country. They return 82% of their scoring from last season on a team that dealt with injuries but still finished fourth in the conference.

At 68 years old, it's unclear how much Tom Izzo has left in the tank. This is one of the best rosters he's had in a while. If he's ever going to claim that elusive second national title, now's the time.

Pick: Michigan State +300

Big East odds

The Big East is undoubtedly the best and deepest conference in the country, with four teams having a legitimate shot to win the national title.

Creighton lost talent from its Elite Eight team last season, including Ryan Nembhard to Gonzaga. However, the Bluejays made quite a few portal additions of their own. Creighton will never fail to score points with Greg McDermott steering the ship.

UConn lost three key contributors to the NBA but replenished talent, putting the Huskies in a solid position to repeat as national champions - a feat no team has accomplished since Florida in 2006 and 2007. Marquette returns the bulk of its scoring and will have a chance to repeat as Big East champions.

But beyond the top three, Villanova has a great opportunity to earn a trip back to the top of the conference it consistently dominated not too long ago.

No one wants to be the guy that follows the guy. Unfortunately for Kyle Neptune, he's following Jay Wright, one of the most legendary basketball coaches of this generation. The standard Wright built at Villanova wasn't just to compete for Big East titles; it was for national championships.

Neptune's first year didn't come close to that standard, although he was dealt a difficult hand as multiple stars were injured. Villanova missed the tournament last season for the first time since 2012. This is a massive year for fans' perception of Neptune, and he has the roster to get the Wildcats back on track.

Villanova is the most experienced team in the conference. Every starter averaged double figures last season. The Wildcats return a healthy Justin Moore and preseason All-Big East second-team selection Eric Dixon. Pairing those two with impact transfers Hakim Hart, Tyler Burton, and others creates a dangerous group that's worth a bet at +600. Those odds will shorten as Big East play rolls on and Villanova proves its worth as a contender.

Pick: Villanova +600

Big 12 odds

The fact Kansas is plus-money here is puzzling. I could make the case for Texas, Kansas State, Houston, and Baylor - all of which are worthy competitors and make for a fascinating conference - but that would be disingenuous.

Kansas has won at least a share of 17 of the last 19 Big 12 regular-season titles. If Kansas regressed or had holes this season, maybe it'd be the rare occasion another team takes the throne. But the Jayhawks are phenomenal and potentially better than their national championship roster from the 2021-22 campaign.

Kansas is the outright favorite (+1100) to lift the trophy in early April as NCAA champions. Duke, Michigan State, and Purdue are tied for the second-best odds at +1200.

Bill Self has a prized freshman class mixed with veteran talent. He's got the right mixture of returnees - like Dajuan Harris - and used the transfer portal better than anyone this offseason, adding graduate guard Nicolas Timberlake and big man Hunter Dickinson, the highest commodity in the portal and the player with the third-best odds to win National Player of the Year.

Pick: Kansas +200

ACC odds

Remember that point about not wanting to be the guy who follows the guy? Well, Duke coach Jon Scheyer is in a similar position, as he took over for Mike Krzyzewski, one of the greatest basketball coaches ever. Duke expects to win conference and national titles.

Scheyer didn't accomplish either of those in Year 1, but Duke was still relevant, earning a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Thanks to terrific recruiting at the high school level and through the portal, Scheyer built a great Blue Devils squad that's the heavy favorite to win an increasingly weaker ACC.

A core four of Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell, Jeremy Roach, and Tyrese Proctor pose problems for any team in the country.

It's hard to take Duke with such short odds, knowing the unpredictability of college basketball. It's even harder to bet against the Blue Devils in a futile ACC.

Pick: Duke +140

SEC odds

While head coach John Calipari's success at Kentucky could never be replicated, there were rumors about his potential departure after his team failed to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year - which shows how high Kentucky fans' expectations are.

Nonetheless, Calipari is back with the best freshman class in the country. Winning with primarily freshmen has presented challenges in this new era of college basketball, where teams are seemingly older than ever before.

Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw - three of the top six players in the 2023 class, according to ESPN's Top 100 - make for a remarkably good freshman trio.

West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves provide tremendous talent and experience on a team that leans younger. If there's any coach who can mature freshmen quickly and get them to perform at a high level, it's Calipari.

His coaching, blended with elite skill, will restore Kentucky's place at the top of the conference and as one of the best teams in the country. Kentucky has the sixth-best odds to win the national title.

Pick: Kentucky +400

Pac-12 odds

It's the final year of the Pac-12 as currently constructed, with most teams ditching the conference out west for other major conferences.

Let's take one more ride around the sun featuring late-night tip times for the East Coast folks who get the privilege of hearing Bill Walton laud over the conference of champions.

The California juggernauts - USC and UCLA - are primed to compete for the regular-season title, but they have major questions, especially the Trojans, as freshman Bronny James recovers from a heart issue.

Arizona's the favorite for a reason. Head coach Tommy Lloyd has dominated the conference since he joined the Wildcats in 2021. He's a remarkable 61-11 in two seasons. Arizona has the perfect combination of freshmen, returnees, and transfer-portal additions.

Caleb Love - a driving force behind North Carolina's Final Four run two years ago - transferred to Arizona, as did Keshad Johnson from San Diego State and Jaden Bradley from Alabama.

Oumar Ballo returns as the frontcourt centerpiece after averaging 14 points and eight boards last season. This group isn't just set up for another Pac-12 title; it's poised to avenge its first-round NCAA Tournament loss last season to 15-seed Princeton.

Pick: Arizona +200

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.