NCAA Basketball Betting: Gonzaga Looms As Sturdy Favorite in the WCC

In the fall, it can be easy to get caught up with rampant NFL action, college football rivalries and MLB's World Series.

Still, autumn also brings out the hoops. Sure, there is always the NBA, but college basketball offers an experience unlike any other.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, the 2023-24 college basketball conference betting odds have officially gone live. With that, let's have a look at the WCC men's basketball regular season title odds.

All NCAAB odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (-140)

The 2023-24 season will mark a quarter-century of head coach Mark Few leading the Gonzaga Bulldogs. As the pride of Spokane, the 'Zags have been a dominant program in the modern college basketball era.

Over the past six seasons, Gonzaga has twice finished as March Madness' national runner-up. Does that mean they are poised to win their conference regular season title after sharing honors with Saint Mary's last year?

Perusing through ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25, the Bulldogs are one of two teams from the West Coast Conference that show up. Listed at No. 10 here, Gonzaga carries their usual lofty expectations.

Stars Drew Timme and Julian Strawther may be long gone, but their third-leading scorer from 2022 -- local boy Anton Watson (11.1 PPG) -- is back to set the tone. Fellow guard and returner Nolan Hickman will be Watson's running mate.

Of course, the 'Zags are still chasing that elusive first Division I national championship.

Saint Mary's Gaels (+130)

Nestled in the East Bay enclave of Moraga, the Saint Mary's Gaels have been an impressive basketball program for quite some time. Under head coach Randy Bennett, SMC has won more than 20 games in each of their past 15 seasons (excluding the pandemic-shortened season of 2020-21).

On KenPom, the Gaels (16.08 AdjEM) fall just inside the top 40, showing up at 38th overall. After consecutive seasons with exits in the second round of March Madness, Saint Mary's will likely return with a chip on their collective shoulders.

Two of three leading scorers for the Gaels last year will be back in 2023: rangy guards Aidan Mahaney (13.9 PPG) and Alex Ducas (12.5 PPG). Mahaney grew up in neighboring Campolindo and will look to get his hometown team over the hump.

Remember: Saint Mary's actually earned a share of the regular season title as recently as last season. As alluded to, they are the WCC's second and final team on this year's Way-Too-Early poll, listed at 24th in the country.

San Francisco Dons (+2500)

Once a powerhouse of the college basketball landscape, the San Francisco Dons might not be at the level they were when NBA legend Bill Russell was on campus (national champions in 1955 and 1956). However, they still field a talented roster on the hardwood this season. The Dons earned their last NCAA tournament bid just two years ago, but fell short in 2022 after playing to a poor 7-9 conference record.

For USF, both of their leading scorers from a year ago are gone. Still, the Dons display a diverse cast with their current roster, showcasing as many as seven international players; China, Ukraine, Georgia, Australia and the U.K. are all represented on this team.

Junior point guard Marcus Williams is San Francisco's most proven returner. He averaged 7.9 PPG for the Dons last season, logging action in all 34 contests. With Khalil Shabazz and Tyrell Roberts both moved on, Williams will be called upon to step up.

Loyola Marymount Lions (+2500)

Adjacent to LAX airport, the Loyola Marymount Lions have a picturesque campus and high-scoring men's basketball team. Sure, they have not qualified for March Madness since 1989-90 when Paul Westhead was at the helm, but LMU did well to produce 75.3 PPG last season. That landed the Lions in the 75th percentile of college hoops.

In 2023, Loyola Marymount (not to be confused with Loyola-Maryland or Loyola-Illinois) will be led by 6-foot-6 forward Keli Leaupepe. The product from Melbourne, Australia excelled last season, averaging 13.3 PPG while bringing down 6.8 RPG.

LMU has not accumulated the WCC's best regular season record since that aforementioned '89-90 season under Westhead. These days, Stan Johnson is head coach for the Lions. Entering his third campaign in Playa Vista, he already improved from 11 to 19 wins between Year 1 and Year 2 -- do they take another substantial step forward?

Santa Clara Broncos (+2500)

In the heart of Silicon Valley, the Santa Clara Broncos are a proud basketball program. Once upon a time, it produced NBA Hall of Famer and two-time MVP Steve Nash. Of course, Santa Clara has not cashed the regular season winner market since that era when Nash was on campus.

The Broncos are led by journeyman head coach Herb Sendek, entering his eighth season at the post. Prior to arriving in the South Bay Area, Sendek had stints at Miami (OH), NC State and most recently, Arizona State. Is he the guy to get the most out of Santa Clara?

Fielding a relatively young team, SCU does not have too many returners in significant roles. German seven-footer Christoph Tilly is back for a second season while junior Camaron Tongue is another familiar face -- the latter did well to provide energy and length (6-foot-7) off the bench in 2022.

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds prior to the regular season.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.