NCAA Basketball Betting: Is the Pac-12 Arizona's To Lose?

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

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, here is how they look for the Pac-12 conference's MBB regular season winner.

All NCAAB odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Arizona Wildcats (+180)

As last year's Pac-12 men's basketball tournament champions, the Arizona Wildcats won their most recent regular season title in 2021-22. From a historical perspective, U of A is one of the most decorated basketball programs in the conference.

For the coming season, the Wildcats are one of only two Pac-12 MBB programs to be ranked in ESPN's Way-To-Early Top 25 -- Arizona chimes in at 12th there. Under head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats are lining up a harmonious cast of returners, transfers and incoming freshmen.

On KenPom, Arizona is looked upon much more highly for 2023-24, ranked sixth (+23.27 AdjEM) in the entire nation. After last year's swift exit from March Madness, I'd imagine the Wildcats -- especially with returners like Pelle Larsson and Kylan Boswell -- will enter the coming campaign with a chip on their shoulders.

USC Trojans (+410)

Frankly, the USC Trojans have more going for them than Bronny James -- guards Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis are likely the top players on the team. As alluded to, only two Pac-12 schools appear on the Way-To-Early poll, but Southern Cal is that other school, as they approach the season at No. 24 overall.

In 2022, the Trojans played impressively through the regular season, compiling a 14-6 conference record for the second straight year. Simply, head coach Andy Enfield has done a fantastic job turning around the program outside DTLA. He is preparing for his 11th campaign at the helm.

Like Arizona, USC is also looking to put an embarrassing March Madness exit behind him. However, when it relates to the Pac-12 regular season title, the Trojans have not held the crown since the 1984-85 season.

Colorado Buffaloes (+650)

Has the "Prime Effect" made its way from the gridiron to the hardwood?

Well, perhaps not literally, but there is considerable excitement around the basketball program in Boulder. Entering the 2023-24 regular season, what exactly can we expect from the Colorado Buffaloes?

Colorado has not cracked the AP Top 25 or qualified for March Madness since the 2020-21 campaign. In that year, they were eliminated in the second round at the hands of the Florida State Seminoles. However, head coach Tad Boyle seems primed for a strong bid in his 14th year at the post.

Returners K.J. Simpson and Tristian da Silva are back in Boulder for 2023. Last season, the two did well to pace the Buffs in scoring, both at 15.9 PPG. Additionally, CU's leading rebounder from a year ago -- J'Vonne Hadley -- is also here.

Can this group earn Colorado their first Pac-12 regular season title in their final season in the conference?

UCLA Bruins (+700)

As the most decorated college basketball program on the West Coast, the UCLA Bruins may actually be further from contention in 2023 than in recent seasons.

This will be head coach Mick Cronin's fifth season in Westwood, as the Bruins have made deep March Madness runs in three straight years (reaching the national semifinal in 2020-21).

Last season's leaders for UCLA -- Jamie Jaquez, Amari Bailey and Tyger Campbell -- are long gone. That means it will be a turning of the tide for Cronin and the Bruins, but there are still many noteworthy returners to be excited about, such as sophomore guard Dylan Andrews and big man Adem Bona. Both players were key contributors for UCLA a year ago.

While the Bruins are down the conference list a ways, I genuinely think they are always tough to rule out in the Pac-12. In terms of winning the regular season title, UCLA managed that as recently as last season. I'll have you know that 7-to-1 odds on the Bruins to do it for the second consecutive campaign seems like valuable pricing to me.

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.

Of course, NBA betting is already well underway!

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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.