Wooden Award Odds Update: Will Anyone Catch Zach Edey?

The Wooden Award is given to the most outstanding women and men's college basketball player each season. Taking home the hardware isn't an easy achievement, but there's a chance we see a repeat winner for the men's side of things for the 2023-2024 campaign.

After winning the prestigious award last season, Zach Edey is the clear favorite to be handed the Wooden Award at the end of this campaign. The Purdue center could become the first men's college basketball player since Ralph Sampson in the 1983-1984 season to win the award in back-to-back years.

With the 2023-2024 season rolling along, we've gotten a decent glimpse into who could potentially dethrone Edey. There are a couple of months of action remaining, so time is ticking for players to put forth their best effort in receiving the Wooden Award.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's Wooden Award odds, emphasizing the frontrunners in the market.

All college basketball odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

2023-24 Wooden Award Odds

Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: -400

Since the Wooden Award was started in 1977, only one player has won it in back-to-back seasons. Edey has a solid chance to become just the second player to do it as he continues to widen the gap between himself and the other candidates.

The Purdue big man secured the award last season with averages of 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 60.7% shooting from the field. The senior has followed that up in 2023-24 by producing 22.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on a career-best 64.5% field-goal percentage.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball national championship odds, the Boilermakers are the favorites to cut down the nets. Purdue is currently the No. 2 team in the AP Top 25 Poll, putting them behind only UConn, the reigning champions.

Not many teams in college basketball have the personnel to slow down Edey in the paint. Even though Edey is the obvious choice to win the Wooden Award this season, there isn't any value in taking him at his current odds.

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +1200

Hunter Dickinson was an extremely productive player in his first three seasons at Michigan, but he's taken his game to another level at Kansas this season. Upon averaging 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on an efficient 57% shooting in his three years for the Wolverines, Dickinson is logging 19.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on 60.5% shooting for the Jayhawks thus far.

The senior center has helped Kansas remain a contender for the national championship as they are tied for the 11th-best odds to win it all. The Jayhawks are No. 3 in the AP Top 25 Poll with impressive wins over UConn, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

Seeing that Kansas currently has eight ranked opponents remaining on its schedule, Dickinson will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents in crucial matchups. Also, the Jayhawks are always going to be a program that gets a ton of coverage, so Dickinson should have no shortage of eyes on his performances down the stretch.

One of the obstacles for Dickinson right now is the fact he is the second-leading scorer on the Jayhawks. Kevin McCullar leads Kansas in scoring at 19.9 points per game and owns the fifth-best odds to win the Wooden Award at +6500.

Kyle Filipowski, Duke Blue Devils

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +2600

Another big man who has inserted himself into the Wooden Award conversation this season is Duke's Kyle Filipowski. The Blue Devils are the No. 7 team in the AP Poll and boast the seventh-best odds to win the program's first national title since 2015.

As a freshman last season, Filipowski tallied 15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 44.1% shooting. As a sophomore, the center is registering 18.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game on 51.7% shooting from the field.

While Filipowski isn't averaging a double-double like Edey and Dickinson are, he is converting 42.1% of his three-point attempts. Dickinson is making a higher percentage of his shots from beyond the arc, so that could make it tough for Filipowski to have a case over the KU star for the Wooden Award at season's end.

At the same time, Duke could finish the season well, and Filipowski could improve his numbers to the point where they are closer to Edey's and Dickinson's. The Blue Devils don't have many remaining games against ranked or notable opponents, making the argument even tougher for the seven-foot center.

RJ Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +3500

RJ Davis has emerged with the fourth-best odds to win the Wooden Award. Davis is the lone guard to be within range of the three notable big men in Edey, Dickinson, and Filipowski.

In his first three seasons playing for the Tar Heels, Davis made improvements in his numbers in multiple areas. This season isn't any different as he is recording career-high marks in points per game (20.4), steals per game (1.5), three-point shooting percentage (41%), and free-throw percentage (95.4%).

The arguments for Davis are him being tied for the 17th-most points per game in college basketball and North Carolina sitting at No. 4 in the AP Poll. Meanwhile, Edey is averaging more points per game, and Davis is notching just 3.3 assists per game despite being the lead guard for the Tar Heels.

A guard hasn't won the Wooden Award since 2018 (when Jalen Brunson won it at Villanova). The award has favored centers and forwards in recent years, and Davis is unlikely to be the guard who ends the streak.

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

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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.