With the 2009-10 college basketball season now underway, it’s time to take an early look at some teams that could reach the Final Four at Indianapolis in April. Here are three favorites, as well as two sleepers, to keep an eye on this season:

Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas is a 9/2 favorite to capture the 2009-10 NCAA Basketball Championship. The 2007-08 champions are the top-ranked squad in the initial AP poll. Senior guard Sherron Collins leads the club after averaging a team-high 19 points per game last season. In the frontcourt, junior center Cole Aldrich is a force in the middle. He averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game last year

Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats are also a 9/2 choice to win the championship despite not making the NCAA tournament a year ago. The arrival of former Memphis head coach John Calipari has brought plenty of excitement to the program. The 4th-ranked Wildcats are led by junior forward Patrick Patterson (18 points, 9 rebounds per game last season) and a talented group of freshmen recruited by the new head coach. With previous Final Four trips at Massachusetts and Memphis, Calipari has the potential to build a dynasty at one of the most storied programs in all of college basketball.

North Carolina Tar Heels

The defending champions are a 7/1 choice to repeat this season. Head coach Roy Williams will be trying to win his third title since 2005 this year. While star center Tyler Hansbrough and some other standouts from last year’s title squad are now in the NBA, there is still plenty of talent on hand for the 6th-ranked Tar Heels. Senior forward Deon Thompson (11 points, 6 rebounds per game last season) could be poised for a breakout season. In addition, there are plenty of underclassmen that will get a chance to shine this season.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Despite a last place finish in the ACC last year, the Yellow Jackets are ranked 22nd in the nation to begin the year. Head coach Paul Hewitt has assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. 6-foot-10 freshman forward Derrick Favors will likely be an NBA Lottery Draft pick after this season. The son of former NBA star Glen Rice is also a part of Tech’s talented freshmen class. Junior forward Gani Lawal is the club’s top returning player after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest last season. Georgia Tech is a 45/1 choice to win this year’s NCAA hoops crown.

California Golden Bears

While Cal is ranked 13th in the country to begin the season, the Bears are still a 75/1 long shot to cut down the nets in April. Former Stanford and Golden State Warriors head coach Mike Montgomery is trying to bring the school its first Pac-10 crown since 1960. With senior guard Jerome Randle (18 points per game last year) leading a veteran team, the Bears experience could enable the club to make a strong March Madness run.

Odds To Win 2010 NCAA Tournament:

(Odds from BetUs.com)
Payout based on $100 Bet


1 Arizona +3000
2 Arizona State +10000
3 Arkansas +20000
4 Auburn +20000
5 BYU +20000
6 Baylor +6000
7 Boston College +6000
8 Butler +6000
9 California +7500
10 Cincinnati +20000
11 Clemson +4500
12 Cleveland State +20000
13 Connecticut +1600
14 Creighton +20000
15 Dayton +25000
16 Duke +1000
17 Duquesne +20000
18 Florida +1600
19 Florida State +10000
20 George Mason +20000
21 Georgetown +1600
22 Gonzaga +7000
23 Houston +20000
24 Illinois +7000
25 Indiana +30000
26 Iowa +25000
27 Iowa State +20000
28 Kansas +450
29 Kansas State +12500
30 Kentucky +450
31 LSU +6000
32 Louisville +1200
33 Marquette +25000
34 Maryland +10000
35 Memphis +4000
36 Miami Florida +15000
37 Michigan +10000
38 Michigan State +1400
39 Minnesota +10000
40 Mississippi +12500
41 Mississippi State +12500
42 Missouri +2500
43 Nebraska +20000
44 Nevada +20000
45 New Mexico +20000
46 Niagara +20000
47 North Carolina +700
48 North Carolina State +15000
49 Northern Iowa +30000
50 Northwestern +20000
51 Notre Dame +3000
52 Ohio State +4000
53 Oklahoma +3500
54 Oklahoma State +10000
55 Old Dominion +20000
56 Oregon +15000
57 Oregon State +20000
58 Pacific +20000
59 Penn State +20000
60 Pittsburgh +4000
61 Providence +20000
62 Purdue +2000
63 Rhode Island +20000
64 Saint Johns +20000
65 Saint Josephs +20000
66 Saint Louis +20000
67 Saint Marys +7500
68 San Diego State +20000
69 Seton Hall +15000
70 Siena +20000
71 South Carolina +10000
72 Stanford +12500
73 Syracuse +1500
74 Temple +20000
75 Tennessee +2500
76 Texas +1000
77 Texas A M +7500
78 Tulsa +20000
79 UAB +20000
80 UCLA +1800
81 USC +10000
82 UTEP +20000
83 Utah +10000
84 Utah State +20000
85 Virginia Commonwealth +20000
86 Vanderbilt +15000
87 Villanova +3000
88 Virginia +20000
89 Virginia Tech +15000
90 Wake Forest +2500
91 Washington +4500
92 Washington State +12500
93 West Virginia +1400
94 Western Kentucky +20000
95 Wisconsin +8000
96 Xavier +4500
97 Georgia +15000
98 Texas Tech +12500
99 Alabama +1500
100 UNLV +50000
101 Georgia Tech +4500
102 Davidson +15000