The punches kept coming. The Pittsburgh Panthers men’s basketball team went 2-10 down the stretch last season
In addition, five players, including two of the team’s top scorers, entered the transfer portal and left the program.
Then Justin Champagnie, Pitt’s first All-ACC selection, entered the NBA Draft after his sophomore season. A Pitt season that started with plenty of promise and an 8-2 start last year, took a pounding before it ended. Now, as head coach Jeff Capel prepares for the team for the 2021-2022 season, one question stands out, “Can the team get up from the canvas and compete again?”
The available NCAA Basketball odds at Pennsylvania sports betting apps may hold the answer. Let’s take a look.
2021-22 Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball odds
(via DraftKings)
- Duke: +250
- Florida State: +450
- North Carolina: +450
- Virginia: +700
- Louisville: +800
- Virginia Tech: +1200
- Notre Dame: +2000
- Syracuse: +2200
- Clemson: +3000
- Georgia Tech: +4000
- NC State: +5000
- Miami (FL): +7000
- Pittsburgh: +10000
- Wake Forest: +10000
- Boston College: +20000
Comparing ACC odds at sportsbooks
In the ACC’s preseason media poll, the Panthers were picked to finish 14th out of 15 teams.
Pitt Panthers 2021-2022 men’s basketball roster
Projected starters (according to a preseason preview):
- Femi Odukale
- Ithiel Horton
- Nike Sibande
- Daniel Oladapo
- Mouhamadou Gueye
The Panthers have relied on the transfer portal to round out their roster this season after losing a few players of their own. Horton averaged 26.8 minutes and 8.9 points per game last season for the Panthers. Sibande and Odukale were also regular contributors averaging nearly 20 minutes a game.
Gueye is a 6-9 transfer from Stony Brook, who averaged 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game last season, en route to earning America East Player of the Year Honors.
In recent days, the roster outlook has taken a major hit. Sibande appears lost for the season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game. And Horton could miss some games as well after being charged by police for allegedly assaulting an officer early Saturday morning.
Can I bet on NCAA Basketball Player Props in PA?
According to gaming regulations, you can not bet on college basketball player props in Pennsylvania. For example, no legal sportsbook will offer markets on “Ithiel Horton Over/Under 10 points.”
All online sportsbooks in PA do offer other team props and other popular betting markets like moneyline, point spread, and point totals.
Pitt Panthers Men’s Basketball 2021-22 Schedule
Pitt starts the season with a home game vs. the Citadel on Nov. 9. The Panthers other notable games include:
- Nov. 12: at West Virginia
- Dec. 3: at No. 25 Virginia
- Jan. 19: vs. No. 25 Virginia
- Feb. 9: at No. 20 Florida State
- Feb. 16: at No. 16 North Carolina
- March 1st: vs. No. 9 Duke
At present, Pennsylvania sportsbooks have not posted season win totals for Pitt. However, Wynn Bet in New Jersey has posted totals for some prominent college basketball teams.
NCAA men’s basketball odds to make 2022 Final Four
Gonzaga may have lost to Baylor in last year’s national championship game, but the Zags have the best odds to return to the Final Four this season.
The top contenders for the Final Four at DraftKings are:
- Gonzaga: +190
- Michigan: +330
- UCLA: +380
- Villanova: +380
DraftKings has Pitt much farther down the board at +5000. Pitt has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2016, so even making the field would count as progress.
2022 NCAA Championship favorites
At BetMGM, the favorites to win the NCAA Championship are Gonzaga (+600), Michigan (+1200), UCLA (+1200), and Villanova (+1200). According to BetMGM as of Nov. 8, the highest percentage of handle to win the 2022 men’s basketball NCAA tourney is on Gonzaga (24%).
2022 NCAA basketball championship current odds
Lead image Keith Srakocic/AP
