The Wooden Award Odds Have Both Coasts Covered
We have entered the middle of February in college basketball, and the race to win the John R. Wooden award figures to be as wide open as the race to win the NCAA Tournament.
There was little movement in the futures market from a week ago, as the Top 3 remains unchanged. However, there was a lot of moving and shaking underneath the top of the board with Marquette’s Markus Howard and Kansas’s Devin Dotson inching up closer.
Here’s a look at the current top three candidates to win the 2020 Wooden Award .
Who Has the Best Wooden Award Odds
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The Third Favorite: F Obi Toppin, Dayton, Wooden Award Odds: +350
Dayton continues to dominate the Atlantic 10 conference, and Toppin is a big reason why.
The latest showcase by the future NBA lottery pick was a 22-point, 10 rebound performance over Rhode Island in a battle for conference supremacy.
Toppin also had another thunderous dunk for the Flyers faithful, and Dayton continues to soar at 22-2 and a perfect 11-0 in conference play.
We think a wager on Toppin right now (Wooden Award Odds: +350)—where he’s been stagnant for a few weeks now—would be a wise decision given how good this Dayton team really is.
The Second-Best Favorite: G Payton Pritchard, Oregon: Wooden Award Odds: +200
While we’re not sure we agree with this, particularly given how Oregon has played of late, senior guard Payton Pritchard remains the second shortest favorite to win the Wooden Award (Wooden Award Odds: +200)
While the Ducks have struggled of late, Pritchard has remained solid.
Over the last four games, Pritchard has averaged about 18 points and 7 assists per game, but in his last few games has shot a dreadful 12-of-42 from the floor.
In comparison to the recent play of Obi Toppin and Markus Howard, we’re not entirely sure why Pritchard is considered the second-best favorite for the award.
Current Wooden Award Odds on Favorite: C Luka Garza, Iowa, +150
As was the case last week, Iowa’s 6-11 big man is your current +150 odds-on favorite to win the Wooden Award.
Garza has been nothing short of sensational for the Hawkeyes this season, as he continues to torment the Big Ten with arguably the best inside/outside game in college basketball.
The junior is averaging 23.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest and is shooting 38% from three-point range.
Without Garza, the Hawkeyes would be an entirely different looking team, and for a team that plays in the best conference in college basketball this season, that may be enough to swing the vote in his favor.
Other Names of Note on the Wooden Awards Odds Table
- Markus Howard (G, Marquette, Wooden Award Odds: +500)
Markus Howard enjoyed another fantastic week as Marquette climbed into the Top 20 of the AP/Coaches Poll. Howard continues to lead all of college basketball in scoring, and his Marquette Golden Eagles look like a very dangerous team in a deep Big East conference. Howard’s odds improved from +600 last week to +500 this week, and he is now the 4th best favorite to win the Wooden Award.
- Cassius Winston (G, Michigan State, Wooden Award Odds: +700)
A recent slump by the Spartans has sent Winston, the preseason favorite to win the Wooden Award, tumbling down the board. Last week Winston was listed at +500 to win the award and has since fallen to +700. However, given the fact Michigan State is in the middle of a hotly contested battle for Big Ten supremacy, his candidacy isn’t entirely over just yet.
- Devon Dotson (G, Kansas, Wooden Award Odds: +900)
Right when everyone wants to write off the Kansas Jayhawks following a Ron Artest endorsed brawl, look who won’t go away? The Jayhawks haven’t lost a game since Baylor beat them on their home floor and PG Devon Dotson is a major reason why. The sophomore guard is averaging 18 points per game for Self’s Jayhawks and if Kansas can overtake Baylor in the Big 12 – Dotson’s chances to win the Wooden Award may improve dramatically with it.
- Jordan Nwora (F, Louisville, Wooden Award Odds: +1000)
Nwora’s odds didn’t change from last week, but we’ve been trying to tell you about his Louisville Cardinals for the last three weeks now! Louisville is a National Championship caliber team and Nwora is the best player on said team.
- Malachi Flynn (G, San Diego State, Wooden Award Odds: +1000)
Well, well, well.. look who is making a move up the board! Last week we told you to keep an eye on Malachi Flynn when he was listed at +2000. Now the catalyst behind a team that’s 25-0 is listed at +1000. The Aztecs are arguably the most balanced team in the country, and that may hurt Flynn’s chances enough to cost him a real shot at the award, but the best player on the only undefeated team in the land deserves mention on this list. - All odds Courtesy DraftKings Sportsbook
