SEC Basketball Conference Odds 2024

sportsbookreview.com

04 October 2023

The 2023-24 college basketball season is just around the corner, and sportsbooks are starting to release more futures markets. Read on as we track the 2024 SEC regular-season championship market via the latest college basketball odds.

It just means more in the SEC, which is why this year's wide-open race is especially compelling for college hoops fans. Kentucky is the betting favorite, but there are plenty of worthy challengers for Big Blue Nation.

Alabama won the league last year, while Texas A&M is ready to take that next step following a runner-up finish. Tennessee is always in the mix, and plenty of other squads have to like their chances entering the new season.

So, where should our money go when attacking this conference race?

Here is a look at the 2024 SEC basketball odds (odds via our best March Madness betting sites).

SEC basketball odds 2024

(odds accurate as of Oct. 4)

SEC basketball betting analysis

The start of the college basketball season isn't until November, meaning conference races won't begin until toward the end of the year. That's probably why only Caesars and bet365 currently offer conference odds at this point in the offseason.

Still, the SEC market is particularly interesting because this race appears to be wide open. When the betting favorite is 3/1, and there are about a handful of teams trading shorter than 10/1, this market opens the door for bettors to build a solid portfolio.

SEC basketball odds movement

Because these odds haven't been out for very long, we haven't seen much movement in this market. These odds will continue to adjust once more shops start to release conference odds, and the competitive race should lead to plenty of movement throughout the season.

Who is the SEC basketball championship favorite?

Kentucky (+300 via bet365, Caesars)

The Wildcats are atop the SEC oddsboard, which makes them the betting favorites to win the league as of early October. But this team is actually a fade for me at this price, as I don't view Kentucky as the favorite to win the league.

According to the initial rankings at Haslametrics, Kentucky is the No. 29 team in the nation. For comparison, there are six other teams listed above UK by that metric. There is absolutely a case this team should be priced closer to the No. 5 team in this conference, rather than the front-runner.

Kentucky's reputation speaks for itself, and John Calipari has another talented freshman class coming in. But there will likely be better prices on the Wildcats in this market down the road, so we can't recommend investing in these odds.

SEC basketball odds 2024: Contender

Wade Taylor IV is not only the best guard in the SEC, but he has a case for best guard in college hoops entering this season. Taylor averaged 16.3 points per game on 39.6% shooting last year, leading Texas A&M to a No. 2 finish in the SEC with a 25-10 overall record and 15-3 clip in league play.

Now that Brandon Miller has left Alabama, the logical assumption is that Texas A&M will take that next step to win the SEC crown. Bart Torvik's 2024 projections give the Aggies a good chance of doing just that, listing them at No. 10 overall in the nation. Tennessee (No. 5) is the lone SEC team with a higher T-Rank entering the season.

I think that best illustrates how much value there is in this market, as three different teams are priced ahead of Texas A&M. You could do a lot worse than a 6/1 bullet on the Aggies to win the SEC.

SEC basketball odds 2024: Long shot

Mississippi State (+2500 via bet365)

While I think Missouri is worthy of a flier at 40/1, Mississippi State likely offers more upside as a 25/1 long shot. The Bulldogs are priced as if they are the eighth-best team in this conference, but I view them as a top-five squad in the SEC.

Let's start with the obvious: Mississippi State can't shoot as bad it did last year. The Bulldogs ranked dead last in the country in 3-point percentage and 328th in effective field goal percentage, but their ShotQuality underlying metrics were much more promising during a 21-13 (8-10 SEC) campaign.

Senior forward Tolu Smith is one of the more underrated players in the country, and returns for one more season after averaging 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. I'm buying stock on Smith and these Bulldogs ahead of 2023-24.