The only good thing about the end of one season means that we can start looking ahead to the next.
Right after Gonzaga lost to North Carolina on Monday night, Vegas released its very early odds to win the national title in 2018.
Surprisingly (to me at least), at 80-1, Iowa State was one of 35 programs to have better than 100 to 1 odds.
Iowa, who besides Peter Jok, basically returns its entire roster, is at 300-1.
Iowa State just graduated 83 percent of its scoring from last year.
My guess is that program history - the fact that Iowa State has gone to six straight NCAA Tournaments - is responsible for this. But still...As of now, Iowa State should not be a top 35 program heading into next year. A lot can change over the next couple of months in recruiting, but Iowa State has a lot to prove.
Iowa, to me, is undervalued. Consider that the Hawkeyes have the same odds right now as a Nebraska program that is spiraling out of control and Penn State...
More on this later today on Fanatics.
Big 12 odds
Kansas, 12-1
West Virginia, 30-1
Oklahoma, 30-1
Baylor, 50-1
Iowa State, 80-1
Oklahoma State, 300-1
Kansas State, 300-1
TCU, 300-1
Texas Tech, 300-1
Texas, 300-1
Big 10 odds
Michigan, 20-1
Indiana, 20-1
Michigan State, 20-1
Purdue, 60-1
Wisconsin, 60-1
Maryland, 100-1
Minnesota, 100-1
Northwestern, 100-1
Illinois, 100-1
Iowa, 300-1
Ohio State, 300-1
Penn State, 300-1
Nebraska, 300-1