Final Four is in New Orleans This Year; Here Are Futures Bets for Louisiana Bettors

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Final Four is in New Orleans This Year; Here Are Futures Bets for Louisiana Bettors
© USA Today

Online sports betting in Louisiana is now live, and in less than 50 days, Louisianans will be able to bet on one of the marquee sporting events taking place in their state.

The 2022 men’s basketball Final Four takes place in New Orleans from April 2-4 at the Caesars Superdome. March has traditionally been one of the stronger sports betting months in legalized states, and Louisiana will likely see a boost during its first March Madness with internet sports betting.

The Final Four is still over a month away, but bettors can place futures on who they think will be playing in New Orleans come April. Here is a rundown of some of the favorites. All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook Louisiana.

If you want to explore other odds, visit other brands that are now also available. Among other sportsbooks in the state, Caesars Louisiana has competitive odds.

Favorites to Make Final Four in New Orleans

Gonzaga +115

Currently ranked No. 1 in the KenPom rankings, Gonzaga has accumulated a 16-2 record with signature wins over UCLA, Texas Tech and Texas.

The Bulldogs are coming off a runner-up appearance in 2021 and feature a player of the year candidate in Drew Timme, who is averaging 18.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. Seven-foot center Chet Holmgren is projected as a potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and averages 3.4 blocks to give Gonzaga one of the top frontcourts in the nation.

Besides matchups with rivals BYU and Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga will likely be unchallenged the rest of the season. Gonzaga’s resume plus the likelihood it wins its conference tournament will give the Bulldogs a No. 1 seed and an easier path to New Orleans.

Duke +200

The storybook ending for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski would be for the Blue Devils to finish their season in New Orleans at the Final Four.

But by Duke’s standards, it’s been a bit of a drought since the program has reached the Final Four. The team hasn’t made it that far since 2015, when Duke defeated Wisconsin to secure Coach K’s fifth national title.

Duke has already displayed it can knock off elite teams. On Nov. 26, the Blue Devils handed Gonzaga one of its two losses with an 84-81 win in Las Vegas.

Freshman forward Paolo Banchero, who is another candidate to be drafted No. 1 in the draft, led the Blue Devils with 21 points in the victory over the Bulldogs and is the caliber of player that could lead Duke to New Orleans.

Baylor +220

Last year’s national champions are once again a leading candidate for this year’s title and a favorite for college basketball betting players.

Baylor started the season by winning its first 15 games, including signature victories over No. 10 Michigan State and No. 14 Villanova. The Bears have recovered after dropping two straight at home to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State by winning their next three games.

The advanced metrics like Baylor’s chances of repeating, too, with the Bears currently ranked No. 2 in the KenPom rankings.

Purdue +220

As far as roster construction, Purdue has one of the best in the country. The Boilermakers have two of the best centers in the league in 7-4 Zach Edey (14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds) and former All-Big Ten selection Trevion Williams (12.7 points, 8.5 rebounds).

Coach Matt Painter has decided to utilize a platoon system with his centers, bringing Williams off the bench for Edey while always ensuring the team has a premier big on the floor.

Purdue also features one of the most athletic wings in the country with Jaden Ivey, who is projected as a Top 5 pick. Ivey leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game.

Joining Ivey in the backcourt is the sharpshooting Sasha Stefanovic. Purdue can balance its post presence and Ivey’s ability to attack with Stefanovic’s shooting from the perimeter. For the season, he’s 56 of 134 from 3-point range (41.8%).

As far as complete rosters, Purdue has one of the more elite ones in the country that could lead the program to its first Final Four since 1980.