Is New-Look Kentucky A Legitimate NCAA Basketball Championship Threat?

It’s hard to believe that John Calipari and the Kentucky men’s basketball team hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2015 — and has failed to advance to March Madness’ second weekend each of the last three seasons. Still, it would be unwise to bet against Cal’s Wildcats getting back to the promised land sooner than later, as since that 2015 run, they have made it to the Elite Eight twice and all seven teams were at one point ranked 10th in the country or better.

The good news is that Kentucky sports betting apps will be live before the fall’s first practice, meaning local Wildcats fans will be able to back up their optimism with dollars. While NCAA title odds may shift before the Sept. 28 launch of online betting in the Bluegrass State, typically they stay static until early results cause shifts.

Fans in legal states can bet now, and bookmakers are giving this upcoming season’s Kentucky team +1800 odds to win the national title. Those are tied for the fifth-best title odds in the country, trailing only Kansas (+1100), Duke (+1200), Purdue (+1400) and Michigan State (+1600), and even with defending champion Connecticut.

Bettors in Kentucky will be able to start placing wagers on Kentucky’s title odds beginning on Sept. 7 when in-person sports betting launches in the Bluegrass State. Online sports betting will follow three weeks later, allowing bettors to use the BetMGM Kentucky bonus code USATODAY, among other sportsbook promo codes, to earn a first-bet bonus up to $1,000.

New-Look Kentucky Still Plenty Dangerous

Cal’s recruiting is in a class of its own — and 2023 is no different — but the transfer portal was also great to the Wildcats this offseason. Calipari added West Virginia’s Tre Mitchell, who will bolster the Kentucky frontcourt alongside Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw, while the backcourt is led by returning guard Antonio Reeves.

The Wildcats also collected the country’s top recruiting class, led by forward Justin Edwards and guard D.J. Wagner, both top-5 recruits. Robert Dillingham would be the crown jewel of most program’s recruiting classes, and the top-15 recruit will slot in nicely off the bench. Kentucky is also relying on the freshmen meshing with the elder statesmen in Mitchell and Reeves, justifying their rank among the favorites to cut down the nets in Phoenix.

National sports betting apps have the Wildcats as +280 co-favorites with Tennessee to win the SEC, while Edwards (+6000) holds some value as a longshot Wooden Award Winner. He would join Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson as the only freshman to accomplish that.

Betting at Kentucky’s Online Sportsbooks Launches In Time for Season

The launch of online sports betting in the Bluegrass State will come just weeks before Kentucky begins its quest for a ninth national championship in program history. That is great news for prospective bettors who will be able to take advantage of all the Kentucky sportsbook promos available to them. 

Whether it is first-bet insurance, a guarantee of bonus bets or a deposit match, these welcome bonuses are easy to secure and increase potential payouts for players — at no additional cost to them. Be on the lookout as we get closer to that launch date and the start of another exciting college basketball season.

If you are in a state will legal online sports betting, you can make these wagers now. For those in Kentucky, the wait is almost over.