Top five picks to win 2016 NCAA title

Many sports fans soon will turn their undivided attention to football, leaving all things basketball neglected like a mid-summer berry patch in full bloom with no takers.

You might want to stop and grab some fruit.

Although it’s tough to knock our football-obsessed tendencies, keeping an eye on hoops can fetch big dividends.

After all, college basketball tips off a little more than two months behind the kickoff of college football. If you’ve ever waited until the new year to scout college buckets, you know the perils of trying to play catch-up in a season already halfway complete.

Odds to win the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament already are live and ripe for picking. If you act now, you’re sure to get the best odds.

While we eagerly await the SportsLine Model Projection for every team, let’s take a super-early look at the top five values in future wagers to win the 2016 NCAA title.

(Odds from William Hill US).

KENTUCKY WILDCATS, 8-to-1

On the surface, this might look like a wager that lacks creativity. On second look, it’s a bet that provides real value.

Regardless of one’s view of polarizing Kentucky coach John Calipari’s mode of operation, his on-court success can’t be argued.

Calipari just delivered the latest shipment from his revolving NBA talent mill when Karl-Anthony Towns was the top overall pick, Willie Cauley-Stein was taken sixth and four others heard their names called on draft night.

The new caravan of talent doesn’t meet the eye-popping threshold to which Wildcat fans have become accustomed. Even so, the addition of coveted Canadian blue-chipper Jamal Murray, along with other talented newcomers, will ensure Kentucky remains in the national title hunt.

Calipari’s recent record at Kentucky factors in here. With four Final Four appearances and a national title this decade, it’s fair to rate the Wildcats as a favorite so long as he is roaming their sideline.

The coach loves to silence his detractors and, after coming up short of a title following an historic 38-0 start last season, Calipari will be determined to return the Wildcats to the doorstep of championship glory.

If he does so, there’s serious equity in the Wildcats at this price. Now is the time to act, as the number is sure to drop sooner than later.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS, 10-to-1

If not for the NBA departure of dynamic freshman guard-forward Kelly Oubre Jr., the Jayhawks would be the prohibitive favorite to cut down the nets in early April.

Even so, they return a seasoned and talented team, one that fought off inconsistency and injuries to lead the country in victories against the RPI top 50 last season.

Kansas returns a balanced and talented core led by solid point guard Frank Mason III, versatile shooting guard Wayne Selden Jr. and center Perry Ellis.

Moreover, the Jayhawks just got some valuable experience when they took the gold medal in the World University Games.

This should be one of the most complete teams in Bill Self’s tenure at Kansas, and the veteran coach will extract the maximum from its potential.

The Jayhawks are in prime position to give Self his second national title, and the current price on them to do so is a steal.

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS, 10-to-1

Last year’s Tar Heels were alternately electric and maddening, ultimately looking like a club that was a year away from potential greatness.

Their inconsistency was exhibited in streaks that found them winning 11 of 12 early in the season to losing five of seven in ACC play. They ultimately made a respectable run in the NCAA Tournament, battling eventual runner-up Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. North Carolina fell 79-72 in what was a one-possession game in the final minute.

The Tar Heels appeared to be hitting a peak just as the buzzer sounded on their season, and they have reason for optimism heading into this campaign.

They will return perhaps the country’s most talented roster, with four of five starters returning and a lineup that includes five McDonald’s All-Americans.

Point guard Marcus Paige, a perfect fit in coach Roy Williams’ system, leads a core that includes standout forwards Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson.

The Tar Heels benefit from their up-tempo approach in the postseason in an era when many coaches put the brakes on, shooting percentages decline and scoring is at a premium.

North Carolina raced to two national titles under Williams in the 2000s, and his third has a good chance to come in April 2016.

INDIANA HOOSIERS, 20-to-1

For many Indiana basketball observers, the perception of Tom Crean shifted from anointed savior in the post-Bob Knight era to possibly not being the right long-term coach for the program.

Crean warded off some of his critics by leading the Hoosiers through an uneven season that resulted in a 20-14 record and a respectable showing in their NCAA Tournament loss to Wichita State.

Still, Crean likely needs a deep postseason run to secure his future as Indiana’s leader, and his eighth season at the helm should provide a chance to do just that.

The Hoosiers return one of the country’s best backcourts in senior point guard Yogi Ferrell and high-scoring shooting guard James Blackmon Jr. Forward Troy Williams, who considered entering the NBA draft after last season, anchors the front court.

This gifted core will be supplemented by an incoming recruiting class that was unanimously ranked in the top 25 by recruiting services.

Crean led Marquette to the 2003 Final Four, and this should be his best chance to take the Hoosiers there. The price is a good overlay on what should be a breakout season.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES, 30-to-1

Just a few seasons removed from an NCAA title game appearance, the Wolverines stumbled to a 16-16 mark last year with a roster decimated by NBA defections, including Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary.

They fell well short of lofty preseason expectations but, in a clear rebuilding year, made steady progress and built the foundation for a return to national prominence this season.

Michigan caught a huge break when its best player, versatile guard Caris LeVert, chose to return for his senior season. Levert averaged 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season.

Levert will be joined by a handful of standout returnees, including Derrick Walton (10.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Spike Albrecht, who as a freshman famously scored 17 first-half points in Michigan’s 2013 title-game loss to Louisville.

Coach John Beilein’s preferred style of play, a paradox of deliberate execution mixed with free-flowing playmaking, has proven dangerous in the postseason.

This year, Beilein should field a court full of the versatile talents he covets, and taking a flier on the Wolverines at this price could prove to be a value play.

Josh Nagel is a Reno-based handicapper and radio host who's been in the sports industry for 15 years. He looks for psychological edges, motivational spots and situational advantages.