The Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball and with only two weeks left until the Wooden voting is due, it looks as if Zach Edey is going to run away with it.
Edey will likely become the fourth straight frontcourt player to take home the Wooden Award.
Continue reading for the full odds, the contenders, and a couple of value sleepers.
Wooden Award Finalists Odds 2024
Here’s a look at the top contenders to claim the Wooden Award. The race is nearing an end, so some players are off the board (OTB) and can not be wagered on.
CBB odds are provided via BetMGM Sportsbook and updated as of Wednesday, March 1.
- Zach Edey, C, Purdue (-2000)
- Jalen Wilson, G, Kansas (+1000)
- Trayce Jackson-Davis, F, Indiana (+1800)
- Marcus Sasser, G, Houston (+2500)
- Oscar Tshiebwe, C, Kentucky (+2500)
- Ąžuolas Tubelis, F, Arizona (+2500)
- Drew Timme, C, Gonzaga (+5000)
- Adama Sanogo, F, UConn (+5000)
- Brandon Miller, F, Alabama (+5000)
- Armando Bacot, C, UNC (+6600)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., G, UCLA (OTB)
- Isaiah Wong, G, Miami (OTB)
- Kris Murray, F, Iowa (OTB)
- Jalen Pickett, F, Penn State (OTB)
- Mike Miles Jr., F, TCU (OTB)
- Antoine Davis, G, Detroit Mercy (OTB)
Wooden Award Favorite
Zach Edey, Purdue (-2000)
The 7’4 center has established himself as the best player in the country, putting up record-breaking numbers on a nightly basis. And he is rightfully a huge favorite to take home the Wooden Award.
Edey is scoring 22.2 points, pulling down 13 rebounds, and blocking more than two shots per game.
His height creates mismatches on both ends of the floor, and he’s leading the third-ranked team in the country – likely to at least a regular season Big Ten Championship.
Even with Purdue in the midst of a late-season slide, Edey has remained firmly at the top of the Wooden odds.
It’s an imperfect voting system and the Big Ten continues to look far below the Big 12 in terms of competition. But even so, it probably won’t be enough for the Wooden Award to go anywhere besides West Lafayette.
Should you bet these ridiculously short odds? Not in a straight wager, that’s for sure.
Wooden Award Contenders
Jalen Wilson, Kansas (+1000)
This is a utilization rate that no player has seen under Bill Self as the head coach at Kansas.
Wilson is involved in nearly 30% of Kansas possessions according to KenPom. Most of it is creating his own shot, and he’s averaging over 16.5 shots per game, the most out of any player in a Power 5 conference.
Although not groundbreakingly efficient, he’s scoring 19.6 points on 41.7% shooting and adds 8.3 rebounds per contest.
Wilson is streaky but even so, he’s one of the nation’s best scorers and will get plenty of opportunities for the fifth-ranked Jayhawks.
It’s going to be tough to find anyone to overcome Edey, but if anyone has a chance, Wilson provides the best value to do so.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (+1800)
Trayce Jackson-Davis and Indiana are starting to make some noise after completing the season sweep of Purdue.
Jackson-Davis has found another level this season, averaging 20.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in that stretch. He’s been one of the better players in the Big Ten for the last three seasons, but he’s found a whole different level in recent weeks.
Even so, it’s going to be nearly impossible for TJD to pass Edey with just two weeks left, seeing as Indiana completed the season sweep and Edey actually expanded his lead on the field.
Wooden Award Sleeper
Marcus Sasser, Houston (+2500)
It will be tough for Sasser to overcome guys playing in Power 5 conferences but he has started to climb up the odds list, now sitting at (+2500).
But don’t get it confused, Sasser is one of the best guards in the country.
His impact is felt heavily on both ends for the No. 2 ranked Cougars with Sasser leading the way with 17 points, and second on the team with 3.3 assists per game.
He doesn’t turn the ball over, he shoots it well from three, and his veteran experience has a way of calming down Houston.
Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the country and it wouldn’t be possible without Sasser locking down the backcourt, averaging nearly two steals per game.
And leading the best team in the country — according to the CBB National Championship odds — historically goes a long way in the eyes of the voters.
It’s a long shot for a reason, but at 25:1, Sasser might be worth a (small) sprinkle.
