College Basketball Top 25 Gets Shaking Up

It was a wild week in college basketball and the AP Top 25 reflects just that.  Here is a look at the week poll:

1. Arizona  9-0

2. Syracuse  9-0

3. Ohio State 8-0

4. Wisconsin 10-0

5. Michigan State 7-1

6. Louisville 8-1

7. Oklahoma State 8-1

8. Duke 7-2

9. Connecticut 9-0

10. Villanova 9-0

11. Kentucky 7-2

12. Wichita State 9-0

13. Kansas 6-2

14. Baylor 8-1

15. Oregon 8-0

16. Memphis 6-1

17. Iowa State 7-0

18. North Carolina 6-2

19. Florida 6-2

20. Gonzaga 8-1

21. Colorado 9-1

22. Massachusetts 8-0\

23. Iowa 9-1

24. Missouri 9-0

25. San Diego State 7-1

This is the third time in six week that there was a new number one team. This is the first time that Arizona has been the top team in the nation in more than a decade. That is not the only major change, though.  The entire top ten was fundamentally altered. A couple weeks ago Villanova was not anywhere near to making the list, not receiving a single vote.  This week they are a top ten team. Meanwhile, North Carolina reappeared in the top 25 and Colorado and Missouri made their first appearance on the list of the season, while Dayton, Michigan and UCLA disappeared.

Comparing Bovada’s future odds to the Top 25 also presents some interesting thoughts.  

Michigan State
11/2
Kentucky
6/1
Arizona
13/2
Kansas
13/2
Louisville
15/2
Oklahoma State
10/1
Duke
12/1
Ohio State
14/1
Syracuse
14/1
North Carolina
16/1
Florida
20/1
Connecticut
25/1
Michigan
33/1
Iowa
40/1
Wichita State
40/1
Wisconsin
40/1
Gonzaga
50/1
Memphis
50/1
Oregon
50/1
Pittsburgh
50/1
UCLA
50/1
Villanova
50/1
Baylor
66/1
Georgetown
66/1
Indiana
66/1
VCU
66/1
Colorado
75/1
Creighton
75/1
Iowa State
75/1
Missouri
100/1
New Mexico
100/1

-Courtesy of Bovada.

The team with the best odds of winning the NCAA Championship is No. 5 on the AP Top 25, Michigan State.  Kentucky have the next best odds and they do not even crack the top ten. If anything this comparison illustrates the crazy and unpredictable year we may be in for.