2021 NCAA Tournament odds: Villanova jumps into favored betting role with Duke, Gonzaga

When William Hill sportsbook released futures odds to win the 2021 NCAA Tournament back in mid-April, the four favorites at +1000 on the moneyline odds were Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Villanova was down the list a bit at +2000, but now the Wildcats have joined the Blue Devils and Zags as 2021 title favorites (Kansas and Kentucky have slipped). The 2021 Final Four will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

In the most recent Top 25 and 1 released by CBS Sports' Gary Parrish for next season, he has Gonzaga at No. 1, Baylor at No. 2 and Villanova at No. 3. All three schools are hoping that key underclassmen decide to pull out of the 2020 NBA Draft by the deadline (had been June 3 but was extended to a date TBA on Wednesday).

For Villanova, that player is Saddiq Bey. Last year as a sophomore, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting a stellar 45.1 percent from three-point range. He won the Julius Erving Award given to the nation's top small forward.

Wildcats coach Jay Wright said this when Bey declared (he didn't hire an agent): "If he doesn't get something really definite (feedback-wise), I think there's a chance he could come back."

If Bey does come back (not all that likely), Nova could be preseason No. 1 in both major polls because Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Justin Moore all are returning. Gillespie was second on the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) and first in assists (4.5 apg), Samuels averaged 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds, Robinson-Earl 10.5 points and 9.4 rebounds, and Moore 11.3 points as a freshman.

In addition, Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels will be eligible after sitting out last season. The guard averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 33.9 minutes per game for the Green Wave in 2018-19.

While we don't know Villanova's full schedule yet for next season (of if it even will start on time), the Wildcats will meet Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden. Those are the past two national champions since one wasn't crowned last season. Virginia holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools.

SportsLine subscribers now get commercial-free CBS All Access at no additional charge! It's one of the many benefits of being a SportsLine subscriber. That means you can stream original programming, the PGA Championship, CBS Sports HQ, and much more! You can watch on almost any device! Click here for details on how to activate All Access. Note: offer is valid for full-priced SportsLine subscriptions only.