LOOK: Michigan State with higher odds than Michigan to win 2019 title

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John Beilein and Tom Izzo
Photo Credit: MGoBlog/Flickr

The Michigan Wolverines gave it an unbelievable run to the national championship game this season, but that came to a screeching halt on Monday when they fell 79-62 to Villanova, who hoisted their second national title trophy in three seasons.

Not long after the Wildcats’ victory, the betting “experts” out in Vegas released their early odds for the 2019 national title. Per the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and to the surprise of nobody, it is blue blood central as the nation’s premier college basketball programs have the highest odds thus far.

Of more significance for those around these parts, the national runner-up Wolverines carry 20/1 odds, tied with Oregon for the fifth-highest. But if we look closer, we see in-state rival Michigan State just about Michigan with 15/1 odds.

Take these way-too-early championship odds with a grain of salt or two. It’s certainly not surprising to see a host of blue blood teams sitting atop the list a day after the 2018 national championship game. But about Michigan and Michigan State specifically, how surprised should we be?

Both teams will have some questions as they head into what should be long offseasons. We know Michigan State is going to look entirely different in 2018-19 after seeing a trio of players in Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Nick Ward declare for the NBA Draft; Ward, however, can still return to school if he wants, as he did not opt to hire an agent.

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Michigan is going to face similar player personnel questions as well. They are already going to lose both Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Big Ten “Sixth Man of the Year” Duncan Robinson to graduation. There is also a distinct possibility that both Moritz Wagner and Charles Matthews could forego their remaining college eligibility and enter their names into the NBA Draft as well.

Still, the Wolverines have a young nucleus of sophomore Zavier Simpson, and freshmen Jordan Poole and Isaiah Livers moving forward, plus a 2018 recruiting class that many believe could be one of if not John Beilein’s best.

As for the rest of the country, Westgate pegs Duke as the early favorite with 5/1 odds. The Blue Devils have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, per 247Sports, which the top three rated prep stars and four of the top 10 nationally.