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Oddsmakers say the 2015-16 national title favorites are ...

Oddsmakers say the 2015-16 national title favorites are ...

The surest sign that the 2015-16 college basketball season will be wide open arrived this week when the gambling site Bovada released its championship odds.

Not one team has better than 10/1 odds to capture the title.

Below is a look at Bovada's early favorites to win the national championship and some analysis from me on where there could be some value for gamblers:

TIER 1: FAVORITES

Duke (10/1), Kentucky (10/1), Michigan State (10/1), North Carolina (10/1)

Analysis: The four co-favorites are each name-brand programs, which suggests a couple of things. Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina will all be really good next season and more money will be wagered on them than some of the less well-known elite teams. Of this quartet, North Carolina is the safest bet to meet expectations since the Tar Heels return all but one key player from a Sweet 16 team. The others are more boom-or-bust as Duke will rebuild around the nation's most talented freshman class, Kentucky will lean heavily on returners Tyler Ulis, Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress and Michigan State will blend a mix of promising transfers and freshmen with experienced veterans like Denzel Valentine.

TIER 2: CONTENDERS

Maryland (14/1), Kansas (16/1), Iowa State (18/1), Virginia (18/1)

Analysis: If you're seeking value, this is a good spot to find it. All of these teams have rosters comparable or better to the teams above them even if none advanced beyond the NCAA tournament's opening weekend last month. The most appealing bet might be Kansas, which found the missing frontcourt piece it sought by landing elite recruit Cheick Diallo to protect the rim, rebound and run the floor. Maryland is also an intriguing option since the Terps have star power at four of five positions and are on the hunt to add a shooting guard via the transfer market. Rising sophomore Melo Trimble is one of the nation's elite scoring guards and Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter and coveted freshman Diamond Stone provide an interior presence.

TIER 3: DARK HORSES

Arizona (20/1), Gonzaga (20/1), Villanova (22/1), Indiana (25/1), Oklahoma (28/1), Louisville (33/1), Michigan (33/1), Wichita State 33/1

Analysis: Whereas the top eight teams have fewer questions than this group, there's still some potential title contenders here. Gonzaga will boast maybe the nation's best frontcourt, but the Zags will have to replace their entire starting perimeter corps from last season. Indiana returns each of its top perimeter scorers from last season and adds an interior presence in Thomas Bryant, but will that be enough to fix the Hoosiers' well-chronicled defensive woes? The best bet among this group may be Michigan simply because of the possibility the Wolverines add consensus top-five recruit Jaylen Brown. While Michigan's frontcourt still has question marks, the Wolverines would win a lot of games with a group of wings that would include Brown, Caris LeVert, Zak Irvin and Aubrey Dawkins.

TIER 4: LONG SHOTS

Notre Dame (40/1), Texas (40/1), Texas A&M (40/1), Utah (40/1), Wisconsin (40/1), California (50/1), Florida (50/1), LSU (50/1), Miami FL (50/1), Ohio State (50/1), SMU (50/1), Syracuse (50/1), UConn (50/1), Baylor (66/1), NC State (66/1), Butler (75/1), Dayton (75/1)

Analysis: I don't see the national champion emerging from this group, but there are some teams that are undervalued. Butler returns maybe its three best players from a team that was a basket away from the Sweet 16 last month. Syracuse is adding a heralded recruiting class to a roster that still includes perimeter standouts Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije. LSU boasts an experienced backcourt and elite recruits Ben Simmons and Antonio Blakeney, though the Tigers' history of underachievement raises question exactly how good they'll be. Cal could also make a big jump after adding Ivan Rabb to a roster that is loaded with perimeter talent.

TIER 5: SHOTS IN THE DARK

Cincinnati (100/1), Florida State (100/1), Georgetown (100/1), Providence (100/1), Purdue (100/1) San Diego State (100/1) UCLA (100/1), Vanderbilt (100/1), West Virginia (100/1), Oregon (150/1), Xavier (200/1)

Analysis: Of the teams with odds 100/1 or worse, I included the ones here that probably are better than their line would indicate. Cincinnati returns its entire rotation from a Round of 32 NCAA tournament team. The return of D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and a promising rising sophomore class has Georgetown appearing in most way-too-early top 25s for next season. Providence will have the nation's top point guard in Kris Dunn, San Diego State has Top 25 potential if Malik Pope blossoms as a sophomore and perpetually underrated Oregon is once again flying under the radar. Are any of these teams going to win a title next spring? Probably not. But there are worse ways to spend $10 than plunking it down on one of these long shots and rooting for them for them to pull a stunner.

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!