4 Way-Too-Early Bets to Win the 2019 NCAA Tournament
Virginia Tech Hokies
Vegas Odds: 80/1
There's often at least one team that surprises everyone by defying their preseason expectations. Next season, that team could be the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The Hokies flashed their upside this year, defeating top-tier opponents such as the Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Virginia Cavaliers, and they should return seven of their top-eight scorers from last year, including Justin Robinson. The importance of that year-to-year continuity cannot be understated, and it's a big reason why so few recent champions have started a one-and-done player.
Only two National Champions in the "one-and-done era" (since 2006) started a one-and-done player. pic.twitter.com/iXfQ69dfLo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 31, 2018
The Hokies had a top-30 offense last year according to KenPom, but it was their defense that was lacking. If they could leverage their continuity and play better team defense, Virginia Tech could be a dark horse to win it all.
