The Sweet 16 of the 2021 March Madness Tournament is set to begin this weekend. As we get closer to crowning the new college basketball national champions, sports bettors are looking towards who’ll be the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
The NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award is usually given to a player on the championship-winning team. However, it’s gone to men on a non-winning team 11 times. NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon was the last to do so in 1983.
BetOnline has released their odds list for Most Outstanding Player. With Gonzaga being the favorite to win the tournament, it’s not surprising to see them having three players favored to win the award.
March Madness Most Outstanding Player Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Thursday, March 25
- Drew Timme (Gonzaga) +300
- Corey Kispert (Gonzaga) +525
- Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga) +650
- Jared Butler (Baylor) +850
- MaCio Teague (Baylor) +900
- Davion Mitchell (Baylor) +1000
- Cameron Krutwig (Loyola Chicago) +1600
- Matthew Mayer (Baylor) +1600
- Quentin Grimes (Houston) +1600
- Dejon Jarreau (Houston) +2500
- Evan Mobley (USC) +2500
- Franz Wagner (Michigan) +2500
- Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) +2500
- Jaden Shackelford (Alabama) +2800
Gonzaga Players Lead Most Outstanding Player Odds
Gonzaga’s Drew Timme (+300), Corey Kispert (+525) and Jalen Suggs (+650) all have the top odds to leave March Madness as the Most Outstanding Player. Each player has helped Gonzaga remain undefeated this season. As far as tournament play has gone, each man has made a good case for the award.
While Timme had a modest showing in the first round, he dominated the Round of 64 game against Oklahoma. In that game, Timme had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the double-double. If he can string together more games like that, it’s no wonder why he’s the favorite.
Kispert and Suggs have also made their cases for the March Madness Most Outstanding Player Award. Kispert has averaged 19.5/4.0/1.0 so far this tournament. Meanwhile, Suggs has posted an average stat line of 11.0/3.5/2.5.
Baylor Trio Could Walk Away with Top March Madness Honors
While the top three players on the Most Outstanding Player odds list play for Gonzaga, the next three are members of Baylor. Jared Butler (+850), MaCio Teague (+900) and Davion Mitchell (+1000) have helped get Baylor to the Sweet 16 after some people doubted the school’s legitimacy as a No. 1 seed before March Madness began.
So far, Baylor has outscored their opponents 155-118 in the first two rounds thanks to an effort by their above trio. Here’s a look at their stats through two games:
- Butler: 14.5/4.0/5.5
- Teague: 15.5/3.0/1.0
- Mitchell: 14.0/3.5/5.5
The trio will most likely have to help Baylor win the national championship because, while those stats are nice, they’re not better than Timme or Kispert’s should Gonzaga win the tournament.
Matthew Mayer (+1600) also has a decent shot at being the March Madness Most Outstanding Player for Baylor. In the round of 32, Mayer put up 17/6/1 against Wisconsin.
Loyola Chicago’s Krutwig Has Outside Chance at Being Top March Madness Player
Cameron Krutwig has the best odds of any player who doesn’t play for Gonzaga or Baylor to win the Most Outstanding Player Award. He’s helped get eighth-seeded Loyola Chicago to the Sweet 16 after upsetting No. 1 Illinois in the Round of 32.
Krutwig had 19-12 double-double along with five assists in the 71-58 win over an Illinois team that was favored to make the March Madness Final Four out of the Midwest Region.
Loyola Chicago is the favorite in their Sweet 16 matchup with Oregon State. Should the school advance to the Elite Eight, Krutwig’s odds of winning Most Outstanding Player could increase.
