Bookies on High Alert After Pitino Tells Staff He Expects to Lose Job at Louisville
Oddsmakers are on high alert since Tuesday afternoon following news that a handful of College Basketball coaches have been charged in a far reaching bribery case.
Among those arrested were Lamont Evans, an associate coach of Oklahoma State University, Chuck Person, an associate coach of Auburn University, Emanuel "Book" Richardson, an assistant coach of the University of Arizona, and Tony Bland, an associate coach of the University of Southern California.
Now comes word that the investigation may be reaching marquee head coaches, and this could ultimately affect odds on teams the likes of Louisville.
The Cardinals head coach on Wednesday morning reportedly told staffs he anticipates losing his job over allegations that the Cardinals basketball program is involved in a federal investigation into fraud and corruption in college basketball recruiting. By Wednesday afternoon Louisville placed Pitino and athetic director Tom Jurich on administrative leave.
The Cardinals are among the favorites to win the 2018 NCAA College Basketball Championship at 16/1.
Tuesday night, Pitino released a prepared statement saying the allegations "come as a complete shock to me" and that he knew nothing about them.
"If true, I agree with the U.S. Attorneys Office that these third-party schemes, initiated by a few bad actors, operated to commit a fraud on the impacted universities and their basketball programs, including the University of Louisville," Pitino said in his statement. "Our fans and supporters deserve better and I am committed to taking whatever steps are needed to ensure those responsible are held accountable."
Louisville currently is on probation by the NCAA, and Pitino is facing a suspension by college's governing body following a sex scandal investigation.
Odds to win 2017-18 NCAA Men's Tournament (4/2/18)
|
Team |
Odds |
|
Duke |
6/1 |
|
Michigan State |
7/1 |
|
Kentucky |
10/1 |
|
Arizona |
10/1 |
|
North Carolina |
12/1 |
|
Kansas |
14/1 |
|
Louisville |
16/1 |
|
Wichita State |
20/1 |
|
Missouri |
20/1 |
|
Villanova |
25/1 |
|
Florida |
25/1 |
|
Gonzaga |
25/1 |
|
USC |
28/1 |
|
West Virginia |
33/1 |
|
Oregon |
33/1 |
|
Michigan |
40/1 |
|
UCLA |
40/1 |
|
Virginia |
50/1 |
|
Saint Mary's, CA |
50/1 |
|
Miami, Florida |
50/1 |
|
Indiana |
50/1 |
|
Purdue |
50/1 |
|
Notre Dame |
66/1 |
|
Butler |
66/1 |
|
Baylor |
66/1 |
|
Alabama |
66/1 |
|
Xavier |
80/1 |
|
Minnesota |
80/1 |
|
Cincinnati |
80/1 |
|
Florida State |
80/1 |
|
Oklahoma |
80/1 |
|
Seton Hall |
80/1 |
|
South Carolina |
100/1 |
|
Arkansas |
100/1 |
|
SMU |
100/1 |
|
Auburn |
125/1 |
|
Memphis |
500/1 |
Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
