NCAA Set to Issue Notices of Allegations to Major Programs; What Does It Mean for Betting 2020 March Madness?

• The NCAA is set to send out a fresh wave of notices of violations.
• So far, the previous violations have had more bark than bite.
• Even if there are any violations, the legal process will likely drag out beyond the 2019-20 season.

If you thought the NCAA violations relating to major programs was behind us, think again. On Thursday, the NCAA sent out notices to at least six Division I Men’s basketball programs, notifying them of Level I violations. Will this have a significant impact on the 2020 NCAA Men’s Tournament Championship Odds, or is there nothing for bettors to worry about?

2020 NCAA Men’s Tournament Odds

*Odds taken 06/14/2019

Who is Involved?

At this point, we really don’t know who is involved. What we do know is that it stems from the federal government’s investigation into corruption with the sport last year and the investigation has continued.

Will this involve new schools? In other words, are schools like Arizona and LSU – who have already gone through the rigors – be in the clear? Or is this an extension of the punishments they’ve already suffered. As of right now, we don’t really know.

When will the Punishment be Doled Out?

This is the biggest key for bettors who are thinking about 2020 futures. Of course, the intelligent move is to wait and see. You don’t want to be caught with futures to win the NCAA Tournament for a team that suffers a big blow (or a self-imposed postseason ban). At the same time, this is probably not something bettors should worry about in the immediate future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEUVIr0tC4k

The reality of these types of legal issues is that they tend to drag out. At this point, all we know is that the notices of allegations will be sent out this week. The schools will have time to review it and then the legal process will begin. Don’t expect it to have a serious impact on the 2019-20 season.

Will Violations Have any Impact?

It feels like there’s little that the schools can do that will have a serious impact on the season. There was a time when Arizona head coach Sean Miller was deemed to be caught red-handed by the FBI, but he and the program have come through unscathed. A few assistant coaches were canned at Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and USC, but that’s been about it.

What’s the Best Bet?

At this point, there is little to be worried about. To start, these are just allegations and the schools will have time to fight it. Secondly, this legal process will be a long, drawn out process. There likely won’t be a conclusion by the end of the coming season. And lastly, we’ve already seen that these violations and penalties have more bark than bite. Don’t sweat any of this if you’re betting futures.