Iowa Center Luka Garza Favored To Win 2021 Naismith Award

• Luka Garza has the shortest odds at +275 to win the Naismith Player of The Year Award.
• Garza averaged 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists last season.
• The Iowa Hawkeyes have the second shortest odds to win the 2021 NCAA Championship at +750.

IOWA CITY, Iowa— The NCAA during the Covid-19 pandemic has already overseen a somewhat successful return of college football and is now looking to do the same for college basketball.

Earlier this year the NCAA tournament was canceled robbing college basketball bettors of one of the best times to bet on the sport. Now that the sport is slated to return in December there is a lot for college basketball fans to look forward to including the newly posted odds on which player will win the James Naismith Player of the Year award.

Now is one of the best times to invest in these odds at USA Sportsbooks because once the season starts they will get shorter and less of return can be made.

Coming into the season Iowa Center Luka Garza is the favorite with +275 odds to win the Player of the Year Award. Garza is coming off a season where he averaged 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game all while shooting 54.2% from the field and 35.8% from distance.

🗣 Coach McCaffery on what to expect from @LukaG_55:

"You'll see him be more versatile. His game keeps evolving. He's a guy that can lead the league in rebounding. He's a guy that can perform in the clutch. You'll see a guy that will make plays for his teammates.."

— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) October 6, 2020

If Garza improves on these numbers and showcases an even more versatile game this season he’ll be a lock to win the award. As he’s the unquestioned leader of a fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes team that will have their work cut out for them this year.

The Hawkeyes have some big expectations placed on their shoulders this season as they have the second shortest odds to win the NCAA Championship this season at +750. Without Luka Garza Iowa wouldn’t even be in the national championship picture.

Garza will be tasked with leading Iowa through some tough games this season as they’ll face a No. 1 ranked Gonzaga team in what could be a Final Four matchup down the road.

BREAKING: Another huge college hoops nonconference matchup is on the schedule. Top-five teams Gonzaga and Iowa have agreed to play each other on Dec. 19 at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sources told @CBSSports. Details ⬇️https://t.co/7DooxxuKLx

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 7, 2020

Garza leading Iowa through a tough Big Ten conference and then an even tougher non-conference schedule will be vital in cementing his place in college basketball history and winning the Naismith award.

The Hawkeyes will look to play a full season but in such uncertain times with the pandemic nothing is 100% and Iowa coach Fran McCaffery knows that.

McCaffery concludes by saying he feels good about 27 games, etc., but "nothing is set in stone."

Feels like they will start the season and then "do the best we can."

— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) October 6, 2020

Nonetheless, if Iowa does indeed play-out their full season, expect Garza to show why he’s the best player in college basketball and bettors should take those odds while a profit can still be had.