2024 Battle 4 Atlantis: Best Bets, Picks, and Predictions

Third-ranked Gonzaga, 14th-ranked Indiana, and No. 24 Arizona headline a talented field at the 13th annual Battle 4 Atlantis.

Davidson, Louisville, Oklahoma, Providence, and West Virginia are also in the bracket for this holiday tournament. The eight teams combined have a current record of 30-4.

The Bulldogs, who have reached the NCAA tournament 25 straight times, are off to a 5-0 start. They finished runner-up in this tournament in 2019. No school in this year’s field has won Battle 4 Atlantis before.

The tournament kicks off from Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas on Wednesday when Indiana takes on Louisville at Noon ET.

2024 Battle 4 Atlantis first round picks and predictions

Indiana ML (+110) vs. Louisville

The Hoosiers had a disappointing 19-14 campaign last year and coach Mike Woodson responded by going into the portal and getting Myles Rice (Washington State), Oumar Diallo (Arizona) and several other contributors to join a lineup that includes reigning Big 10 Rookie of the Year McKenzie Mgbako.

Indiana is off to a 4-0 start, winning by an average of 20 points. Mgbako is off to an impressive start in his sophomore campaign, averaging 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. Price is going for nearly 15 a game while Diallo (12 ppg, 9.8rpg) and Malik Reneau (13.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) have provided support. 

The Hoosiers face a brand new Louisville squad. The Cardinals have suffered three straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1940s, going 25-71 during that stretch. Former Winthrop and College of Charleston coach Pat Kelsey took over this season, and brought a plethora of transfers with him. 

Reyne Smith came with Kelsey from Charleston and leads the team with 14.8 points a contest. Four other transfers are averaging in double figures, including Kasean Payne (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and J'Vonne Hadley (10 ppg, 6.3 rpg). 

This Louisville side has won three games by an average of 26 per, but were also routed by No. 7 Tennessee, 77-55.

Indiana can set the tone early and put this one away to set up a possible second round matchup with No. 3 Gonzaga.

Gonzaga ML (-110) vs. West Virginia

The Zags made the opening statement of the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season with a decisive 101-63 victory over then-eighth-ranked Baylor. Gonzaga has already had four leading scorers in its 5-0 start, and veterans Graham Ike (14.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Khalif Battle (14.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) lead the way.

Braden Huff (14 ppg) is the next Zag underclassman primed for a breakout season and Ryan Nembhard (12.2 ppg) is second in the country in assists, dishing out 9.4 per game.

Gonzaga likes to win and perform well in these early season tournaments. That's bad news for the Mountaineers, off to a solid 3-1 start, but with a blowout loss to Pittsburgh in there as well. Javon Small (15.5 ppg), Drake transfer Tucker Devries (13.4 ppg) and freshman Jonathan Powell (12 ppg) lead West Virginia.

Gonzaga is favored to win and, possibly cover, and advance to the second round. 

2024 Battle 4 Atlantis best bets

Gonzaga To Win Outright (+125)

The Zags typically pack the non-conference portion of the season with tough opponents to boost schedule strength that typically gets hit once West Coast Conference play comes into focus and his year is no different.

Gonzaga could face Indiana and Arizona in this tournament, and follow that up with Top-10 matchups with Kentucky and two-time defending champion UCONN.

The Zags just saw Connecticut get knocked off in overtime by Memphis at the Maui Invitational in the first round.

They will be primed and focused to make a run through Atlantis this week. 

Arizona To Win Outright (+190)

The Wildcats should be in a bad mood when they arrive in the Bahamas. Arizona was outclassed in two straight double-digit losses to Wisconsin and Duke. Coach Tommy Lloyd's squad needs to respond in a big way in the Battle 4 Atlantis. 

Jaden Bradley (15.5 ppg), KJ Lewis (12.3 ppg), veteran Caleb Love (10.3 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Tennessee transfer Tobe Awaka (7.8 ppg, 10 rpg) lead Arizona, and all of them should be motivated by poor performances down the stretch against the Badgers and Blue Devils.

Look for Arizona to easily handle Davidson and the winner of the first round matchup between Oklahoma and Providence before potentially facing Lloyd's former boss and team in Mark Few and Gonzaga in the championship game Friday.

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.