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March Madness MVP Odds 2024: Newton Named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Richardson Lilliana

Updated as of April 9, 2024 at 6:50 PM EDT with a 3 minute and 17 second read. For more information, visit our Twitter and Google News links.

Tristen Newton of the UConn Huskies attempts a shot while being guarded by Fletcher Loyer of the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game. Newton was +700 by the March Madness MVP odds 2024.
Tristen Newton of the UConn Huskies attempts a shot while being guarded by Fletcher Loyer of the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images via AFP.

UConn’s Tristen Newton was awarded the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, despite having the fourth-lowest odds according to the March Madness MVP odds listed on our top March Madness betting sites.

The NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award is presented to the player who has the greatest impact on their team’s success. Typically, this award is bestowed upon the star player of the national champion team.

At the start of the men’s national championship game between the Purdue Boilermakers (34-5) and the UConn Huskies (37-3), Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan were considered the favorites. But it was UConn’s All-American Tristen Newton who emerged as the March Madness MVP with a stellar showing in the Huskies’ 75-60 victory over Purdue.

In our March Madness MVP predictions, Newton was the frontrunner for the award, while Edey was the favorite according to the Wooden Award odds. Now that the season has ended, we evaluate Newton’s performance and compare his odds at the top sports betting sites.

2024 March Madness MVP odds

Updated on April 7, the March Madness MVP odds have been revised.

PlayerDraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMbet365
Zach Edey+175 ❄️+210+210+225 
Donovan Clingan+200 +185+190 +170 ❄️
Stephon Castle+400+360+350 ❄️+400 
Tristen Newton (winner)+700 +650+650 ❄️+550
Cam Spencer+1100+1900 ❄️+1000 +1100 
Braden Smith+4000+3400 +3000+3500 
Alex Karaban+4000+4000 +4000 ❄️+5000
Lance Jones+6000 +5000 +5000+6600 ❄️
Fletcher Loyer+10000 +10000 +10000 ❄️+10000 

March Madness MVP odds analysis 

As the men’s national championship game approached on April 9, 2024, it was anticipated that the center of the winning team would be named the March Madness MVP. If Purdue had managed to upset UConn in the title match, it seemed certain that Edey would have been awarded the MVP title. The 7-foot-4 Canadian had averaged impressive stats of 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in six NCAA Tournament games. Nevertheless, it had been more than 40 years since the MVP award had been given to a player on a losing team in the NCAA Tournament.

Clingan was the frontrunner to win the award on four out of the five top sports betting apps, thanks in part to his impressive stats during March Madness. However, a less prominent performance in the championship game allowed Newton, UConn’s star player throughout the season, to secure the victory.

Before the Sweet 16, Newton was the second favorite to win with odds of +750, just behind Edey at +600. As the tournament progressed to the Elite Eight and Final Four, Newton’s odds continued to shorten to +400. However, after some subpar scoring performances totaling only 17 points in those two rounds, Newton’s odds increased to +700.

Newton’s best performance came in the national championship game, where he scored 20 points, dished out seven assists, and grabbed five rebounds. This stellar performance boosted his tournament averages to 14.5 points, 7.2 assists, and four rebounds, earning him the title of Most Outstanding Player.

March Madness MVP history

You would be mostly correct in thinking that March Madness MVPs typically come from teams that win the championship.

In the past, it was more typical for the tournament committee to recognize the top player in the competition, regardless of their team’s success. However, this tradition has now diminished. Below is a list of NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Players from 2000 to 2019 (the 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19).

YearPlayerCollegeTitle
2024Tristen NewtonConnecticut✅
2023Adama SanogoConnecticut✅
2022Ochai AgbajiKansas✅
2021Jared ButlerBaylor✅
2019Kyle GuyVirginia✅
2018Donte DiVincenzoVillanova✅
2017Joel Berry IINorth Carolina✅
2016Ryan ArciadaconoVillanova✅
2015Tyus JonesDuke✅
2014Shabazz NapierConnecticut✅
2013Luke HancockLouisville✅
2012Anthony DavisKentucky✅
2011Kemba WalkerConnecticut✅
2010Kyle SinglerDuke✅
2009Wayne EllingtonNorth Carolina✅
2008Mario ChalmersKansas✅
2007Corey BrewerFlorida✅
2006Joakim NoahFlorida✅
2005Sean MayNorth Carolina✅
2004Emeka OkaforConnecticut✅
2003Carmelo AnthonySyracuse✅
2002Juan DixonMaryland✅
2001Shane BattierDuke✅
2000Mateen CleavesMichigan State✅

Since 1983, the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award has only been given to players on championship-winning teams, with the exception of Akeem Olajuwon of Houston Cougars who received the honor despite his team’s loss in the title game to NC State.

March Madness MVP FAQs

Who won the March Madness MVP this year?

Despite being a +700 underdog heading into the men’s national championship, UConn’s Tristen Newton defied the odds to win the award. He surpassed the favorites, Purdue’s Zach Edey and UConn’s Donovan Clingan, who were favored to win based on March Madness MVP odds.

Edey had odds of +175, indicating a 36.36% chance of winning, while Clingan had odds of +170, suggesting a 37.04% chance of winning. Newton’s odds of +700 implied a 12.50% chance of winning the award.

How is the March Madness MVP determined?

After the championship game, media members select the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

How can I bet on the March Madness MVP?

You can easily bet on March Madness markets by visiting sports betting sites and navigating to the menu dedicated to March Madness. Look for options like “March Madness MVP” or “Most Outstanding Player”, choose the player you want to bet on, enter your stake, and place your bet!

Who won last year’s March Madness MVP?

Adama Sanogo emerged as the MVP of the 2023 March Madness tournament, despite being listed at +200 odds before the Final Four.

March Madness betting odds pages

March Madness OddsMarch Madness PicksFinal Four OddsMarch Madness MVP Odds
March Madness Prop BetsMarch Madness Upset PicksMarch Madness Bracket GuideMarch Madness Bracket Predictions
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Written By:
Richardson Lilliana
Rob is a Publishing Editor at Underscoreg Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining UnderscoregReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.