2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Odds: Sanogo favored ahead of Hawkins, Bradley

Tonight, the curtain will close on the 2022-23 Division I men's college basketball season as San Diego State and UConn meet in the 67th and final game of this year's NCAA Tournament.

• San Diego State vs UConn Prediction & Picks

As is the case every year, this year's edition of March Madness has seen many standout performers and performances. From Fairleigh Dickinson's upset of Purdue, FAU's stunning run to the Final Four, Kansas State's Markquis Nowell stealing the show, Jordan Miller's perfect shooting to lead Miami over Texas in the Elite Eight, and more, many teams and players made their mark this March (and into April).

But who will be named the Most Outstanding Player of this year's NCAA Tournament?

As with most MVP awards connected to a postseason tournament, the winner is almost certain to come from the team that cuts down the nets tonight in Houston.

The last time the Most Outstanding Player wasn't a member of the national championship-winning squad was 1983, when future Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon won it despite Houston being upset in the title game by North Carolina State.

NCAA Tournament 2023 Most Outstanding Player Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Monday, April 3, 2023, at 9:00 am ET.

Will Sanogo Break the Drought for Big Men?

As is the case with other MVP awards in other sports, certain players get more NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player love than others.

No big man has been named MOP since Kentucky's Anthony Davis in 2012, and Davis is the only listed power forward or center to win the award since Emeka Okafor (UConn), Sean May (North Carolina), and Joakim Noah (Florida) went back-to-back-to-back in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

But of the teams who went deep enough in the NCAA Tournament to produce a potential MOP winner, Sanogo has been the best and most consistent performer.

NCAA Tournament Game-by-Game Numbers for UConn's Adama Sanogo

• Iona (First Round): 26 points (13 of 17 FG, 2 of 3 FT), 13 rebounds, one block
• Saint Mary's (Second Round): 24 points (11 of 16 FG, 2 of 2 FT), eight rebounds, one block
• Arkansas (Sweet Sixteen): 18 points (9 of 11 FG, 0 of 2 FT), eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks
• Gonzaga (Elite Eight): 10 points (3 of 11 FG, 4 of 4 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists, one block
• Miami (Final Four): 21 points (9 of 11 FG, 2 of 3 3PT, 1 of 4 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocks
• Total averages (five games): 19.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 BPG

Sanogo, who is averaging 17.2 PPG and 7.6 RPG this season, is shooting 60.7% for the season, which is good for 16th in Division I. But in the NCAA Tournament, the 6'9'' junior is shooting a scorching 68.2% from the field.

Most of that comes from two-pointers, but in UConn's 72-59 win over Miami on Saturday, he showed his touch from outside as well.

Prior to the game against the Hurricanes, Sanogo had attempted only one three in the NCAA Tournament after attempting 48 (and making 17) in 33 pre-tournament games. But against Miami, he made two early triples, helping the Huskies jump out to a valuable 9-0 lead just over three minutes in.

Has he played well enough to win the award even if San Diego State upsets UConn tonight? He has made a very, very good argument for it.

If UConn wins the title but Sanogo doesn't win it, Hawkins would be the most likely possibility.

In the NCAA Tournament, Hawkins is averaging 16.4 PPG and shooting 50.0% (19 of 38) from three. He has had two 20-point games, going for 24 against Arkansas in the Elite Eight and 20 against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.

NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player History

Here's a look at the winners of the award dating back to 1999, when UConn appeared in the national championship game for the first time.

That year, Richard "Rip" Hamilton was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament as the Huskies upset Duke 77-74 to win their first title.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you'd like to check out our other NIT and March Madness betting content, here's a rundown of what we have put together to help you with your college basketball betting until the season wraps up in Houston on April 3.

• NIT Bracket & Odds
• Men's March Madness Bracket
• March Madness Odds
• Women's March Madness Bracket & Odds
• Final Four Odds
• March Madness Sleepers
• March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2023
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites
• Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge! – CLOSED but you can look at the standings and entries)