Many bettors may not know this, but the NCAA Tournament has its own version of the NBA Finals MVP.
It’s called the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, often shorthanded as the MOP.
Can you bet on this? Of course you can. Just head over to the college basketball futures tab on the NCAAM (NCAA Men’s Basketball) page. If you’re in a state or municipality where award betting is legally allowed and regulated, there will be a specific tab for awards.
Most Outstanding Player Odds: NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (2026)
| Player (Team) | Most Outstanding Player Odds |
|---|---|
| Aday Mara (Michigan) | +175 |
| Elliot Cadeau (Michigan) | +350 |
| Tarris Reed (UConn) | +375 |
| Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) | +500 |
| Alex Karaban (UConn) | +1200 |
| Braylon Mullins (UConn) | +1200 |
| Trey McKenney (Michigan) | +1400 |
What Exactly Is the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player?
The Division I NCAA men’s basketball Tournament has named a Most Outstanding Player since 1939, when Ohio State forward Jimmy Hull won the honors. The women’s tournament began awarding an MOP in 1982. The players are voted on by media members in attendance at the Final Four. Beyond that, the award is mostly what it sounds like.
With that said, there are some interesting nuggets worth knowing.
Technically, the Most Outstanding Player doesn’t have to be a member of the team that wins the national championship. In practice, though, that’s exactly what the award has been – a non-championship men’s basketball player hasn’t won the award since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1983.
If you’re a handicapper, that means you’re essentially looking for the best player on the team you think will win it all. That explains why Lendeborg is the current MOP favorite, since Michigan is the current team favored to win it all.
Here’s a second nugget to keep in mind: the National Player of the Year hasn’t also won the NCAA Tournament MOP since 2012, when Anthony Davis earned both trophies.
That’s another good reason to doubt Cameron Boozer and Duke, in case the first week of tournament games didn’t shake you enough.
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