College basketball season is here.
Let’s take a look at who oddsmakers are picking as the top national championship contenders.
There are some familiar names at the top of the odds board, but plenty of teams in the mix as the season kicks off.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | +950 |
| UConn Huskies | 11/1 |
| Houston Cougars | 11/1 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 11/1 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 11/1 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 13/1 |
| Iowa State Cyclones | 17/1 |
| Auburn Tigers | 20/1 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 25/1 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 30/1 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 35/1 |
| Creighton Bluejays | 40/1 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 40/1 |
| St. John’s Red Storm | 40/1 |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | 45/1 |
| Baylor Bears | 50/1 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 50/1 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 50/1 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 50/1 |
Behind freshman sensation and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Cooper Flagg, the Duke Blue Devils have established themselves as a clear favorite during the early going.
The UConn Huskies, who are aiming to become just the second college basketball team ever to win three straight national championships, joining John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins, are tied with three other teams with the second-best odds at +1100.
Tied with the Huskies are the Houston Cougars, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, rounding out the top five.
The Johnnies find themselves in the mix at +4000, which is tied with Creighton and Arkansas for the 12-best odds.
Last year’s runner-up, the Purdue Boilermakers, aren’t seen as same type of contender as they were in recent seasons after losing star center Zach Edey to the NBA, sitting outside of the top 15 at FanDuel at +5000.