College Basketball Betting Odds 2025: Duke, UConn Favored To Win National Title
While the UConn Huskies’ second straight title put a bow on the 2023-24 season, March Madness odds are already up for next year. Duke and UConn are the favorites to cut down the nets at some shops. This betting market could shift sooner than later, with the transfer portal evolving into a bona fide free agency. Let’s dig into 2025 college basketball odds and assess the landscape of the sport, including John Calipari leaving for Arkansas.
Click anywhere below to wager on 2025 college basketball odds. From the Blue Devils to the 100-1 longshot, we’ve searched for the best odds in your state.
2025 college basketball championship odds
National Title Favorites
As noted, the Blue Devils are atop DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook’s odds. They’ll lose star power, but they have six freshmen in their top-rated recruiting class. The same goes for UConn, positioned as the betting favorite at Caesars.
Four-man Alex Karaban projects as a first-team All-Big East player next season, yet his return is unknown. Hassan Diarra, who spent two seasons as a change-of-pace defender, should fit right in as the starting point guard.
Kansas follows suit, but DraftKings has a slimmer price than the other two operators. Hunter Dickinson and Johnny Furphy’s future with the Jayhawks is uncertain. Fellow blueblood North Carolina is below, with point guard Elliot Cadeau set to improve in his sophomore year, paired with five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.
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2025 College Basketball Odds Appraisal
I normally gamble on the college basketball futures odds during the offseason. However, it’s become increasingly difficult because of the uncertainty within the transfer portal. I’ve been told notable names, such as first-team All-American point guard Jamal Shead, may switch schools if they decide against turning pro.
Then again, we’ve witnessed the difficulty of developing cohesion with a portal-heavy roster. Arkansas and St. John’s are prime examples of this notion in 2023-24. Moreover, every team that advanced to Phoenix showcased some semblance of roster continuity.
Purdue possessed plenty of that, with Southern Illinois transfer Lance Jones representing the Boilermakers’ lone outside addition. In fact, every national champion has returned at least three players who started multiple games at the school in the previous season.
Granted, longshots are always intriguing. I’ve circled Maryland (125-1) as a possible bet for national title or Final Four odds. The latter market is released a month before the season tips off.
Terrapins coach Kevin Willard reloaded with point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie. The Belmont transfer manufactured a top-90 steal percentage, top-115 assist rate, and a 39% clip from deep. They also retain Julian Reese, who projects as an All-Big Ten forward next year after tallying 13.7 points and 9.5 rebounds last season. Pairing him with five-star freshman Derik Queen gives them one of the league’s premier interior combinations.
Maryland also remains in the Big Ten, where Purdue, Illinois, and Nebraska could take a step back after losing several stars. Thanks to the conference realignment over the last year, many high-major programs will have changed scenery. Maryland’s conference adds USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington. This movement will certainly impact handicapping 2025 college basketball odds.
Calipari To Fayetteville
On the eve of the national championship, John Calipari toppled over any storyline involving the game itself. The Hall of Fame coach will soon finalize a five-year deal to man the sidelines at Arkansas. His 15-year tenure at Kentucky concluded with an embarrassing first-round loss to 14th-seeded Oakland, in which the Wildcats were 13.5-point favorites.
Both teams have shaky rosters moving forward, and their futures prices reflect that. The Hogs are stationed as high as 40-1 among 2025 college basketball odds. Nevertheless, Calipari will have a heavy dose of NIL funds to attack the transfer portal.
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