Top-10 Mid-Majors for 2024-25 College Basketball, Including Grand Canyon

Written By Eli Hershkovich | Last Updated November 4, 2024

More than ever, power-conference teams are stealing stars from the mid-major ranks. However, there are still many names for bettors and fans to cherish. I’ve ranked the top-10 mid-major programs among the 2024-25 college basketball odds. Gonzaga is never in the conversation because it’s, well, Gonzaga. Last season, none advanced past the round of 32. Which ones are the Sweet 16 dark horse candidates (or beyond) this time? Let’s dig in.

Click any of the 2025 March Madness odds below to place a bet. These are the best available odds in your state.

College basketball odds: top-10 mid-majors

Disclaimer: Regarding longshot college basketball odds, hedging is a common game plan for bettors if a team of this nature advances to the Final Four.

1. Grand Canyon antelopes: Grand Canyon Antelopes +30000 on BetMGM

After a 30-win season and an NCAA tournament victory over Saint Mary’s, the Lopes return four starters, including Tyon Grant-Foster, the 2023-24 WAC Player of the Year and NBA prospect. Bryce Drew’s team took down Alabama in the round of 32 but shooting 2-of-20 (10%) from the 3-point arc and 62.2% from the free-throw stripe did it in. Although Grand Canyon will fly under the radar again, lacking an upper-echelon opponent on the non-conference slate, its experience and cohesion could produce a Cinderella run.

2. mcneese state cowboys: McNeese State Cowboys +50000 on DraftKings

Following multiple NCAA Level I violation allegations at LSU, Will Wade led the Cowboys to March Madness in his first season with the program. Three starters return, complementing another trio of high-level portal additions: Quadir Copeland (Syracuse), Sincere Parker (Saint Louis), and former top-100 recruit Bandon Murray (Ole Miss), who may reach his long-lost ceiling if Wade shoulders him with a Shahada Wells-like role.

3. boise state broncos: Boise State Broncos +35000 on BetMGM

Before departing for the Pac-12 in 2025, Leon Rice’s crew attempts to claim the Mountain West crown for the second time in the last four seasons. The Broncos reinstate an elite mid-major frontcourt with Tyson Degenhart and O’Mar Stanley. San Jose State transfer Alvaro Cardenas, who tallied a top-55 assist rate last season, provides them with a true point guard for the first time since Rayj Dennis. He’ll take more off Degenhart and Stanley’s plate regarding shot creation.

4. bradley braves: Bradley Braves +100000 on DraftKings

While Bradley has not made the NCAA tournament since 2019, Brian Wardle has guided the program to 20+ victories in five of the last seven years. The Braves are set up to continue the status quo in 2024-25, at the least, retaining five of their top seven scorers, including 5-foot-8 marksman Duke Deen and 6-foot-9 Darius Hannah, a Swiss Army knife defensively. Since Drake and Indiana State are in rebuild mode, Bradley’s top-rated Valley defense could secure a berth in the Big Dance.

5. Princeton tigers: Princeton Tigers +50000 on DraftKings

In the 2023 NCAA tournament, the Tigers upset Arizona and Missouri before falling in the Sweet 16. This year’s version could advance further. No mid-major listed in this article held onto a scoring duo like Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce, last season’s Ivy League Player of the Year. Suppose Mitch Henderson manages to replace the proficiency of sharpshooter Matt Allocco, who left for Notre Dame. In that case, Princeton’s offense would have the potential to go toe-to-toe with many upper-echelon teams within these college basketball odds.

Related: 2024-25 College Basketball Power Rankings

6. vcu rams: Virginia Commonwealth Rams +50000 on BetMGM

When targeting teams capable of ascending, start with a dependable defense. The Rams supplied a top-45 adjusted defensive efficiency (ADJDE) across Division I, yet their offense was slightly above average. Pairing UT Arlington transfer Phillip Russell with 3-point specialist Max Shulga in the backcourt should give Ryan Odom’s unit a necessary scoring boost. Following DaRon Holmes’ exit from Dayton, VCU is the team to beat in the Atlantic 10.

7. Saint Louis Billikens: Saint Louis Billikens +30000 on DraftKings

As I state in my college basketball futures guide, it’s tough to project which newly infused rosters will meet expectations. But I wouldn’t doubt Josh Schertz, who moves to the A-10 after propelling Indiana State’s floor-spacing attack to 32 victories and a runner-up finish in the NIT. ISU transfers Robbie Avila and Isaiah Swope followed their coach to St. Louis. They’ll fit seamlessly with Gibson Jimerson, an elite shooter who must fill the void of Ryan Conwell from last year’s Sycamore squad.

8. saint joseph’s hawks: Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks +35000 on DraftKings

This rating isn’t a misprint. The Hawks boast four legitimate NBA prospects with their backcourt of Erik Reynolds and Xzayvier Brown, ultra-robust forward Rasheer Fleming, and redshirt freshman Dasear Haskins. Transfer guard Derek Simpson (Rutgers) and shot-swatter Justice Ajogbor (Harvard) are two of the most underrated additions from the portal. If there’s a team that can catch up to VCU or Saint Louis in the conference standings, it’s this one.

9. UC Irvine Anteaters: UC Irvine Anteaters +100000 on BetMGM

With only a pair of NCAA tournament berths in the last 10 tries, this Big West powerhouse isn’t a known commodity. That said, the Anteaters are primed to return to March Madness, readmitting four of their five top scorers from 2023-24. Provided that 6-foot-2 Justin Hohn matures as a playmaker with Pierre Crockrell’s top-two assist rate out the door, UC Irvine won’t miss a beat.

10. Arkansas state red wolves: Arkansas State Red Wolves +100000 on DraftKings

James Madison received a heavy dose of attention after upsetting Wisconsin in the round of 64. Expect Bryan Hodgson’s crew to overtake the Dukes in the field. Transfers Kobe Julien (Louisiana), named the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, Joseph Pinion (Arkansas), and Rashaud Marshall (Ole Miss) bring forth an alluring offensive ceiling. Last year, the Red Wolves tallied a top-65 rating in that department.