College Basketball Odds 2025-26: Duke, Houston, UConn Favored To Win National Title
While Florida overcame Houston to win this year's national championship, let's turn the page toward the 2025-26 college basketball title odds at the best sports betting sites. Duke, Houston, and UConn are favored to cut down the nets at most shops. This betting market will shift sooner rather than later, and with the transfer portal developing into a bona fide free agency, there's no better time to dive in.
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2025-26 college basketball championship odds
National Title Favorites: Duke Atop Betting Odds
Heading into the fourth year of the Jon Scheyer era, the Blue Devils face many unknowns. Duke will significantly change its starting lineup as Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach proceed to the NBA. Veteran guard Tyrese Proctor must decide whether to return to school or turn pro.
The same goes for Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans. Foster, the once-acclaimed recruit from the 2023 cycle, played in 37 games and averaged 5.1 points. Evans, a former five-star recruit who rarely saw the floor in the Big Dance, averaged seven points.
Building around five-star forward Cameron Boozer is vital to preserving the success Scheyer has built. According to the 2025-26 college basketball title odds, Duke is priced as low as +850 at Caesars Sportsbook.
What's Next For Houston & UConn?
The Cougars acquired Kalifa Sakho, a 6-foot-11 forward who spent last season at Sam Houston and generated 7.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per contest. Sakho has one year of eligibility left. As noted, Kelvin Sampson's team is directly behind Duke at Caesars and FanDuel Sportsbook, with Milos Uzan, Emmanuel Sharp, Terrence Arceneaux, and Jojo Tugler likely back in the mix.
Moreover, UConn reloaded by adding Georgia transfer Silas Demory. Over his last 10 games, Demory averaged 18.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, including a 38.7% clip from behind the arc. He reached 20 or more points four times in that span.
Huskies coach Dan Hurley was looking for a lead ball handler to join returning starter Solo Ball and McDonald's All-American Braylon Mullins next season. Demary slides in perfectly, fitting the mold of two-time champion Tristen Newton, who started at point guard for UConn in 2022-23 and 2023-24. The Huskies' best odds are +1800 at FanDuel.
College Basketball Odds: Eli's Sleeper Pick
A sliver of the transfer portal has yet to play out, but UCLA (+5000 at Caesars) has already reeled in a few big-name pieces in point guard Donovan Dent (New Mexico) and forward Xavier Booker (Michigan State).
For my money, Dent is the most underrated addition thus far. The 2024-25 Mountain West Player of the Year tallied the 23rd-highest assist rate nationally and is a match made in heaven with Bruins coach Mick Cronin. Dent's prowess for accumulating off the dribble will do wonders in a five-out offense if Booker's floor spacing develops under a new coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, and Eric Dailey Jr. announced their return. In this era of college basketball, second-year transfers are the new fourth-year seniors, especially given how they've shined within Cronin's defensive-minded approach.
Considering UCLA annually boasts a top-20 adjusted defensive efficiency, its national title odds provide plenty of upside at 50-1. I'd play it down to 40-1. Good luck with your bets on 2025-26 college basketball odds!
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