2025-26 NCAA Basketball National Championship Odds

The 2024-25 NCAA Tournament was a battle of the powerhouses, as all four #1 seeds reached the Final Four. With late leads being choked away and momentum changing left and right, the final three games of the tournament lived up to the madness and also saw the Florida Gators become National Champions.

While the Gators hoisted the trophy, oddsmakers set their sights back on Duke, opening them as the favorite to win the 2025-26 National Championship behind what is expected to be another elite recruiting class.

NCAAB - Men's March Madness 2026 - Best Odds

Odds as of October 30, 2025

* = the same odds are offered by multiple sportsbooks.

NCAAB - Men's March Madness 2026 - Top 12 Contenders

Odds as of October 30, 2025

Current Favorites

Purdue Boilermakers: The Purdue Boilermakers have consistently knocked on the door of a National Championship, but that door has yet to open for them. Entering the 2025-26 season, the Boilermakers once again have a loaded roster with elite returners such as Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, along with some high-end transfers and young talents like Oscar Cluff, Daniel Jacobsen, and Omer Mayer.

Houston Cougars: Over the past five seasons, the Houston Cougars have played in five Elite Eights and two National Championships, including last year's. With their defense-first system under Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars will once again be in the mix this season, especially with projected lottery pick Chris Cenac Jr. joining returning veterans such as Emmanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan.

Duke Blue Devils: With their recruiting prowess, the Duke Blue Devils don't rebuild; they reload. Duke fell short of greatness last season despite having Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, and a few other NBA-level players. This season, the Blue Devils have another strong freshman class led by the Boozer brothers and Dame Sarr. As far as returners, Duke will have sharp shooter Isiah Evans, along with big men Maliq Brown and Patrick Ngongba II.

Past March Madness Winners & Odds

The Metrics that Matter Most: How to Spot a Defensive Contender

The saying “Defense wins championships” is probably a bit overused. However, it always seems to ring true in college basketball. Scoring threats are always needed for a deep tournament run, but to cut down the nets at the end of the season, teams also need to be a top defensive unit in the country. 

Placing futures on college basketball can be tricky, as there are over 350 teams, and even the top teams in the country can be upset come tournament time. With that in mind, bettors need a way to identify teams with value throughout the season. One of the best ways to achieve this is by examining defensive metrics.

By using resources such as KenPom, Bart Torvik, and Haslametrics, bettors can access a wide range of defensive metrics to inform their handicapping. Even with all those statistics, one metric that provides a glimpse into long-term success is the adjusted defensive efficiency rating.

Including the 2025 season, when Florida won the title, ten of the last eleven National Championship winners ranked in the top ten in adjusted defensive efficiency rating on Haslametrics. The only team in that group that did not rank inside the top ten was North Carolina in 2017, when they ranked 11th in the country in that metric.

Related articles & betting resources

• Odds to Reach the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four

Women's college basketball has gained more notoriety over the years, largely thanks to Caitlin Clark. While she is now in the WNBA, there is still plenty of talent across the country to keep the sport in the public eye. Young stars like Juju Watkins and experienced veterans like Paige Bueckers headlined a strong talent pool in the 2024-25 season, and at the end of the day, it was Bueckers who led UConn to their 12th National Championship, putting a bow on her historic career.

Unsurprisingly, both UConn and South Carolina have opened as the favorites to win the 2025-26 National Championship, as their powerhouse status doesn't look to be going away anytime soon.

2025-26 Women's NCAA Basketball National Championship - Best Odds

Odds as of October 30, 2025

* = the same odds are offered by multiple sportsbooks.

2025-26 Women's NCAA Basketball National Championship - Top 10 Contenders

Odds as of October 30, 2025

Previous NCAA Women's Basketball Champions