Contents

Is Duke (+1000) Best Bet to Win the 2026 NCAA Tournament?

· Apr 08 - 6 minutes read

Get the best men’s basketball odds at BetUS, including favored Duke (+1000).
Can Florida (+2000) make it back-to-back March Madness championships?
Make bank with our top NCAAB picks! Join with our promo code HUDDLE125.

The 2024-25 men’s college basketball season came to an end on Monday night with Florida rallying to beat Houston 65-63 in the national championship game. Will the Gators be able to repeat or will a new champion be crowned at the 2026 Final Four in Indianapolis?

Is Duke (+1000) Best Bet to Win the 2026 NCAA Tournament? — Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils | Alex Slitz/Getty Images/AFP

When the season began, two-time defending national champion UConn and Duke had the shortest odds of winning it all, according to the college basketball lines. Florida ended the Huskies’ bid for a 3-peat in the second round while Houston had a comeback to defy the college basketball odds and deny Duke in the national semifinals.

In the era of the transfer portal, projecting the top title contenders while prominent players are looking for new homes can be an exercise in futility. We will do our best by taking a look at the college basketball future odds for the teams expected to be in the mix to cut down the nets in 2026.

2026 March Madness Analysis

Will Odds Favorite Duke (+1000) Win it All?

It is still hard to believe that Duke squandered a nine-point lead in the final three minutes against Houston in the Final Four. The 2025-26 Blue Devils will have a different look with freshmen Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel likely to be among the top 10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

5⭐️ Duke commit Cameron Boozer did it all in a 76-62 win over Wasatch Academy at #ChipotleNationals 🌯🔥

He finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists to help the Explorers advance to the semifinals 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/E6IysPyh2g

— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) April 4, 2025

Duke’s recruiting class is headlined by twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, both top-20 recruits out of Miami. Nikolas Khamenia is another top signee to keep an eye on.

The Blue Devils lead the way with +1000 in the odds of winning March Madness.

Bet on Duke to Win 2026 National Championship (+1000)

What About the 2025 Finalists?

Houston is another team that could have a much different roster with three of the top four scorers for the Cougars being seniors.

Milos Uzan is only a junior, but is showing up in 2025 NBA mock drafts.

Terrance Arceneaux and Joseph Tugler were the most productive of the underclassmen for Houston. Those making NCAAB expert picks won’t undervalue Houston again.

.@UHouston fans know who the best defensive player in the country is!

CONGRATS, @Joseph_Tugler on receiving the Lefty Driesell Award… presented by @collegeinsider #ForTheCity x #GoCoogs

🔗 – https://t.co/4AWB719EXi pic.twitter.com/bdaPmH8cDO

— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) April 1, 2025

If all the seniors, as well as Uzan, head off to play professionally, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson could be busy in the transfer portal. Chris Cenac, Isiah Harwell and Kingston Flemings are incoming freshmen to keep an eye on.

Florida could also see some key veterans leave, although sophomores Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are likely coming back for the Gators.

Forward Cornelius Ingram Jr. is the top incoming freshman for Florida.

For those clamoring for a rematch of the national title game, Houston is at +1200 and Florida comes in at +2000 in the odds of winning March Madness.

Huge Addition Boosts BYU

The top-rated incoming freshman is 6-foot-9 A.J. Dybantsa and he made college basketball news by signing with BYU. The Cougars finished third in the Big 12 standings during the regular season before falling to Alabama in the Sweet 16.

Xavion Staton, a teammate of Dybantsa at Utah Prep, is another addition to keep an eye on for a BYU team that is priced at +1400 in the NCAA title odds. Egor Demin is coming off a freshman year when he averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

St. John’s, UConn Class of The Big East

National Coach of the Year Rick Pitino has been busy in the transfer portal, with former Providence star Bryce Hopkins and Joson Sanon coming to St. John’s as the Red Storm look to win another Big East title.

UConn’s bid for a third consecutive national title was unsuccessful. It has been good news for the Huskies in recent weeks with Solo Ball, Tarris Reed Jr. and Jaylin Stewart all announcing their intentions to return for the Huskies.

NEWS: UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. will return to Storrs for his senior season, he told @On3sports.

The 6-10 big man averaged 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds this season. Was the Big East Sixth Man of the Year. https://t.co/vytYuWD7sc pic.twitter.com/5WFdBx0DZU

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 5, 2025

UConn added a key transfer in Georgia guard Silas Demary, who had one of his 20-point games against Florida. He could step in for the departing point guard Hassan Diarra.

UConn’s recruiting class is one of the best in the nation with guard Braylon Mullins, center Eric Reibe and guard Darius Adams all top-30 recruits. Australian guard Jacob Furphy is another newcomer for the Huskies.

St. John’s is currently at +1600 and UConn isn’t far behind at +1800 in the national title odds. The college basketball games between the Red Storm and Huskies will be must-see TV once again.

Bet on St. John’s at +1600 to win the national title

Best Of The Rest

John Calipari’s current team (Arkansas) and former team (Kentucky) join Purdue and UConn among the teams at +1800 in the title-winning odds.

Kansas (+2000), which is always active in the transfer portal, joins Louisville (+2000), Auburn (+2200), Alabama (+2500), Michigan (+2500), Michigan State (+2500) and Texas Tech (+2500) among other top contenders.

Looking for longshots for online bets? The 247sports.com database currently has Louisville with the top-rated class of transfers, while Michigan landed top-rated transfer Yaxel Lendeborg.