Top 10 college basketball teams that are favorites among bettors to win 2025 NCAA Tournament ft. Dan Hurley's UConn
College basketball is truly a year-round sport. We're only two months from the 2024 NCAA Tournament, but speculation about 2025 is ongoing. In fact, bettors are already zeroing in on favorites for the title. It can't be a surprise that back-to-back champion UConn is one of the top picks to win in 2025.
Here's a full list of the top 10 betting picks for the title, per BetOnline.ag
Top 10 college basketball teams that are favorites among bettors to win 2025 NCAA Tournament
#10, Auburn (28/1)
Bruce Pearl's Tigers had a disappointing 2024 Tournament with a first-round loss to No. 13 seed Yale. But Pearl and Auburn reached the Final Four in 2019 and are generally a solid team. The return of big man Johni Broome was a welcome development, and Auburn is a 2025 NCAA hopeful.
#9, Baylor (25/1)
Scott Drew and the Bears ended their season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Clemson. Baylor fended off overtures from Kentucky to keep Drew, and he always has a talented squad in Waco. Drew has taken Baylor to the Elite Eight three times and won the title in 2021.
#8, Arkansas (25/1)
Speaking of Kentucky, former Wildcats boss John Calipari landed on his feet in Fayetteville. Calipari hasn't been to the Final Four since 2015, but he's assembled a good roster quickly at Arkansas. Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis gives the Hogs instant credibility.
#7, North Carolina (20/1)
UNC kept super-guard RJ Davis around, and that was a big deal. Hubert Davis's team was eliminated in the Sweet 16, but in 2022, the Heels made it to the NCAA title game. UNC always assembles a talented roster and will be a favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Duke.
#6, Gonzaga (18/1)
The logic for Mark Few and the Zags seems to be that he will win a title at some point. The Bulldogs lost in the NCAA title game in 2017 and 2021. Gonzaga lost in the Sweet 16 last season. But the last time a Gonzaga team failed to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament was 2014. Maybe lightning will strike for Gonzaga in 2025.
#5, Houston (14/1)
The Cougars are another team that is obviously due for a title. Kelvin Sampson's Cougars made the school's sixth Final Four appearance in 2021 but still haven't won a title. Houston was a top seed in 2024, but went out in the Sweet 16. The Cougars do return a solid core of veteran talent.
#4, Duke (14/1)
Jon Scheyer took the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight in his second season following Mike Krzyzewski. He returns some talent and adds super frosh Cooper Flagg, who is probably the best freshman in a few years. If Flagg is as good as advertised, the Blue Devils have an excellent shot at the 2025 title.
#3, Kansas (10/1)
Bill Self has won a pair of titles at Kansas, the last coming in 2022. But Kansas has exited in the round of 32 in four of the last five NCAA Tournaments. Kansas returns Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams Jr., also adding a haul of transfer portal standouts and a top frosh in Flory Bidunga. The Jayhawks have a legitimate title shot.
#2, UConn (9/1)
The two-time defending champ finds itself the second most popular bet for 2025. The Huskies lost a ton of talent, but the same was true after 2023 and it didn't stop a second title. Once the Huskies kept Dan Hurley, it was clear that they had a solid shot at another title.
#1, Alabama (8/1)
Off the school's first Final Four ever, the Tide and coach Nate Oats are the betting favorites to win the NCAA title. Veterans Mark Sears and Grant Nelson are back, and the Tide were active in the transfer portal. Alabama has never been in this position before, but with a big season last year and a deep roster, it could win it all.
Which 2025 NCAA Tournament favorite do you think will claim the title? Weigh in below with your comments!