It’s already mid-January, which means March Madness will be here before you know it. With a good portion of the season in the books, now is the perfect time to look ahead at the NCAA Basketball Championship odds. As the big tournament gets closer, futures odds take a slight dip, so getting in the action now offers the best value.
NCAA Basketball Championship Odds
Here are the betting odds from top online sportsbooks as of Friday, Jan. 19. These odds will update every week, so check your favorite sportsbook for the latest prices.
| TEAM | BetMGM Sportsbook Odds | Caesars Sportsbook Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue | +800 | +900 |
| Arizona | +1000 | +1100 |
| Houston | +1000 | +1000 |
| Connecticut | +1100 | +1200 |
| Kentucky | +1600 | +1100 |
| Kansas | +1600 | +1600 |
| North Carolina | +1600 | +1600 |
| Tennessee | +2000 | +2200 |
Evaluating the NCAA Basketball Championship Favorites
Last year’s tournament was one of the most exciting in years. There was an abundance of first-round knockouts that destroyed brackets before the tournament really picked up steam. Based on the current favorites to win it all, fans could be in for another year of the same.
Purdue Boilermakers
DraftKings odds: +900 | FanDuel odds: +800
The Boilermakers are No. 2 in the country and are currently the No. 1 favorite to win it all — a similar situation to what they found themselves in last year before being bounced in the first round at the hands of No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. This year, they are 16-2 with five wins against ranked opponents and deserve the recognition. They are led once again by 7-foot, 4-inch, star big man Zach Edey, who is averaging 22.9 points and 11 rebounds.
And just like last year, there is a big drop off between Edey and the Boilermakers’ second leading scorer. Their second-best scorer is Braden Smith, who averages 12 points per game on 44% shooting. As good as they are, the recipe for defeating them remains the same. Trap Edey and force the rest of the team to beat you. In their first-round exit last year, Edey was held to 11 shot attempts and 10 free throw attempts for 21 points.
Although they are off to another hot start, they haven’t shown much of an answer for that game plan, even though they only have two losses.
Kentucky Wildcats
DraftKings odds: +1400 | FanDuel odds: +2000
The Wildcats are No. 8 in the country and have two wins over ranked opponents. Their offense makes them a viable threat to win it all. They lead the nation in scoring, averaging 90.8 points per game, and have five double-digit scorers. They are ninth in 3-point shooting percentage at 39.3%, averaging 10 makes per game. They are doing so while not being in the top 30 in attempts from deep per contest.
Their defense is respectable given the teams they have played this season. They allow teams to score 76 points per game and own a +14.7-scoring differential. If anything will hold them back come tournament time, it’s rebounding. They are not top 50 in the nation in rebounding because they struggle to complete defensive possessions. They allow 9.5 offensive rebounds per game, which is tied for 254th.
That could easily derail their championship aspirations. They were out-rebounded in each of their three losses this season, including against Texas A&M, who the Wildcats allowed to collect a whopping 25 offensive rebounds to in a 97-92 loss.
Tennessee Vols
DraftKings odds: +2000 | FanDuel odds: +2000
The Vols are No. 6 in the country. They only have one win against ranked teams, but they have three close losses to upper echelon opponents — No. 3 Kansas, No. 2 Purdue, and No. 4 North Carolina. Yet again, their defense is their calling card, surrendering 66 points per game. Given the strength of their schedule, that’s an exceptional total that should — if it continues — take them a good distance in the tournament.
Unfortunately for the Vols, their offense hasn’t improved much from last season. That was their downfall in the tournament in 2023, losing to Florida Atlantic 62-55. This year, they average 79 points per game. That’s a nine-point increase from their average last season, but still may not be enough to keep pace with the better scoring teams in the country. There is a bright spot to consider. They are led by Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht, who is averaging 18.5 points per game, and has shown explosiveness.
He is a streaky scorer, but he has been lights out as of late. Keep an eye out for his growth during the season. If Knecht maintains his current level of play, he could be the difference maker that ultimately gets the Vols over the top.
UConn Huskies
DraftKings odds: +1100 | FanDuel odds: +1000
The Huskies lost three of their star players from last year’s championship run and are still on top in college hoops. They are currently ranked No. 1 in the country with four wins against ranked opponents. Despite their roster losses, their points per game and scoring margin have increased this season. They are raking up points much like last year thanks to distributed scoring. They have four double-digit scorers, two of which shoot the ball above 40% from deep.
In addition to their improved offense, their defense is in the top 20, only surrendering 64.6 points per game. The Huskies’ defense has held every opponent they have faced below their season average, which is impressive given their 12th ranked strength of schedule so far. They appear to be a complete team yet again, and this time, they aren’t creeping up on anyone.
The Huskies are arguably the safest bet to take if you’re wagering right now. There is still plenty of basketball left to play in the regular season, but the above teams are some of the best options to consider currently. Keep an eye for the marquee matchups below for more insight into how they are coming along later in the season.
- No. 6 Tennessee at No. 8 Kentucky — Saturday, Feb. 3
- No. 2 Purdue at No. 11 Wisconsin — Sunday, Feb. 4
- No. 1 UConn vs. No. 17 Marquette — Saturday, Feb. 17
