Duke will enter March Madness as the favorite to win the national championship in Indianapolis following the bracket reveal on Selection Sunday. Michigan had held a slight edge until the selection show, when the Blue Devils were awarded the top overall seed after capturing the ACC title.
If it feels like Duke and Michigan are on a collision course to meet in the national title game, the odds are with you. Arizona trails the Blue Devils and Wolverines with the third-best odds after capturing the Big 12 Tournament crown and suffering just two losses all season. Florida is the fourth No. 1 seed, and its odds slipped after losing in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
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National title odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Duke | +300 |
| Michigan | +375 |
| Arizona | +425 |
| Florida | +750 |
| Houston | +1100 |
| Iowa State | +1800 |
| UConn | +2200 |
| Illinois | +2200 |
| Purdue | +3000 |
| Michigan State | +5000 |
| Arkansas | +6000 |
| Gonzaga | +6000 |
| St. John's | +6000 |
| Kansas | +6600 |
| Vanderbilt | +7500 |
| Virginia | +7500 |
| Wisconsin | +7500 |
| Alabama | +10000 |
| Nebraska | +10000 |
| Tennessee | +10000 |
| Kentucky | +10000 |
| Louisville | +12500 |
| BYU | +12500 |
| Texas Tech | +12500 |
Will the Final Four be chalk for the second straight year? Last season marked the first time since 2008 that all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four - a rare occurrence throughout tournament history. However, as top talent increasingly gravitates toward powerhouse programs, the chances for Cinderella runs by mid-majors are dwindling, especially with the widening talent gap fueled by NIL deals and the transfer portal.
Over the past few months, Duke, Michigan, Arizona, and Florida have established themselves as the leading teams. Still, several No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are primed to knock off the region favorites.
Although Duke earned the top seed, it was rewarded with a difficult draw. The Blue Devils' region features three Hall of Fame coaches - St. John's Rick Pitino, Kansas' Bill Self, and Michigan State's Tom Izzo - and a fourth on the way in UConn's Dan Hurley, whose program earned the 2-seed in the East Region. Despite losing in the Big East final, the Huskies own the right blend of guards and bigs to return to the Final Four. UConn's title odds lengthened after getting paired in a region with Duke.
Houston's title odds slightly shortened after it was gifted the No. 2 seed in the South Region with Florida as the 1-seed. The Cougars' inconsistency and reliance on younger players could pose challenges, but they have enough talent to make a run. Illinois, the 3-seed in the region, could be poised for a Final Four trip, as the squad is filled with NBA-level talent and quality international players. Three of the eight teams with the best title odds are in the South Region.
Iowa State, Arkansas, and Purdue - fresh off winning the Big Ten Tournament - have the talent to make a run and upset the top overall seeds. Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin's title odds shortened after their tournament paths were revealed, while Alabama, Nebraska, and Kentucky's odds moved in the opposite direction.
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