College Basketball: Duke and Florida Share Top Spot in 2026 Odds
The 2026-27 season begins Sunday in Rome, with Duke and Florida listed as co-favorites for the national title at +600 on BetMGM.
By Riya Zhao ·
The 2026-27 college basketball season begins on Sunday in Rome, Italy, when Notre Dame faces Villanova. The rest of the national schedule kicks off the following day, with games starting as early as 3 a.m. and continuing until midnight. This early start marks the beginning of a campaign that will determine the next NCAA champion.
Betting markets on BetMGM currently list Duke and Florida as the co-favorites for the national title. Both teams carry odds of +600 to win the championship in April. These odds place them ahead of the rest of the field in the preseason top 25 rankings.
Connecticut and Illinois follow in the betting lines. Connecticut, ranked fourth in the preseason AP poll, is listed at 11/1 odds. Illinois, ranked third, is set at 12/1. Together, these four schools form the initial group of teams considered the strongest contenders for the March Madness trophy.
Michigan State and Texas round out the top five in the futures market. Both programs are offered at 18/1 odds by bookmakers. Louisville and Arizona sit just behind them, both listed at 20/1. Arizona is the preseason favorite in the Big 12, while Louisville enters the season with high expectations.
Houston and Tennessee complete the top ten on the odds board. Both schools are available at 25/1 odds. The spread between the top two teams and the rest of the field is tight, reflecting the competitive nature of the current college basketball landscape.
Connecticut returns key players such as Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary Jr., and Nikolas Khamenia. The Huskies won three preseason exhibition games, including victories over Michigan State and Purdue. Their recent success in the NCAA tournament, where they reached the final in three of the last four years, supports their high ranking.
Kansas has added Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney to its roster. Stokes is the consensus favorite for the first pick in next year's NBA Draft. The Jayhawks also brought in Trey Kaufman-Renn, Leroy Blyden Jr., and Keanu Dawes through the transfer portal. This mix of new talent and returning players like Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. gives Kansas a deep roster.
Vanderbilt enters the season with a strong foundation after starting 16-0 last year. The Commodores returned Tyler Tanner, who had considered the NBA, and added Bangot Dak and Ace Glass via the portal. They also recruited five-star Gabe Nesmith. Despite finishing fourth in the preseason SEC rankings, Vanderbilt opened at No. 13 in KenPom's preseason rankings.
