Basketball fans across the country as hoops season is roaring along and teams are all aiming for that number one spot in the national championship game in April. With that in mind, SBS has its initial futures betting predictions on who will take home the crown in April following the 2024-25 NCAA Division I men’s basketball season. Last year, the UConn Huskies reigned supreme as the national champions in college basketball thanks to an excellent year from head coach Dan Hurley and his talented roster and crew. They are now slated as the favorites to win a national title this season at +950. However, other blue-blood contenders like Duke and Kansas stand in their way while the West Coast’s Gonzaga is always reliable at making noise each season.
For this article, SBS will explore what to look for from each contender along with a predicted winner and some additional notes regarding NCAA basketball wagering.
| Favorites to Win the 2024-25 NCAA Basketball Title |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | +950 | +950 | +950 |
| Duke | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Gonzaga | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Kansas | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
Last season, the Huskies were a dominating squad, finishing the year with a mark of 37-3, including a record of 18-2 in Big East play. They received the No. 1 overall seed, where they returned to the National Championship for the second straight year. They would go on to defeat Purdue to become the first back-to-back National Champions since Florida in 2006-07. This year, they are seeking to become the first team to win three straight national championships since UCLA won seven straight championships from 1966-1973. Already this year they are off to a sensational start as of this article’s writing with a mark of 4-0 in what should be another spectacular campaign for Coach Hurley and Co. If there is anything holding UConn back is that college basketball is a very competitive field and the odds are not in their favor of sealing the deal on their three-peat.
The Blue Devils finished last season 27-9 and 15-5 in ACC play to finish in second place in the conference. With that said, they would go on to receive an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Elite Eight but were upset by ACC rival NC State. While the Blue Devils lost their usual assortment of talent this offseason, they did receive their also normal influx of playmakers as well. This includes five-star recruit Cooper Flagg who has been a fantastic addition for them in the early part of the 2024-25 season. While Duke did lose to Kentucky earlier this year in a neutral site contest, they are still a squad that should always be taken as a serious threat to national title contention.
Led by head coach Mark Few in his now 26th season, the “Zags” are an excellent squad that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last year. In last year’s tournament, they locked up the No. 5 seed in the region, defeating McNeese in the first round and then taking down Kansas in the second round. However, they were unable to outlast the competition as they fell in the Sweet Sixteen to Purdue. A usually veteran and solid squad, the Zags have some strong players like Graham Ike, Nolan Hickman, and also Braden Huff among other notable standouts. Of course, they are the kings of the West Coast Conference but still need to find that winning edge in the postseason.
Another perennial power, the Jayhawks are returning two players who are fifth-year seniors and are dynamic playmakers. This includes guard Dajaun Harrris Jr. and also center Hunter Dickinson, the latter of which has been touted in the past as one of the best players in all of college basketball. The Jayhawks this year will of course be led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self in his 22nd season. Last season, Kansas fell short of its usual lofty standards, by advancing only to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Of course, being led by a two-time NCAA Tournament champion in Self is an incredible asset for the Jayhawks as always.
Selecting the winner of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament is usually a difficult errand since there are so many awesome teams to pick from, so why not select a squad that can make some history and have a winning pedigree, like UConn? The Huskies are the pick here.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming notes and updates coming from the world of college hoops, make sure to peruse the excellent array of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for more analysis and insights on the topic covered here, the NCAAB betting sites guide has you covered with all of the latest betting markets in the world of college basketball. Additionally, for those who qualify and are looking to maximize their wager (and who isn’t), the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-bookmark page. Here you can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers currently available. Finally, for those looking to diversify their payment options, look no further than the payment methods rundown which goes over a variety of different options from traditional to crypto banking routes.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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