Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2025 College Basketball National Championship Odds and Expert Predictions

by Matt Zitt - 4/15/2024

College basketball National Championship odds Jeremy Roach Duke Blue Devils

The Connecticut Huskies made history on Monday night by becoming the first back-to-back National Champions since Florida in 2006 and 2007. This past college basketball season had a ton of great moments and memories, but the Huskies were dominant. They increased their NCAA tourney streak to 12 straight double-digit victories over opponents. Is a three-peat in store for Dan Hurley’s squad next season? From the transfer portal, to the surprise decision of John Calipari to leave Kentucky, it is never too early to look ahead to next season. Doc’s Sports will break down next year’s top teams below who can cut down the nets.

Doc’s Sports offers college basketball expert picks for every game on our NCAA basketball predictions page.

UConn Huskies +1000

Dominant is an understatement when it comes to the Huskies over the past two seasons. I would not count out Dan Hurley and his squad for a three-peat, but those expectations should not be high. There is a strong chance that all five starters and their sixth man are gone entering the 2023-25 campaign. Tristen Newton, Hassan Diarra, and Cam Spencer are seniors, although Diarra still has one year of eligibility if he chooses to return. Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, and Alex Karaban are projected to be drafted in June to the NBA. Young guys like Ahmad Nowell, Solo Ball, and Jaylin Stewart should emerge, and Dan Hurley will be aggressive in the transfer portal to keep this team competitive.

Duke Blue Devils +1000

Jon Scheyer’s program entered this past year as title contenders but never put it all together for extended stretches. Their inconsistencies will haunt them this offseason as they fell to North Carolina State in the Elite Eight. Duke will bring in two of the best NBA prospects in the country next season in No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg and projected top-five NBA draft pick Khaman Maluach. The Blue Devils should boast one of the best defenses in the country with these two recruits protecting the rim. Mark Mitchell entered the transfer portal, and Jeremy Roach has a decision to make to exercise his fifth option year or declare for the NBA. If they can return or bring in a few more guards, this team has a national championship upside.

Kansas Jayhawks +1400

As long as Bill Self is the leader and general of this program, they will be in the National Championship contender mix until he retires. This past season was probably his most disappointing after winning the Hunter Dickinson sweepstakes in the transfer portal. Dickinson has the option to come back for another year, and that alone would catapult them into the No. 1 conversation. Even if he decides not to come back, the Jayhawks reloaded with South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo and Florida transfer Riley Kugel. Add them to a roster with Dajuan Harris Jr. and K.J. Adams Jr., who are battle-tested veterans, and this squad can hang with anyone in the country.

Houston Cougars +1400

It will not be easy to replace the leadership and production of All-American Jamal Shead. A massive part of the reason that the Cougars have the second-best odds with Kansas is that Kelvin Sampson leads this program. He has led Houston to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in five straight tourneys. He received huge boosts to the roster with the announcements of J’Wan Roberts and L.J. Cryer deciding to return for the 2024-25 campaign. Sampson has always preached defense, and you know this program will bring it every night on that end of the floor. If they can add another scorer, this team can cut down the nets next year.

North Carolina Tar Heels +1400

These odds strictly hinge on the decisions of RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram. Davis was 11th in the nation averaging 21.2 PPG, and Ingram averaged 12.2 PPG and 8.8 RPG. Both are projected to be late Day 2 NBA Draft picks, and Davis could use his COVID year of eligibility. Without those two, head coach Hubert Davis will rely on returning guards Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble. He will also welcome five-star guards Ian Jackson, ranked No. 16 in ESPN 100, and Drake Powell, ranked No. 13 in ESPN 100. These odds are worthy for the Tar Heels if both David and Ingram return. However, if one or neither decide to go pro, they should fall down the odds boards.

Alabama Crimson Tide +1600

Head coach Nate Oats led Alabama to the Final Four in a region that featured North Carolina and Arizona. Starters Mark Sears, Nick Pringle, and Grant Nelson all have a COVID year of eligibility remaining, but none have announced their plans yet, so their rankings and odds could change in the upcoming weeks. Make no mistake about it, this roster still has plenty of talent regardless of those decisions. Jarin Stevenson and Sam Walters showed flashes of the talent they possess, and Rylan Griffen can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor. Coach Oats also has a top-five recruiting class coming to town.

Gonzaga Bulldogs +2500

Head coach Mark Few had Gonzaga playing like a top-10 or top-15 team for the final two months of the 2023-24 season. The Zags could potentially bring everyone back except Anton Watson. Few will also bring in Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi who averaged 17.2 PPG last season. Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard form one of the best inside-outside tandems in the country. Gonzaga will also have Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters, who missed his first season with the Zags due to injury. This team can be dangerous next year, as they are projected to have four starters who averaged double digits and Ben Gregg was not far behind with 9.0 PPG.

Iowa State Cyclones +2500

Head coach T.J. Otzelberger might have exceeded expectations is 2023-24 and has this program in the mix for next season as well. He led this team to a Big 12 Tournament Championship and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tourney. The backcourt tandem of Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey returns intact. The Cyclones dipped their toes in the transfer portal, bringing in former Northern Iowa guard Nate Heise and Charlotte’s Dishon Jackson. Right now, Iowa State’s projected starting lineup for 2023-25, all five starters averaged double-digits one season ago. If Curtis Jones returns for his final year, Iowa State will move up the odds boards to win the national title.

Miami Hurricanes +5000

The Hurricanes will be looking to shake off an extremely disappointing season, and they have every reason to be optimistic. They have been busy with the transfer portal, landing former Virgini Tech Lynn Kidd and East Carolina’s Brandon Johnson. They have players who can potentially return from last year’s roster in Nijel Pack, Matthew Cleveland, and Wooga Poplar. They also bring in their highest ranked recruit in over 40 years in Jalil Bethea, who is ranked No. 6 in ESPN 100. He is a dynamic guard that could transform this team and make everyone around him better. The Hurricanes are a fantastic dark horse bet. 

Get college basketball picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

Most Recent College Basketball Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers