Shortly after the Connecticut Huskies collected their second consecutive national championship, the top sports betting sites released early March Madness 2025 odds. I am dissecting the opening college basketball championship lines and making my best bets for next season!
2024 March Madness provided plenty of thrilling moments, with the pre-tournament favorite Huskies becoming the first team since the 2006-07 Florida Gators squads to win back-to-back titles.
However, similar to last season, the early odds for March Madness 2025 do not favor UConn. Can they prove the oddsmakers wrong once again for a three-peat in 2025? Below, I break it all down and make my initial men’s 2025 National Championship picks!
March Madness 2025 Betting Odds
The following NCAA Tournament 2025 odds are courtesy of Bovada:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | +1000 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +1300 |
| Connecticut Huskies | +1400 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | +1500 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +1500 |
| Houston Cougars | +1600 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +1800 |
| Baylor Bears | +2000 |
Behind an impressive incoming class, the Duke Blue Devils (+1000) are the favorites to win the 2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament. However, given this price, there isn’t a clear top contender.
Despite opening as the favorites, Duke has an implied probability of just 9.1% to win the college basketball championship in 2025. Duke’s rivals are hot on their tail, with March Madness 2025 betting odds of +1300 for North Carolina at Bovada.
The UConn Huskies (+1400) are coming off back-to-back championships, but have the third-shortest price to win in 2025. Do you believe that March Madness betting sites are disrespecting the Huskies again this season?
Top March Madness 2025 Favorites
Before delving into my NCAA Tournament 2025 predictions, check out an early college basketball betting preview for the top favorites next year:
Duke Blue Devils (+1000)
The Duke Blue Devils are typically highly regarded in the preseason. Often, they are incredibly overrated T college basketball betting sites, with no value on their odds to win the championship.
Is the 2024-25 season expected to go any differently for the Blue Devils as the favorites?
2023-24 Season Recap
Duke had an inconsistent regular season. They were up and down to finish second behind the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC.
Following a quick exit in the ACC Tournament against the NC State Wolfpack, Duke entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed of the South Region.
After upsetting the Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16, there were some believers in Duke. However, in a rematch against NC State, Duke came up well short in a 76-64 loss in the Elite Eight.
The Blue Devils needed Kyle Filipowski to take the game over, but he was underwhelming throughout the tournament. Duke went into the offseason with a record of 27-9 in 2023-24.
Key Players
Filipowski is entering the 2024 NBA Draft after returning to Duke last season. He was a projected lottery pick at the time, but didn’t do much to improve his stock. The Cooper Flagg era should prove to be much more productive.
Flagg is the undisputed No. 1 prospect coming out of high school. After receiving offers from dozens of schools, Flagg decided on the Blue Devils. The dynamic forward from Maine runs the floor effortlessly for a 6-foot-9 17-year-old, who is still growing.
He can also shoot the ball well and gets back to play defense. There is no surprise that Flagg is projected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Right now, there isn’t a close second.
According to 247 Sports, Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class with five 5-star players. They’re the only team in the nation welcoming this many 5-star prospects for 2024-25. If guard Jared McCain returns to Duke, the Blue Devils will be well-equipped to go to the Final Four.
Head Coach
Jon Scheyer returns to Durham for his third season as head coach of the Blue Devils. Mike Krzyzewski’s student is settling after replacing some huge shoes at Duke.
Following a national title with the Blue Devils as a player in 2010, Scheyer returned to Durham as an assistant coach in 2014. Scheyer was the associate head coach from 2018 to 2022 before officially being hired as head coach after Coach K’s retirement.
Scheyer went 27-9 in each of his first two seasons as the head coach of the Blue Devils. With the best recruiting class he’s had in his time at Duke, expectations are high for Scheyer in 2024-25.
North Carolina Tar Heels (+1300)
North Carolina was one of the least respected No. 1 seeds on March Madness brackets in 2024. While most people’s brackets went up in flames early, the Tar Heels were not a popular pick to go to the Final Four in the West Region.
It ended up being the correct move, as North Carolina failed to live up to their expectations as a top seed.
2023-24 Season Recap
As the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament, North Carolina crashed out against NC State in the conference championship game. They finished with the best record in the ACC (17-3) and an overall mark in the conference of 29-8.
However, they were not a perfect team, and their deficiencies showed up at the worst time against the Alabama Crimson Tide. In a high-scoring shootout, North Carolina couldn’t figure out how to stop Alabama’s shooters in an 89-87 loss.
Hubert Davis’ defense showed cracks in the regular season and was on full display in the Sweet 16. Despite talented big man Armando Bacot’s presence in the interior, North Carolina struggled to get key stops.
Key Players
Are RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram returning to Chapel Hill for the 2024-25 season? That’s a big question that must be answered before we can talk about key players for North Carolina.
However, if Davis or Ingram return, they will be the stars of the Tar Heels’ system next season. Their absence would leave an opportunity for Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble to shine.
Top high school prospects Drake Powell and Ian Jackson figure to make an immediate impact on this team. They would look good alongside Davis and Ingram. In any event, North Carolina’s 2025 March Madness odds look overpriced.
Head Coach
Tar Heels fans expect this basketball program to be a Final Four contender most years. As one of the most highly regarded Blue Blood schools, there aren’t many exceptions.
In short, Hubert Davis has failed the last two years after a trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament in his rookie season as head coach. The former UNC and NBA player will be on a short leash if they struggle over the next two years, but he seems like the right fit in Chapel Hill.
Overall, Davis owns a record of 78-31 in three seasons at North Carolina. After missing the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and losing in the Sweet 16 this past season, Davis must fix the defense and put North Carolina back in the Final Four.
Connecticut Huskies (+1400)
On Monday night, the UConn Huskies put the finishing touches on a national championship against the Purdue Boilermakers.
Purdue’s special run behind 7-foot-4 Zach Edey finally came to an end, but UConn was just two steps ahead of everything this season.
2023-24 Season Recap
After Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins helped lead the Huskies to a national title last season, there were concerns that the program would drop off in their absence. That didn’t happen.
In fact, UConn only got stronger with Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle as the centerpieces.
The Huskies capped off their 37-3 season with a 75-60 victory over the Boilermakers. Their last loss was on Feb. 20 against the Creighton Bluejays, 85-66. It was a rare bad spot for UConn, but they learned from their mistakes and responded with 13 straight wins.
UConn won by double digits in seven straight games. Additionally, they covered the spread and went 12-0 against the spread (ATS) over the last two NCAA Tournaments.
Key Players
UConn is losing significant talent from its championship team. Next year’s starting five will look much different. Castle, Clingan, Cam Spencer, and Tristen Newton are all moving on from college. Additionally, bench player Hassan Diarra will be leaving the program.
The Huskies are hoping that forward Alex Karaban opts to return to play another year of college ball. He is currently projected as a second-round selection in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. However, Karaban could return and be a leader of the Huskies.
Jaylin Stewart is one to watch, as he may have a breakout campaign as a sophomore in 2024-25. Also, newcomers Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham are expected to contribute immediately out of high school.
Keep your eye on the transfer portal, which could prove to be valuable for the Huskies in the offseason.
Head Coach
If I’m a Huskies fan, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the amount of talent leaving Storrs, CT. Not with head coach Dan Hurley in charge of the basketball program at UConn.
The 2024 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year will have this team prepared to play regardless of who is on the floor. With his recent success, Hurley will likely attract a big name or two in the transfer portal.
Over the last two seasons, Hurley has led UConn to a record of 68-11 and two national championships!
Best March Madness 2025 Sleepers
The 2025 NCAA Tournament betting odds have a few gems in the rough at Bovada. Check out the best value bets and dark horses to win March Madness 2025:
- Iowa State Cyclones (+2200) – Many of the main contributors from the Sweet 16 team are expected to be back for Iowa State. Talim Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, and Curtis Jones will be a thorn in the side of opponents in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (+2500) – Gonzaga reached the Sweet 16 in a year when they were supposed to be down. With nearly all of Mark Few’s key contributors returning, the Bulldogs are a Final Four threat.
- Tennessee Volunteers (+4000) – Despite Dalton Knecht turning pro, the Volunteers should be in good hands with Zakai Zeigler running the offense. If Jonas Aidoo takes another step forward in 2024-25, Tennessee will be in business for Rick Barnes’ squad.
March Madness 2025 Predictions and Betting Pick
Most years, I recommend avoiding Duke because they are constantly mispriced as a favorite. However, in 2024-25, this Duke team has a chance to be special. Flagg is as good as advertised and will instantly provide the Blue Devils with a spark offensively.
If he played in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Duke would most likely be a Final Four team. The Blue Devils needed a punch offensively against NC State, which was supposed to be delivered by Filipowski. While Filipowski is on the overrated side, Flagg is a unique talent.
In addition to Flagg, Duke is bringing in other 5-star players. Notably, center Khaman Maluach is expected to help catapult Scheyer’s group in the paint. He and Flagg will combine for big things at Duke this season!
At +1000, there is some value to be had on Duke. That is something I haven’t been able to say in a while, but the Blue Devils have a stronger chance to win the 2025 Men’s National Championship than the implied chance of 9.1% suggests.
Who’s Winning March Madness 2025?
Now, it’s your turn to make your March Madness 2025 picks. Whether you like Duke, one of my sleepers, or another team, bettors can make their bets now at Bovada.
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