The annual winner‑take‑all, $2 million open invitational is back, and we’ve got the latest 2026 The Basketball Tournament odds. The stakes are high for the 13th edition, with a 14‑team bracket stacked with former NCAA standouts set to tip off.
Now it’s time to break down the championship odds, size up the contenders, and share my The Basketball Tournament predictions.
The Basketball Tournament Winner 2026 Odds
Here are the TBT winner odds, courtesy of BetUS:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| The Ville | +400 |
| Davis Steel | +450 |
| Boeheim’s Army | +600 |
| AfterShocks | +650 |
| La Familia | +650 |
| Heartfire Elite | +850 |
| JHX Hoops | +1000 |
| Red Rose War Ready | +1500 |
| Purple Reign | +1600 |
| The Mecca | +1600 |
There’s no runaway favorite in The Basketball Tournament this year. Top basketball betting sites give The Ville (+400) a slight edge over Davis Steel (+450), but it’s a slim margin. At +400, The Ville carries a 20% implied probability to win it all, which is far from dominant.
Davis Steel follows closely with an 18.2% implied chance at the $2 million prize. Just behind them is a tight pack of second-tier contenders: Boeheim’s Army (+600), AfterShocks (+650), and La Familia (+650).
Those prices translate to a 14.3% chance for Boeheim’s Army and 13.3% odds for both AfterShocks and La Familia. Put simply, this is a wide-open tournament with no clear team separating from the field.
For updated 2026 TBT odds at BetUS, navigate to Sportsbook > Basketball > The Basketball Tournament.
The Basketball Tournament Betting Favorites
Before diving into my TBT picks to win the tournament, let’s break down the most likely winners and their outlook for the event scheduled from July 18 to August 2:
The Ville (+400)
The Ville, the Louisville alumni team, is back in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) with championship aspirations. Led by general manager and star guard Russ Smith, the 2026 roster is packed with familiar Cardinal standouts, including Trey Lewis, David Johnson, and Chris Jones.
Returning to anchor the frontcourt is former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, alongside Ray Spalding, Jae’Lyn Withers, Malik Williams, Jaylen Johnson, Angel Nunez, and Alex Matthews.
🚨TREZZ IS BACK WITH THE VILLE🚨
Montrezl Harrell returns to play with the @LouisvilleMBB Alumni once again in TBT!
He’ll get a rematch against the Kentucky Alumni in a Best of 3 Series that starts Saturday!
🎟️Game 2 is IN ONE WEEK AT FREEDOM HALL: https://t.co/UmocrdRmXy pic.twitter.com/3kcQ5OMS9U
— TBT (@thetournament) July 13, 2026
Looking back at their performance last year, The Ville entered the tournament with high hopes, but experienced a shocking second-round exit. They opened with a commanding 91-71 victory over Boston vs Cancer, but fell victim to a disappointing 73-63 upset loss against longtime TBT powerhouse Sideline Cancer.
Statistically, the team averaged 77.0 points per game, but struggled from deep, shooting just 25.9% from three-point range and 40.0% from the field overall. David Johnson was a major bright spot during that brief run, averaging 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Hungry for redemption, The Ville has retooled their roster to improve their shooting and interior defense. With the physical presence of Harrell and the professional experience of Spalding bolstering their frontcourt, they look to dominate down low and control the glass.
Although they aren’t the clear favorite, they certainly have strong merit as one of the best The Basketball Tournament betting picks.
Davis Steel (+450)
Davis Steel, the newly rebranded roster historically known as Eberlein Drive, the longest-standing franchise in TBT history, enters the 2026 tournament with a fresh identity and championship pedigree.
Backed by Davis Sports Corp after 12 years of legendary runs, the team is hungry to capture their first elusive title following a stellar runner-up finish last summer. Co-GMs Matt Mitchell and Jacob Hirschmann have assembled a deep, competitive squad of professional talent.
The backcourt features dynamic guards Gabe York, Hassani Gravett, Terrell Brown, and Pedro Bradshaw. Down low, Davis Steel boasts a formidable and versatile frontcourt led by Terry Taylor, Cameron McGriff, Nate Watson, Thomas Rutherford, and rookie forward DJ Rodman.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
After a dominant performance in his @thetournament debut last year, @TheNate156 is BACK commanding the paint this Summer for Davis Steel!
Let’s win this $2M 💰 pic.twitter.com/jVQNRfk7Sd
— Davis Steel (@DavisSteelTBT) June 15, 2026
During their thrilling 2025 campaign as Eberlein Drive, the squad marched all the way to the TBT Championship Game before falling just short of the one-million-dollar prize in an 82-67 loss to the AfterShocks. On their way to the finals, they racked up impressive victories over Richards Elite, Tampa Florida Pickup, Sideline Cancer, Best Virginia, and a gritty 71-70 win against La Familia.
The team was incredibly efficient, averaging 79.7 points and 40.5 rebounds per game throughout the tournament. Terry Taylor was a dominant force, highlighted by a massive 20-point performance to seal the victory over La Familia.
Now armed with elite G-League talent and formidable corporate backing, Davis Steel is primed to finally claim the crown.
Boeheim’s Army (+600)
The renowned Syracuse alumni squad heads into TBT with formidable +600 odds and a loaded roster of program legends.
Headlining the squad are sharp-shooting brothers Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim, alongside former NBA veteran Wesley Johnson, Eric Devendorf, Cole Swider, and Elijah Hughes.
To bolster their depth, the team has added elite non-alumni talent like Michigan State standout Tyson Walker, defensive anchor Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and highly productive forward JaCorey Williams, creating one of the most balanced rosters in the tournament field.
Looking back at 2025, Boeheim’s Army suffered a disappointing and premature exit after starting strong. They opened the tournament with a dominant 97-71 victory over the Herkimer Originals, but were stunned in the second round, falling 81-78 to We Are D3.
JIMMY BOEHEIM TO BUDDY BOEHEIM FOR 3 WITH JIM BOEHEIM LOOKING ON FROM THE SIDELINES!
A great family moment for @BoeheimsArmy as the Boeheim brothers combine for the bucket!
Tune in on FS2 pic.twitter.com/BqzXmIYXmr
— TBT (@thetournament) July 22, 2025
Despite the early exit, Buddy Boeheim was spectacular, averaging 20.5 points per game while shooting a sizzling 12-of-19 from beyond the arc. Elijah Hughes also provided a strong offensive spark, contributing just under 15 points per game during their brief summer run.
Determined to recapture the championship gold they last won in 2021, the front office made a brilliant offseason move by signing guard Ty Nichols. Ironically, Nichols torched Boeheim’s Army for 36 points in last year’s upset, and his playmaking should drastically improve their crunch-time execution.
2026 The Basketball Tournament Longshot Bets
There are two TBT betting picks offering up huge value in the futures markets. It’s going to be a competitive tournament, so highly consider adding a couple sleepers to your card:
TBT 2026 Predictions and Betting Pick
The primary key to success on the floor in The Basketball Tournament is depth. With that in mind, I am leaning heavily to Davis Steel for the win in 2026. While they don’t have an instantly recognizable name to a casual fan like The Ville does with Harrell, they’re deep in the front and backcourt.
With size up front and plenty of playmakers in the backcourt, this appears to be the most well-balanced roster in the tournament. York was fantastic down the stretch last year, and I see him delivering again this season. He’s a quick-strike scorer and can also facilitate the ball well.
In the final four last year, Davis Steel was the leading favorite to win the gold. The offense and defense were the most consistent performers in the tournament, and should only see improvement with their experience of that deep run in 2025.
I would put them ahead of The Ville as the favorites to win, so +450 spells out strong value in the TBT betting odds market.
Where to Bet on TBT 2026?
2026 TBT odds can be located at select online sportsbooks. For our top recommendation, BetUS provides a superb betting experience for newcomers and veterans alike.
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