In about 10 weeks, the best NCAA team will be crowned the men’s basketball national champion in San Antonio. The UConn Huskies dominated the field en route to their second consecutive national title, but they are now considered a long shot in the title race as the conference play nears its midway point.
UConn and Kansas started their 2024-2025 campaign as tournament favorites, followed by Alabama, Houston, and Duke to round up the top five. The Huskies currently has the 17th shortest of winning the tournament, while Kansas is ninth. However, Duke and Auburn have risen to become favorites to win the national championship.
Here is a preview of early favorites, long shots, and best-value picks to win the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament.
Early Favorites
Duke and Auburn (5-1 odds)
Duke and Auburn have taken over as co-favorites after an intense race against each other. The Blue Devils have the longest winning streak in the NCAA and have a solid chance to claim the national title led by freshman Cooper Flagg. Auburn, on the other hand, has star power with the national player of the year competitor Johni Broome.
Best Value Picks
Alabama Crimson Tide (14-1 odds)
At 14-1 odds, the Crimson Tide has the fifth shortest odds of cutting down the nets and lifting the 2025 NCAA trophy. Nate Oats squad has the potential to claim the national title as they have depth and Mark Sears remains among the best collegiate players in the country. Alabama also has Labaron Philon at the backcourt and he has been among the best rookies this season.
USF star Chris Youngblood returned to the lineup in 2025 and averaged 21.5 minutes off the bench. Additionally, Nate Oats has developed a lethal offense, although his side might need a reliable pass-catching tight end.
Tennessee Volunteers (17-1)
After starting their campaign 14-0 at the best basketball betting sites on CheekyPunter, the Tennessee Volunteers have shown vulnerability by losing to Vanderbilt and Florida in the SEC. Before losing these games, Tennessee was the last undefeated NCAA basketball team remaining.
Tennessee reached the elite eight for the second time in history last spring and reloaded the squad by signing star guard Chaz Lanier in the transfer period. The Volunteers are third in adjusted efficiency and hope to leverage their defense to land the national title.
Michigan Wolverines (35-1 odds)
Michigan has one of the most unique starting lineups in the NCAA. First-year manager Dusty May’s starting lineup features two 7-footers, Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin, creating matchup issues on both sides of the floor. The Wolverines are third in 2-point FG% and their defense ranks among the top 30, with players like former Yale star giving them a solid chance of challenging for the title. His blend of defense, scoring prowess, and playmaking skills make the Wolverines a must-watch this season.
Long shots worth considering
UConn Huskies (45-1)
The last two times that the Huskies participated in the NCAA tournament, they won all 12 games by double digits. That included a 15-point victory against Purdue last year and a 17-point win against San Diego in 2023.
While this UConn team doesn’t seem better than these two teams, they still have San Huley, who knows what it takes to win in March. That makes the Huskies a good longshot worth considering as they strive to win the third consecutive national title.
