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
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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