College basketball title odds: Our top 10 contenders worth betting on

The college basketball season tips off Monday, and although we don't have the time or space to play Charles Barkley's iconic game, "Who he play for?" with the thousands of transfers, we can evaluate the oddsboard and share our top 10 preseason title contenders.

Below, we've presented the 21 teams with odds shorter than 40-1 to win the national title. Thirteen of the last 16 national champions had preseason odds of 40-1 or shorter, according to Sportsoddshistory.com. It's a safe bet the eventual champion is on the chart. We've also listed our top 10 title contenders worth betting on, which differ from the odds.

National title odds

🏀 Check out a complete list of the national title odds on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here

1. Houston (+850)

The faces change, but Houston's tough-nosed identity doesn't. Months after falling to Florida in the national championship game, Houston is perfectly equipped to make another run as a physical, gritty, defensive-minded group. The Cougars have carried a top-five defensive rating on KenPom each of the last three seasons. They'll continue to relentlessly pressure the ball while exploring creative coverages to thwart opposing offenses.

The loss of J'Wan Roberts will hurt offensively, but Emanuel Sharp is ready to emerge as the primary option. Houston typically relies on upperclassmen, but two freshmen - Chris Cenac Jr. and Isiah Harwell - will ultimately determine how high Houston's ceiling is. Both are one-and-done talents, but Kelvin Sampson, whose time is running out to win the big one, will take an uncharacteristic approach by trusting younger players to win games.

2. Purdue (+850)

Zach Edey's absence left a massive hole in Purdue's defense during the first season without the two-time Wooden Award winner. Opponents skated past the team's weak perimeter defense and felt little resistance at the rim, leaving the Boilermakers outside the top 50 in KenPom's defensive rating. They've since addressed their flaws, signing South Dakota State transfer center Oscar Cluff. While they'll still struggle to contain guards, the interior defense should improve.

Offensively, Purdue will be an absolute juggernaut behind national player of the year favorite Braden Smith and his supporting cast, which includes Fletcher Loyer, C.J. Cox, and Omer Mayer. That type of guard rotation can lead to a title.

3. UConn (+1400)

Following a down season by UConn's standards (meaning no national championship), Dan Hurley has retooled and is ready to return to the title conversation. Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, Jaylin Stewart, and Tarris Reed Jr. are back for another year, providing rare roster continuity. Dayton transfer Malachi Smith is a noteworthy addition, but Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. was the Huskies' true portal prize. Their title hopes largely depend on his production.

UConn's defense dipped outside the top 70 last season after its national title teams ranked in the top 10 in defensive rating. Hurley has to re-establish a strong presence on that end of the floor before thinking about adding a third ring.

4. St. John's (+2000)

St. John's will have similar strengths to last year's team: defense, interior size, and rebounding. But reliable scoring and shooting will determine if it can win a title after weaknesses in those areas ultimately ended the Red Storm's run in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Rick Pitino brought in reinforcements, filling nearly every key position with transfers, including Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, and Joson Sanon. This group may take time to come together, but it's poised to improve on last season's 68th-best offensive rating and 30% shooting from three.

5. Duke (+1100)

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Duke reloaded with an unbelievable freshman class and is once again a title favorite. Cameron Boozer, a projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, immediately makes the Blue Devils appointment television. While this squad won't have three players drafted in the top 10, Duke surrounded its young talent with experienced players. Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans will have greater roles in the offense than last season. Jon Scheyer also needs center Patrick Ngongba II to develop.

Experience is necessary to succeed in today's era, and the Blue Devils have the depth and returning talent to redeem last season's devastating Final Four collapse. Ultimately, though, Boozer's brilliance as a scorer and passer will define their success.

6. Florida (+1600)

Don't get used to teams going back-to-back just because UConn did it in 2023 and 2024. It hadn't happened in nearly two decades before that. Florida is only this high on the list out of respect for Todd Golden's coaching and the returning talent. The Gators retained their frontcourt depth with Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu. They'll play through their passing bigs, but the guard play is a concern. The team lost Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard, all of whom were monumental pieces to the championship squad.

Florida had a successful portal period, signing Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, but it's hard to imagine them matching last year's production.

7. Michigan (+2000)

Michigan won't showcase a pair of seven-footers running pick-and-rolls with Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin now gone. However, Dusty May's reimagined offense will feature another seven-footer: UCLA transfer Aday Mara, whom the Wolverines can run actions through as a passing big man. The team was resilient in close games last year, has incredible frontcourt size yet again, and, according to many around the sport, put together the best offseason in the country. The additions of North Carolina transfer point guard Elliot Cadeau and UAB transfer forward Yaxel Lendeborg should keep Michigan near the top of the polls all season.

8. BYU (+2200)

BYU fielded a top-10 offense last year, and it's projected to rise even higher with an influx of talent. AJ Dybantsa was a prized freshman recruit whom the Cougars landed as a one-season rental before an NBA franchise scoops him up in June. His ability to glide downhill as a big, athletic forward makes him unguardable. The team also landed Baylor transfer Robert Wright III.

Kevin Young's offense plays with tremendous pace and features an NBA-style approach. It was impossible to stop last season, and it will be even harder to contain this winter. However, the Cougars' kryptonite was their 82nd-ranked defense, which must improve for them to enter elite status.

9. Alabama (+2000)

Speaking of prolific, NBA-like offenses, Alabama has possessed a top-20 offense for four straight seasons under Nate Oats, including a No. 4 ranking last year. Defense, however, is always the primary concern in Tuscaloosa, but the head coach has committed to that end of the floor. The Crimson Tide owned a top-30 defense last season and have the personnel to at least replicate that mark. Oats is one of the most trustworthy coaches in the country, having made two straight Elite Eight appearances and a trip to the 2024 Final Four. Could this be the year he reaches the mountaintop?

10. Kentucky (+1500)

Arizona, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Louisville, Kansas, and others deserve a place on this list. But there are only 10 slots, and for various reasons - reliance on freshmen, unproven coaches, etc. - those teams were left out. Kentucky, however, earns the final spot. Oddsmakers are even higher on the Wildcats, gifting them the fifth-best odds to cut down the nets.

They have the most expensive roster in the country. That doesn't necessarily mean everything will click, but they certainly have the talent to win a title. The team has frontcourt and backcourt depth, plus a respectable blend of youngsters and experienced veterans. The Wildcats' defense, where they struggled in Mark Pope's first year, will decide their fate. Nonetheless, Kentucky should build on last season's Sweet 16 appearance.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more basketball coverage.

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