Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils are still the favorites to cut down the nets this spring (Getty)
With non-conference play for most college basketball teams coming to an end last week, there’s a better idea of where programs stand with regards to contending for a national title. This week multiple sports books updated their odds for the 2017 NCAA tournament, with the Final Four scheduled for April 1 and 3 in Glendale, Arizona. And on Vegas Insider’s books, Duke remains the favorite to cut down the nets.
Despite having multiple issues throughout the early portion of the season Duke has odds of 15-to-4 to win the national title, which would be the program’s sixth under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils began the season playing without three of their highly regarded freshmen (Marques Bolden, Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum) due to injury, Grayson Allen was suspended for one game for third third tripping incident in his college career, and they’ll be without head coach Mike Krzyzewski for the next four weeks after he underwent a surgical procedure on his back Friday.
Jeff Capel will take over in an interim role, but it’s clear that the sharps in Las Vegas expect Duke to have everything taken care of by the time the NCAA tournament begins in mid-March.
Following Duke are Kentucky and UCLA, with both teams having odds of 7-to-1. UCLA handed Kentucky it’s first loss of the season on December 3, beating the Wildcats 97-92 at Rupp Arena and ending Kentucky’s 42-game home win streak. Both teams are led by talented freshmen, with Kentucky starting four first-year players including guards De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk and the Bruins boasting newcomers Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf.
Following Kentucky and UCLA are Kansas and Villanova, the defending national champions, with odds of 10-to-1 to win the national title. Villanova, which saw its 20-game win streak come to an end Wednesday night at No. 18 Butler, is looking to become the first repeat national champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007. And North Carolina, which lost to Villanova at the buzzer in last year’s national title game, has odds of 11-to-1.
Below is the complete list of Vegas Insider’s national title odds, and OddsShark’s odds can be found here.
Odds to Win the 2017 NCAA Tournament
UCLA freshman point guard Lonzo Ball (Getty)
School Odds
Duke 15/4
Kentucky 7/1
UCLA 7/1
Kansas 10/1
Villanova 10/1
North Carolina 11/1
Baylor 20/1
Louisville 20/1
Oregon 20/1
Indiana 25/1
Virginia 25/1
Gonzaga 28/1
West Virginia 30/1
Creighton 35/1
Wisconsin 35/1
Arizona 45/1
Florida State 50/1
Xavier 50/1
Michigan State 60/1
Purdue 60/1
Virginia Tech 70/1
Saint Mary’s 75/1
Syracuse 75/1
Notre Dame 80/1
Wichita State 80/1
Butler 85/1
NC State 100/1
South Carolina 100/1
Florida 110/1
Cincinnati 125/1
Michigan 125/1
Oklahoma State 130/1
Texas A&M 150/1
USC 150/1
Clemson 200/1
Georgetown 200/1
Rhode Island 200/1
California 250/1
Houston 250/1
Iowa State 250/1
Washington 250/1
Stanford 275/1
Colorado 300/1
Dayton 300/1
Kansas State 300/1
Marquette 300/1
Maryland 300/1
Miami, Fl. 300/1
Northwestern 300/1
Ohio State 300/1
Arkansas 350/1
BYU 350/1
SMU 350/1
Alabama 400/1
Auburn 400/1
Seton Hall 400/1
Texas 400/1
Utah 400/1
Connecticut 450/1
Fresno State 500/1
Georgia 500/1
Middle Tennessee State 500/1
Missouri 500/1
Monmouth 500/1
New Mexico 500/1
VCU 500/1
Illinois 600/1
Pittsburgh 600/1
Providence 600/1
San Diego State 600/1
Texas Tech 600/1
Oklahoma 800/1
