March Madness Odds 2025: Duke, Auburn Separate From Pack
The non-conference portion of the 2024-25 men's college basketball season has been eventful, with endless marquee games that has put some of the top teams in the country to the test.
Thus far, Duke and Auburn have had the greatest success against their gauntlet schedules. In fact, Auburn's only loss all season has been to the Blue Devils on the road. Meanwhile, back-to-back champions UConn slipped from the top spot to begin the year at our March Madness betting sites after a 3-game losing streak at the Maui Invitation, but have recently found their footing once again.
The college basketball season is chalk full of chaos as conference play takes over the sport coming out of the holiday break.
March Madness odds 2025
March Madness odds from our best sports betting apps.
- Duke: Thanks to the play of Wooden Award odds favorite Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils are the new March Madness odds favorite with only two tight losses to excellent teams on its resume
- Auburn: If Flagg doesn't win the Wooden Award, it would likely go to the Tigers' Johni Broome, who has led his team to the No. 1 spot in analytic site KenPom.com's rankings
- Gonzaga: The Bulldogs have been inconsistent this season, but are expected to roll through conference play in the WCC, as they do every year
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide have played one of the toughest schedules in the entire country, which has seen them both win and drop some extremely challenging contests
- Kansas (+1500): Entering the season as the No. 1 team in the AP Poll, the Jayhawks have slightly disappointed, losing to unranked Creighton and Missouri
March Madness odds favorite 2025
Duke (+1200)
There was a ton of buzz around Duke entering the season after the addition of top recruit Cooper Flagg, who's a potential No. 1 NBA pick. While the Blue Devils did slip up against Kansas and Kentucky, Jon Scheyer's team looks like one of the nation's best.
Flagg leads the Wooden Award odds and is a double-digit scoring machine with the playmaking feel to lead an offense, elite defensive tools, and the rebounding ability to dominate the glass. He's living up to the hype as the next great NBA prospect.
But it's not just Flagg who makes Duke the March Madness odds favorites. Fellow freshman phenoms Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach flank him, as Knueppel has proven to be one of the more talented scorers in the ACC and Maluach is shooting an absurd 82.2% from 2-point range.
Plus, Scheyer can rely on veterans Tyrese Proctor and Maliq Brown to support his young lineup.
That said, Duke's offense has been prone to droughts early in the campaign, and because the ACC has been exceptionally weak in the early portion of the season, losses in conference play will all be considered subpar defeats on their resume.
While a $10 winning bet on Duke does still lead to a $90 profit, the Blue Devils haven't proven worthy of being the March Madness odds favorites yet. There are teams with more experienced lineups playing better right now and getting longer odds. Look to those schools for the best value.
Best odds: +900 via Caesars | Implied probability: 10%
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My March Madness team to watch
Auburn (+1000)
Simply put, there is absolutely no reason for Auburn to not be favored for the 2025 NCAA Tournament championship at any of our best sports betting apps. The Tigers currently have the best offense in KenPom.com's history, and have simply dominated their competition.
The Tigers' only blemish is a super tight defeat against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a place where nearly nobody goes into and wins. Even still, they scored 78 points on the road against the best defense in the country.
Johni Broome has a real shot at winning the Wooden Award this season, but he's far from the only piece on this roster. The Tigers have four players shooting over 40% from long range, and their upside lies with scintillating freshman phenom Tahaad Pettiford who runs the point guard position. There are no weak spots in Auburn's top seven, and the Tigers have a handful of talented deeper reserve options too.
The only downside to wagering on the Tigers now is the gauntlet their are set to face in SEC play beginning on Jan. 4. The conference has been far and away the sport's best across the first two months of the season, and despite Auburn's dominance, they are sure to slip up once or twice over the loaded slate. There's a chance their betting odds may tumble slightly as that occurs.
Still, with a $10 wager bringing home $100, it may still be worth a bet on the sport's current best team.
Best odds: +1000 via Caesars | Implied probability: 9.09%
2025 March Madness odds over time
Latest odds via FanDuel.
| Team | Opening odds (April 9, 2024) | Oct. 31, 2024 | Dec. 22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | +1100 | +900 | +900 |
| Kansas | +1100 | +850 | +2100 |
| UConn | +1200 | +850 | +1600 |
| Houston | +1400 | +1500 | +1200 |
| North Carolina | +1600 | +2000 | +6000 |
| Kentucky | +1800 | +3500 | +2700 |
| Alabama | +2000 | +1200 | +1900 |
| Arizona | +2000 | +2500 | +5000 |
| Baylor | +2000 | +2000 | +5000 |
| Gonzaga | +2000 | +1700 | +1400 |
| Michigan State | +2500 | +5000 | +6000 |
| Purdue | +2500 | +4000 | +8500 |
| Tennessee | +2500 | +5000 | +1100 |
| Auburn | +3000 | +3000 | +600 |
| Iowa State | +3000 | +2000 | +1600 |
| Texas | +3000 | +6000 | +7500 |
| Creighton | +3500 | +4000 | +12000 |
| Marquette | +3500 | +6000 | +3500 |
| Arkansas | +4000 | +2500 | +6500 |
March Madness odds history
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | UConn | +2000 |
| 2022-23 | UConn | +8000 |
| 2021-22 | Kansas | +1400 |
| 2020-21 | Baylor | +800 |
| 2019-20 | Cancelled | |
| 2018-19 | Virginia | +1350 |
| 2017-18 | Villanova | +2700 |
| 2016-17 | North Carolina | +1900 |
| 2015-16 | Villanova | +2500 |
| 2014-15 | Duke | +900 |
| 2013-14 | Connecticut | +6500 |
| 2012-13 | Louisville | +700 |
How to bet on March Madness
First, pick a reputable sportsbook that offers futures bets for the NCAA tournament. Check out the odds for various teams; for example, if Duke is at +500 and Gonzaga is at +800, Duke is more favored to win. Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet. If you bet $100 on Duke at +500 and they win, you’ll get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Keep an eye on team performances throughout the season to see how your bet is shaping up.
Now, why do odds move in future markets? It's all about performance and perception. If a team starts performing better or worse than expected, their odds will shift. Injuries to key players can significantly impact a team's chances and their odds. Changes in team dynamics, coaching, or even new player acquisitions can also affect odds. Public betting trends play a role too; if many people are betting on a particular team, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to manage their risk.
Expert analysis and predictions can also sway public opinion and betting patterns. Understanding these factors helps you make smarter bets and potentially catch favorable odds shifts.
How to read March Madness odds
Reading March Madness odds is straightforward. Odds are typically shown in formats like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you'd make on a $100 bet. For instance, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.
These odds also reflect the implied probability of a team winning the tournament. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower likelihood. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on various factors like team performance, injuries, coaching changes, and public betting patterns.
For example, if UConn has +500 odds and Alabama has +800 odds, UConn is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on UConn and they win, you’d get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and assess potential returns.
March Madness FAQs
Who is the March Madness 2025 favorite?
The Duke Blue Devils are the favorites to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament, with odds as short as +900. Those odds imply a win probability of 10%.
Who won March Madness last year?
UConn defeated the Purdue 75-60 to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament. That marked back-to-back victories for the Huskies.
When will March Madness be decided?
The 2025 national championship game will take place on Monday, April 7.
Where will March Madness be played?
The Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
March Madness betting odds pages
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
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Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
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