The 2026-27 college basketball season tips off Sunday in Rome, Italy, with Notre Dame facing Villanova. Monday features marquee matchups including No. 14 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida in Tampa and No. 5 Arizona vs. No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas. The national championship game will be held in Detroit this spring.
National Title Odds
FanDuel Sportsbook lists Duke as the favorite at +500, followed by Florida at +600, Connecticut +1200, Illinois +1400, and Arizona +1600. Other notable contenders include Michigan State (+2000), Texas and Texas Tech (both +2200), Louisville and Arkansas (both +2500), and a long list of teams at +3000 or longer.
Title Long Shots
Three value picks in the +2200 to +3000 range: Texas Tech (+2200) if Donovan Atwell, Darrion Williams, and Jamichael Stillwell gain eligibility and JT Toppin returns; Arkansas (+2500) with John Calipari's deepest roster yet, led by freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr.; and Kansas (+3000) bolstered by transfers Tre White, Melvin Council Jr., Trey Kaufman-Renn, and projected No. 1 NBA draft pick Tyran Stokes.
National Player of the Year Odds
CBS Sports preseason Player of the Year Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State) leads at +850. Tyran Stokes (Kansas) is +1100, Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) +1200, and Thomas Haugh (Florida) +1400. Other contenders include Braylon Mullins (UConn) +1900, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (Duke) +1900, and Jordan Smith Jr. (Arkansas) +2200.
The article's pick for NPOTY is Thomas Haugh (+1400), citing his all-around game on the nation's best frontcourt. A value pick is Duke's 7-foot-2 freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (+1900), who is ineligible for the 2027 NBA Draft and could be a dominant two-way force.
Conference Predictions
ACC: Duke heavy favorite at -136; value pick Miami at +770 if Malik Reneau gains a fifth year.
Big East: UConn favorite at +138; value pick St. John's at +270.
Big 12: Arizona favorite at +215; value pick Texas Tech at +840 contingent on JT Toppin's health.
Big Ten: Illinois favorite at +144; value pick USC at +2600.
SEC: Florida favorite at +112; value pick Arkansas at +1250.
