The 2026-27 college basketball season tips off Sunday in Rome, Italy, with Notre Dame facing Villanova, followed by marquee matchups including No. 14 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida in Tampa and No. 5 Arizona vs. No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas.
National Title Odds
Duke opens as the favorite to win the 2027 national championship at +500 odds, narrowly ahead of defending champion Florida at +600, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Connecticut (+1200), Illinois (+1400), and Arizona (+1600) round out the top five. Michigan State, Texas, Texas Tech, Louisville, and Arkansas follow in the +2000 to +2500 range.
Player of the Year Race
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is the preseason Player of the Year favorite at +850, followed by Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes (+1100), Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner (+1200), and Florida's Thomas Haugh (+1400). Duke's 7-foot-2 freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is listed at +1900 and considered a value pick due to his two-way impact.
Conference Predictions
In the ACC, Duke is a heavy favorite at -136 to win the regular-season title, with Miami (+770) as a value pick. UConn leads the Big East at +138, while St. John's (+270) is seen as the main challenger. Arizona (+215) tops the Big 12, with Texas Tech (+840) as a long shot contingent on health. Illinois (+144) is the pick in the Big Ten, with USC (+2600) as a dark horse. Florida (+112) is the clear favorite in the SEC, with Arkansas (+1250) offering value.
Long-Shot Title Contenders
Texas Tech (+2200), Arkansas (+2500), and Kansas (+3000) are highlighted as teams outside the top tier that could make a run to the Final Four in Detroit, provided key eligibility and injury questions are resolved.
