Skip to main content

Duke March Madness Odds: Will Cooper Flagg Lead Blue Devils to NCAA Tournament Title?

Gabe Henderson

Last Updated: March 17, 2025 7:14 PM EDT • 3 min 11 sec read.

Duke March Madness Odds: Will Cooper Flagg Lead Blue Devils to NCAA Tournament Title?
Pictured: Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) cuts down part of the net after the win over the Louisville Cardinals. Photo by Jim Dedmon via Imagn Images.

Duke has been a force to be reckoned with all season long behind Wooden Award odds favorite Cooper Flagg. The Blue Devils are ACC regular season and tournament champions following a 31-3 campaign. They come into the 2025 NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, as evidenced by their No. 1 seed.

Our Duke March Madness odds analyze the Blue Devils' chances to win the NCAA Tournament. Jon Scheyer's group kicks off tournament play against the First Four winner of American and Mount St. Mary's in the East Regional on Friday in Raleigh, N.C.

Read on for Duke's March Madness analysis, history, odds, and predictions.

📊 Duke March Madness odds

Duke is the betting favorite to win the national championship at our best March Madness betting sites. It's +360 odds indicate an implied probability of 21.74%. The Blue Devils are also listed at minus-money to make the Final Four for the first time since 2022.

⛹️‍♂️ Duke key players

Duke has come under fire this season for being too dependent on Flagg, who leads the team in minutes, points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals per game. However, his absence during the ACC tournament helped display the Blue Devils' depth down the stretch.

Here are some of their key contributors:

  • Cooper Flagg: Flagg is arguably the best player in the country, as evidenced by his NBA draft odds. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. However, Flagg was injured in the ACC tournament, which will be something to watch.
  • Kon Knueppel: Knueppel stepped up big time in the ACC tournament during Flagg's absence. The guard averaged 21 points per game in those three games to help the Blue Devils lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Khaman Maluach: If it's efficiency you're after, look no further than Maluach. The freshman center averages 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in just 21 minutes.
A custom graphic of our March Tourney Survivor contest with $1,000 cash to the winner!
A custom graphic of our March Tourney Survivor contest with $1,000 cash to the winner!

📈 Duke NCAA Tournament history

Duke is one of the most successful NCAA Tournament teams of all time. The Blue Devils have five national championships, tied for fifth-most in the country behind UCLA, Kentucky, UConn, and North Carolina.

Duke made a deep run last season, eventually falling to NC State in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils' last national championship came in 2015, so this is the joint-longest title drought for the school since they captured their first under Mike Krzyzewski in 1991.

Scheyer is 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament since being named Duke's head coach in 2022.

🏀 Who does Duke play in the first round?

📺 How to watch Duke vs. American/Mount St. Mary's

📅 Date: Friday, March 21🕗 Time: 2:50 p.m. ET📍 Location: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.)📺 TV: CBS💻 Streaming: Sling TV

🔮 Duke vs. American/Mount St. Mary's prediction

No matter which First Four winner Duke draws in the first round, we feel comfortable taking the Blue Devils to advance. Not only are 1 seeds 154-2 all-time in the Round of 64, but Scheyer's men are playing the best basketball in the country at the moment.

Duke has enough talent to overwhelm any No. 16 seed. When the matchup is finalized, the Blue Devils will likely be favorites of 20-plus points at our best sportsbooks.

🏆 Can Duke win the national championship?

There's no need to sugarcoat the answer to this question: yes, Duke is a legitimate national title contender.

Many questions have been asked of the Blue Devils and their strength of schedule (56th by KenPom's metrics). However, wins over No. 1 overall seed Auburn as well as Arizona and Louisville throughout the campaign go a long way in proving Duke's legitimacy.

It helps that star power is key in March, and the Blue Devils have the country's best player on their roster.

Duke has the highest KenPom net rating in the country at +38.15. Scheyer's squad ranks No. 3 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 4 in adjusted defensive efficiency, meaning they more than meet the standards of a champion (top-21 in ORtg, top-37 in DRtg).

In conclusion, the Blue Devils tick all of the boxes required to compete for a title. They meet championship criteria, they're in form, they have difference makers across the floor, and they've got favorable early matchups - what's not to like about Duke?

💰 March Madness betting odds pages

March Madness oddsMarch Madness MVP odds
Women's March Madness oddsMarch Madness MVP predictions
Final Four oddsMarch Madness prop bets

👑 Best March Madness betting sites

Ready to place your March Madness bets? Check out the best March Madness betting promos from our best March Madness betting sites, as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review.

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission

Written By:
Gabe Henderson
Gabe Henderson is a sports betting writer from Houston, Texas. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. Gabe developed an interest in sports betting while in college due to its legalization in Louisiana. He turned his passion into a career shortly after, joining The Advocate/NOLA.com as a Sports Betting Content Coordinator, where he spent two years. Gabe wore many hats before graduating as he led FanSided's coverage of Chelsea FC as a Site Expert with "The Pride of London." He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the LSU Gumbo Yearbook for two years. Gabe became a part of the SportsbookReview.com team in late 2024. He brings with him an extensive knowledge of many sports, including — but not limited to — NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, soccer, and UFC.