March Madness Odds 2025: Duke, Auburn Favorites Heading into Conference Tournaments
Conference tournaments are underway with Selection Sunday nearly here, and the same two programs remain atop the March Madness odds.
Duke and Auburn have been the two shortest March Madness odds favorites at our March Madness betting sites all season. That doesn't look like it will change ahead of the NCAA Tournament, with one of those schools set to earn the No. 1 overall seed.
Florida, Houston, Alabama, and Tennessee are the only other teams with March Madness odds shorter than 25/1.
📊 March Madness odds 2025
March Madness odds from our best sports betting apps.
- Auburn: The Tigers closed the regular season with back-to-back losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, but our SBR bracketology is still projecting Auburn to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament
- Duke: With Cooper Flagg leading the Wooden Award odds, the Blue Devils have been dominating a weak ACC this season and look poised to win their conference tournament
- Florida: Closing the season with wins over Texas A&M and Alabama after beating Auburn a few weeks ago has Bracket Matrix projecting the Gators to earn a No. 1 seed
- Houston: A defensive juggernaut, the Cougars' only loss since early December was to Texas Tech, and they earned their revenge while notching an eight-point win on the road in a rematch, which is why they sit No. 3 in the AP Top 25 Poll
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide had been struggling with four losses in six games before beating Auburn in overtime during their regular-season finale to close out arguably the hardest seven-game stretch in the country
🎲 March Madness odds betting insights
Below are betting insights from BetMGM for this year's NCAA Tournament.
Highest ticket percentage
- Duke: 13.9%
- Florida: 15.7%
- Houston: 8.2%
Highest handle percentage
- Duke: 23.8%
- Florida: 15.7%
- Houston: 8.2%
Biggest liabilities
- Duke
- Florida
- Michigan State
Notable bet
- $100,000 on Florida to win March Madness (+900)
🏆 March Madness odds favorites 2025
😈 Duke March Madness odds (+350)
Flagg is positioned to potentially become just the fourth true freshman to win the Wooden Award, and he's expected to be the No. 1 pick by the NBA draft odds. That's why Duke was beginning to look like the team to beat before its loss to Clemson.
But the Blue Devils have bounced back in a massive way while recording eight straight 13-plus-point wins to close out the regular season. The biggest flex was when Jon Scheyer's team tallied a 43-point triumph over Illinois at Madison Square Garden, proving that Duke can win a title even with a freshman-heavy lineup.
What makes Scheyer's squad so dangerous is that it's not just Flagg carrying the load, as Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor are two of the top ACC players. In a down year for the conference, Duke is poised to finish strong and make a March run that could lead to a $10 bet paying a $35 profit at BetMGM if the Blue Devils win the NCAA Tournament.
Best odds: +350 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 22.22%
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🐯 Auburn March Madness odds (+380)
The top-ranked offensive team according to KenPom, Auburn survived while Broome was on the mend, and now he's back in full force. Arguably the best two-way player in the country, Broome had Auburn looking unbeatable against Alabama and Kentucky before falling to Texas A&M and the Crimson Tide in a rematch over the final two regular-season games.
While those were two tough losses to stomach, the Tigers were bound to lose a handful of games in an SEC conference many believe to be the toughest ever. With Broome playing dominant basketball, and Auburn featuring five other players scoring in double digits, this is the most battle-tested team in the country.
If the talent around Broome - like Tahaad Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara - can continue to complement him and carry Bruce Pearl's team to a title, a $10 winning bet on the Tigers pays a $38 profit at FanDuel.
Best odds: +380 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 20.83%
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🐊 Florida March Madness odds (+750)
It's safe to say that Duke, Auburn, and Houston have been the best teams this campaign while leading a conference for a reason. But after those three it's hard to argue against Florida and Alabama at least being the next two teams nobody wants to play in March because of the offensive prowess being trotted out.
The Gators have really been turning it on over the last month outside of a loss to Georgia, a stretch that includes wins over Auburn, Texas A&M, and Alabama. The foursome of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, Alex Condon, and Will Richard will be one of the most lethal in the NCAA Tournament. If they can lead Todd Golden's team on a run to a championship, a $10 bet pays a $75 profit.
Best odds: +750 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 11.76%
👀 My March Madness contender to watch
🛑 Houston March Madness odds (+850)
Houston has been locked in over the last two months after a bit of a slow start. Kelvin Sampson's squad showed it was ready to compete for a title when it went into United Supermarkets Arena and managed a 69-61 win during a rematch against Texas Tech after the Red Raiders beat them on Feb. 1 to end Houston's 13-game winning streak. That came after beating Iowa State, too.
The Cougars are top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and they boast an eight-deep lineup made up of fierce defenders and versatile scorers. With LJ Cryer and J'Wan Roberts leading the charge, the Cougars hold a shot to win the NCAA Tournament, which would turn a $10 bet into an $85 profit. Houston is clearly the third-best team in the country right now.
Best odds: +850 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 10.53%
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📈 March Madness opening odds
March Madness opening odds via FanDuel.
- Duke: +1100
- Kansas: +1100
- UConn: +1200
- Houston: +1400
- North Carolina: +1600
- Kentucky: +1800
- Alabama: +2000
- Arizona: +2000
- Baylor: +2000
- Gonzaga: +2000
- Michigan State: +2500
- Purdue: +2500
- Tennessee: +2500
- Auburn: +3000
- Iowa State: +3000
- Texas: +3000
- Creighton: +3500
- Marquette: +3500
- Arkansas: +4000
🔢 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 +350 odds. Those odds imply a win probability of 22.22%.
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 does March Madness start?
Selection Sunday is set for Sunday, March 16 with the first four being played on March 18 and 19. The first round of the NCAA Tournament will then be played March 20 and 21, followed by the second round on March 22 and 23.
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are the following week between March 27 and 30. The Final Four is on April 5 with the championship on April 7.
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
🏀 Best college basketball betting sites
Looking to bet on college basketball tonight? Here are our best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best March Madness betting promos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
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