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Cooper Flagg leads the Wooden Award odds.
Pictured: Duke's Cooper Flagg brings the ball up court against Wake Forest. Photo by Jim Dedmon via Imagn Images.

Even with Auburn's Johni Broome playing at an elite level after returning from injury, the Wooden Award odds aren't close with Duke's Cooper Flagg being the runaway favorite.

It's been a two-man race all season, with Flagg and Broome going back and forth atop our March Madness betting sites. Broome's injury gave Flagg the chance to pull away, and now it doesn't seem like he'll be looking back.

Purdue's Braden Smith is the only other player in the country with Wooden Award odds shorter than 100/1.

Wooden Award odds 2025

Wooden Award odds from our best sports betting apps.

  • Cooper Flagg: The leader to go No. 1 by the NBA draft odds, Flagg opened as the co-favorite to win the Wooden Award and separated himself from Broome in recent weeks, which included multiple 28-plus-point performances
  • Johni Broome: Considered to be the best two-way player in the country, Broome has been strong in his return from injury with Auburn sitting as March Madness odds co-favorites with Duke
  • Braden Smith: The only other player with odds shorter than 100/1, Smith has the shortest odds of any true guard, but a guard hasn't won the award since Jalen Brunson took it home seven seasons ago
  • RJ Davis: A finalist for the award last season and a preseason favorite, Davis has slipped down the leaderboard due to North Carolina's struggles

Wooden Award odds favorites 2025

Cooper Flagg Wooden Award odds (-425)

Flagg leads the Wooden Award odds.
Duke's Cooper Flagg passes the ball against SMU. Photo by Kevin Jairaj via Imagn Images.

The top recruit in the country, Flagg entered the season viewed as the likely No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and he has not disappointed. He's got Duke positioned to compete for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, with the Blue Devils being the March Madness favorites.

Flagg's proven to be more than a versatile scorer, too, with his rebounding and passing making him one of the biggest all-around offensive threats in the country. If he wins the award, a $10 bet pays just a $2.35 profit at this point.

Best odds: -425 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 80.95%

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Johni Broome Wooden Award odds (+375)

Broome is second in the Wooden Award odds race.
Auburn forward Johni Broome blocks the shot attempt by Texas forward Ze'Rik Onyema. Photo by Scott Wachter via Imagn Images.

A shot-blocking machine that swallows up rebounds and can score with the best of them, Broome is a dominant two-way player. A third-team All-American last season, he's upped his game this year and looks like the clear best player in the SEC.

Thanks to Broome, Auburn has a shot at earning the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is why he's the only reasonable best outside of Flagg. With a $10 winning bet on Broome paying a $37.50 profit, it still offers decent value given he was the favorite over Flagg not long ago, especially with how impressive he was against Tennessee in his return from injury.

Best odds: +375 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 21.05%

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Wooden Award opening odds

Wooden Award opening odds via FanDuel.

  • RJ Davis, North Carolina: +700
  • Cooper Flagg, Duke: +700
  • Hunter Dickinson, Kansas: +750
  • Mark Sears, Alabama: +900
  • AJ Storr, Kansas: +2000
  • LJ Cryer, Houston: +2000
  • Johni Broome, Auburn: +3000
  • Johnell Davis, Arkansas: +3000
  • Khalif Battle, Gonzaga: +3500
  • VJ Edgecombe, Baylor: +3500
  • Caleb Love, Arizona: +4000
  • Ace Bailey, Rutgers: +4000
  • Tyrese Proctor, Duke: +4000
  • Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga: +4000
  • Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton: +4000
  • Dylan Harper, Rutgers: +4000
  • Liam McNeeley, UConn: +4000
  • Zeke Mayo, Kansas: +4000
  • Grant Nelson, Alabama: +4500
  • Graham Ike, Gonzaga: +4500
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State: +4500
  • Kam Jones, Marquette: +5000

Wooden Award odds history

YearNameOpening odds
2024Zach Edey, Purdue+175
2023Zach Edey, Purdue+3500
2022Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky+4000
2021Luka Garza, Iowa+250
2020Obi Toppin, DaytonN/A
2019Zion Williamson, DukeN/A
2018Jalen Brunson, VillanovaN/A
2017Frank Mason, KansasN/A
2016Buddy Hield, Oklahoma N/A
2015Frank Kaminsky, WisconsinN/A
2014Doug McDermott, CreightonN/A
2013Trey Burke, MichiganN/A

How to bet on the Wooden Award

Betting on Wooden Award odds is pretty straightforward. Start by choosing a reputable sportsbook that offers Wooden Award futures.

Look at the odds for different players; for example, if RJ Davis is at +400 and Mark Sears is at +800, Davis is more favored to win. Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet. If you put $100 on Davis at +400 and he wins, you’ll get $500 back ($400 profit + $100 stake).

Follow player performances throughout the season to track how your bet is doing.

But why do odds change in future markets? It’s all about performance and perception. If a player excels or underperforms, their odds will adjust. Injuries to the player or competitors can significantly impact their Wooden Award chances.

The success of the player’s team can also influence their odds. Public betting trends are important too; if many people are betting on a particular player, sportsbooks might change the odds to manage their risk.

Expert analysis and predictions can also sway betting patterns and odds. Understanding these factors can help you make more informed bets and possibly catch some favorable odds shifts.

How to read Wooden Award odds

When reading Wooden Award odds, the odds are typically displayed in formats like +300 or -150.

Positive odds (e.g., +300) indicate how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet. For instance, a $100 bet at +300 odds would win you $300, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $400. Negative odds (e.g., -150) show how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $150 bet at -150 odds would win you $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.

These odds also reflect the implied probability of a player winning the Wooden Award. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher chance of winning, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower chance. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on various factors, including player performance, injuries, team success, and betting patterns.

For example, if Hunter Dickinson has +300 odds and LJ Cryer has +800 odds, Dickinson is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on Dickinson and he wins, you’d get $400 back ($300 profit + $100 stake).

Wooden Award FAQs

Who is the Wooden Award favorite?

Duke's Cooper Flagg is the Wooden Award favorite, with his -425 odds representing an implied win probability of 80.95% via our odds converter

Has a freshman ever won the Wooden Award?

Only three freshmen have won the Wooden Award. Most recently, Duke's Zion Williamson won it as a freshman in 2019. The other two freshman winners were Kentucky's Anthony Davis (2012) and Texas' Kevin Durant (2007). 

Who won the Wooden Award last year?

Purdue big man Zach Edey won his second straight Wooden Award, joining Ralph Sampson as the only player to ever win two. Edey was the consensus betting favorite (-2500) to win the Wooden Award, as those odds implied a probability of 96.15% that Edey would win the award.

When will the Wooden Award be decided?

Last year's Wooden Award ceremony took place on April 10, when Edey was announced as the award winner after his record-setting career at Purdue.

What is the difference between the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award?

Although both are college basketball player of the year awards, the voting processes are different.

The Naismith Award is voted on by a board of NCAA basketball administrators, media members, and head coaches. The Wooden Award is voted on by more than 1,000 sports writers and former winners, and also takes into consideration a player's academic performance and character on top of their play. 

March Madness betting odds pages

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