While a ton of people across the planet are focusing on the college football season, and understandably so, don't forget that NCAA basketball is here for everyone to enjoy. We've already seen some great games being posted by some of the best student-athletes in the country. With that said, one team is standing tall above the rest. That's right, UConn is the early favorite to win the 2025 NCAAB National Championship.
Will Dan Hurley and Co. get the job done? Ever since he took over as head coach of the Huskies, Connecticut has been sensational. They have been on a roll in recent years, winning back-to-back titles. UConn became the first program since Florida to repeat as the champs. Now, Hurley has a three-peat in mind, but he's still pushing his players to be at their best.
| NCAA title odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn to win | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Duke to win | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Gonzaga to win | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Auburn to win | +1300 | +1300 | +1300 |
"Yeah, so, um, yeah just comically bad," Hurley said after a recent 35-point win. "Second-half rebounding, so far below our standard. Ball security throughout the game, it's been a long time since we've been that bad. At times we played hard, but once we got it to 37 with 12 minutes to go, it turned into a debacle out there."
According to the best sports betting sites, UConn holds +1000 NCAA basketball betting odds to win the natty this season. It's not going to be easy for them, but something tells us they're going to quiet down the rest of the field. It will be interesting to see how things play out, but we're going to have to go with the Huskies as our pick this season. They're simply that good.
No. 2 UConn beat East Texas A&M by 35 points Tuesday night.
Dan Hurley's first words at the podium postgame:
"Yeah so, um, yeah just comically bad."
Added later: "I'm happy the game's over." pic.twitter.com/MxUmhEZPj6
— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) November 20, 2024
Wisconsin is our pick to win the Big Ten title this season
Looking at things individually, Wisconsin is our pick to win the Big Ten title this season. The Badgers have surprised a lot of people this year already, as they're off to a 4-0 start. In the new AP Top 25 rankings, Wisconsin has checked in at No. 19 on the list, which is great news for head coach Greg Gard and all of the players he has on his roster.
Last Friday night, Wisconsin stunned then No. 9 Arizona with a 103-88 win. Transfer wing John Tonje led the way with his 41 points, which nearly broke the school's single-game record. Thanks to Tonje's brilliant performance, Wisconsin not only took down Arizona, but he was also named the AP's National Player of the week. He's been terrific this year for Gard and his staff.
Wisconsin's John Tonje is the AP national player of the week in men’s college hoops. He dropped 41 points vs. No. 17 Arizona, just 2 shy of the school record, and is averaging 23.5 points this season. https://t.co/DWcm3Wt2SP pic.twitter.com/qj1NdHzMgB
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 19, 2024
"Just seeing glimpses of what he was doing there told me enough in the five minutes of film I watched, because obviously in the portal, it's speed dating and we're making fast decisions," Gard said on recruiting Tonje last offseason. "He showed me some things there that I felt there was a lot there to work with, and he was willing to learn and listen."
According to the best basketball betting sites, Wisconsin holds +1100 odds to win the Big Ten Title this year. Keep in mind that they made it to the title game last year, but unfortunately lost. There are several teams ahead of them in terms of odds, including Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State, but we think it will be a season to remember for the team from Madison.
There are several other contenders to watch for the National Championship
Looking at things overall in terms of the natty, there are several other contenders to watch for the National Championship. Yes, UConn is the favorite but a lot of people out there think that Duke is going to have what it takes to push them for the title. Duke is loaded with talent. The list includes true freshman Cooper Flagg, who a lot of people think is a lock to be a future top pick in the NBA Draft.
In addition to Duke, there's understandably a lot of early buzz for Gonzaga, Auburn, Houston, Kansas and others. Don't forget about North Carolina either, as the Tar Heels are a real threat whenever they take the hardwood. Will they be able to keep things close with Duke in the ACC? That's what countless people in Chapel Hill are hoping for.
With Gonzaga, the Spokane team hasn't been able to get over the hump. They're a talented team, with Mark Few being one of the best coaches in the country. He has been quite close to winning the title multiple times, but has fallen short. We're sticking with UConn as our pick to win it all, but Gonzaga will surely be a team to keep a close eye on. They have what it takes to go on a deep run.
