The 2026-27 men’s college basketball season is getting underway, and sportsbooks have already identified two programs as the leading candidates to capture the national championship.
Duke and Florida begin the new campaign sharing the top spot in BetMGM’s championship futures market, with both teams listed at +600. The Blue Devils and Gators also occupy the top two positions in the Associated Press preseason rankings, giving their early championship expectations additional credibility.
While the two programs share identical odds, Duke has established a commanding advantage in betting activity.
The Blue Devils have attracted 12.1% of all championship wagers placed at BetMGM, accounting for an impressive 20.9% of the total money wagered. That financial support is more than double the amount backing any other individual team in the market.
Duke’s popularity reflects considerable optimism surrounding its roster. The arrival of highly regarded recruit Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje adds another promising talent to a lineup featuring Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster. With an appealing combination of returning experience and incoming talent, the Blue Devils have positioned themselves among the teams to watch.
Florida, meanwhile, enters the season holding the nation’s No. 1 ranking and sharing the championship favorite designation. Although the Gators trail Duke in betting activity, ranking third in both total wagers and money wagered at BetMGM, they remain firmly established among the leading contenders.
Beyond the two favorites, several established programs are attracting attention.
UConn enters with +1100 championship odds, followed closely by Illinois at +1200. Michigan State and Texas are both listed at +1800, giving bettors additional options among the teams considered capable of challenging for the title.
Arizona follows at +2000, while Houston and Arkansas share +2500 odds. Gonzaga sits at +3500, North Carolina at +5000, Purdue at +6000 and Wisconsin at +15000.
One of the more intriguing developments involves defending national champion Michigan.
The Wolverines captured the 2026 title with a 69-63 victory over UConn, completing a dominant NCAA tournament run that included five double-digit victories in six games.
Repeating that achievement could prove considerably more difficult.
Michigan enters the new season at +3000 after undergoing significant changes, including the departure of head coach Dusty May to the NBA. The program also lost key contributors Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, leaving the Wolverines with important personnel questions as they begin their championship defense.
Another program generating attention in the futures market is LSU.
Despite entering the season unranked, the Tigers have experienced one of the most dramatic championship odds adjustments. Initially listed at +15000, LSU has moved to +4000 following substantial betting interest.
That shift has made the Tigers BetMGM’s largest national championship liability, meaning an LSU title would represent the sportsbook’s biggest financial exposure among the teams in the market.
The movement illustrates how betting expectations can evolve even before the season develops a clear competitive picture.
For now, Duke and Florida occupy the strongest positions in the championship market, but the field includes several experienced programs with aspirations of making a deep postseason run.
As conference schedules unfold and teams begin facing stronger competition, preseason rankings and championship odds will be tested. Duke may have the early financial backing, and Florida may hold the top national ranking, but the race to claim college basketball’s biggest prize is only beginning.
