2025-26 Men's March Madness odds: Transfers help Purdue take over as favorite

After an unceremonious end to the 2024-25 season, Duke has also since lost its spot atop the oddsboard for the 2025-26 Men’s NCAA Tournament winner. 

A Big Ten team has emerged as the new favorite.

After Florida was crowned champion in early April, it’s time to look ahead. Could the Gators repeat? Will Purdue finally find their way to the top? Or can the Blue Devils, with the top-ranked incoming recruiting class, emerge as champs?

Here’s a look at the odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 29.

2025-26 Men's NCAA Tournament winner 

Purdue: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Houston: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Duke: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
UConn: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
BYU: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
St. Johns: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Kentucky: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Kansas: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)
Michigan: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Florida: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Arkansas: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Louisville: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Arizona: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Texas Tech: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Tennessee: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Auburn: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Alabama: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Michigan State: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)

Going back to Duke, do we need to recap how their season ended? In short, it was in a collapsing fashion. 

The Blue Devils expected to lose shoo-in No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg to the NBA Draft, but 7-foot-2 freshman Khaman Maluach's decision to declare added another setback. There is hope though, as Duke brings in the Boozer twins — Cameron and Cayden — plus top-20 recruits Shelton Henderson and Nikolas Khamenia. 

Duke opened as the early favorite at +1000, but has since slid slightly to +1100.

Meanwhile, Purdue now tops the oddsboard at +1000. 

The Boilermakers entered this most recent Tournament as a 4-seed, and have since added even more firepower to their roster. Star guard Braden Smith will return, and the team will add international transfer Omer Mayer out of Israel, North Florida transfer Liam Murphy and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff to the roster. 

Second on the list is Houston, which figures to return at least three starters from this year’s squad that made it to the national title game.

A little way down the list, at 10th overall, sits the Gators, who are expected to lose star guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the NBA. 

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!