March Madness Odds 2025: Auburn Remains Favorite Over Duke Following Win Over Alabama
It's becoming increasingly clear that Auburn and Duke are on another level this season following both programs hammering conference opponents while bouncing back from losses to Florida and Clemson, respectively.
The Tigers' impressive win over Alabama now slots them as the clear March Madness odds favorite at our March Madness betting sites, with the Blue Devils not far behind. It helps that the two best players in the country also play for those programs, with Auburn leaning on big man Johni Broome and Duke deploying freshman phenom Cooper Flagg.
Only three other programs - Houston, Alabama, and Iowa State - are getting odds shorter than 20/1 to win the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness odds 2025
March Madness odds from our best sports betting apps.
- Auburn: Despite the loss to Florida, the Tigers remained the March Madness odds favorite and Bracket Matrix's projected No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they showed why during their dominant win over Alabama
- Duke: Following their shocking loss to Clemson, the Blue Devils have been blowing out ACC opponents thanks to Flagg, who remains minus money by the Wooden Award odds
- Houston: A defensive juggernaut, Kelvin Sampson again has positioned his team to be in the race for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Houston beat Baylor and Arizona to rebound from its loss to Texas Tech
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide boast one of the scariest offenses in the country, and they remain No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll even after their loss to Auburn
- Florida: The Gators continue to get 20/1 odds even though they're now ranked No. 2 after handing Auburn a nine-point defeat
March Madness odds favorites 2025
Auburn March Madness odds (+375)
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, he carried the Tigers to a win over a strong Tennessee team in his return to the court and helped them bounce back from a loss to Florida by upsetting Alabama at home.
Assuming Broome keeps up his play down the stretch, the Tigers are set to give Flagg and Duke its most significant challenge. Beyond Broome, Auburn features five other players scoring in double digits, including budding star Tahaad Pettiford and veteran Chad Baker-Mazara.
If those two continue to complement Broome and carry Bruce Pearl's team to a title, a $10 winning bet on the Tigers pays a $37.50 profit.
Best odds: +375 via Caesars | Implied probability: 21.05%
Caesars is a 21+ product
Duke March Madness odds (+450)
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 that shouldn't scare Blue Devils backers off, as Auburn and Duke are still firmly the best teams in the country.
What makes Jon 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 $45 profit if they win the title.
Best odds: +450 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 18.18%
Houston March Madness odds (+900)
After a bit of a slow start to the season, Houston has locked in over the last two months. Sampson's squad showed it's ready to compete for a title when it went into Allen Fieldhouse and managed a 92-86 double-OT win against Kansas despite the Jayhawks having a 99% win probability with 21 seconds left in regulation.
The Cougars are top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and have an eight-deep made up of fierce defenders and versatile scorers. With LJ Cryer and J'Wan Roberts leading the charge, the Cougars have a shot to win the NCAA Tournament, which would turn a $10 bet into a $90 profit.
Best odds: +900 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 10%
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My March Madness contender to watch
Alabama March Madness odds (+1100)
Feeling confident in any team outside of Duke and Auburn is tough during a season with clearly two programs head and shoulders above the rest. However, Alabama had been the third-best team in the country over the last few weeks, with impressive road wins over Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas before falling to Auburn.
The Crimson Tide lead the country in points per game (90.3) and sit behind just Auburn and Duke in adjusted offensive efficiency thanks to a lineup that includes stars Mark Sears and Grant Nelson. If Nate Oats' offense can continue to cover for his defense and bounce back from the loss to the Tigers, Alabama will get a shot in March.
Best odds: +1100 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 8.33%
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 Auburn Tigers are the favorites to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament with +375 odds. Those odds imply a win probability of 21.05%.
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
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
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* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
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Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
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