Skip to main content
Flagg holds a slight lead over Broome in the Wooden Award odds race.
Pictured: Duke's Cooper Flagg shoots over Auburn's Johni Broome. Photo by Rob Kinnan via Imagn Images.

Between Duke's loss to Clemson two weeks ago and Auburn's impressive win over Alabama over the weekend, the gap between Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome in the Wooden Award odds race is closing.

While Flagg remains minus-money to win the award at our March Madness betting sites, his odds have been lengthening each week since Broome returned from injury. This is shaping up to be one of the greatest Wooden Award battles of all-time.

No other player has even a prayer of winning it, with Villanova's Eric Dixon the clear third-favorite, and the only player with Wooden Award odds shorter than 100/1.

Wooden Award odds 2025

Wooden Award odds from our best sports betting apps.

  • Cooper Flagg: The clear choice to go No. 1 by the NBA draft odds, Flagg's lead over Broome began to slip when he turned the ball over late in the loss to Clemson, but he's been impressive in the games that followed
  • Johni Broome: Since returning from injury, Broome has been a force and was especially dominant in the win against Alabama that gave the Tigers a clear lead in the March Madness odds over the Blue Devils
  • Eric Dixon: The only other play with shorter than 100/1 odds, Dixon leads the country in PPG for a struggling Villanova team that won't make the NCAA Tournament
  • 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 (-165)

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 among the March Madness odds favorites.

Flagg's proven to be more than a versatile scorer, too, with his defense, rebounding, and passing making him one of the biggest all-around threats in the country. Even with Duke's loss to Clemson and Auburn's dominance lengthening Flagg's odds, a $10 bet pays just a $6.06 profit if he takes home the Wooden over Broome.

Best odds: -165 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 62.26%

Live Betting Odds

Terms and conditions apply.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

Johni Broome Wooden Award odds (+160)

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 an SEC that's been the best conference in the country by a mile.

Thanks to Broome, Auburn is positioned to earn the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is why his plus-money odds offer better value than Flagg's minus-money odds. With a $10 winning bet on Broome paying a $16 profit, I'm banging the table for him after how dominant he was against Alabama.

If the season ended today, I think Broome would win the award.

Best odds: +160 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 38.46%

Fan-Favorite Betting App
Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

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 -165 odds representing an implied win probability of 62.26% 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

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Related pages