The Houston Cougars They may have experienced a drop in their lifetime when they fired a 12-point lead in the second half of the men’s basketball finals on Monday evening, but bookmakers believe they will be in the competition to win it next season and competed with a team that upset Final Four.
Duke It is the first favorite to win the National Men Championship of NCAA 2026 and points to ESPN Bet. Houston is second on the Council for the Chance Na +1200, followed by Uconn, who in recent days took a big step from +2000 to +1400.
Meanwhile the ruling national champion Florida Gatorswhose last National Championship was the second part of his back in 2007, is +2500 to win again next season, tied up to 12. With Florida covers -1.5 on Monday evening, now popular with three direct national championship games and six of the last eight, ESPN research.
Overall, the popular NCAA tournament in 2025 was a historical run and in 2007 won 53 games to translate the record of 51 set. Some bookmakers see it as an aberration due for repair.
“I’ve been going through times like this,” said Johnny Avello Espn, director of Draftkings Sportsbook. “It was one of those seasons. It’s a favorite season and it happened before. Now they have zero money to do? Yeah, I think it a little, but I don’t think it’s a formula that will continue.”
ESPN Bet Director North American Sports Trading Adrian Horton said, “It was a big year for the favorite, but this is not the first time we had a very chalk tournament.”
Other bookmakers are less sure. Caesars Sportsbook College Basketball Trader Patrick Berbert believes that the 2022 tournament, which has seen Fau and San Diego State to run for the last four, could be the last of its kind, with the expansion of conference and overwork, transmission and zero dictating energy conferences.
At this time, the state of San Diego is stated at 250-1 to win the National Championship 2026, while FAU is not even on the board. Gonzaga (+3000) is the only medium major in the TOP 20. Another such team is Memphis at 200-1, tied to 51.
“Honestly, I think it will be very chalk,” he said. “You could start seeing these favorite on Moneyline, becoming a little harder popular, especially in earlier rounds compared to your traditional price, which you usually get on a certain issue just because it will be easier for them in itself.
