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March Madness is officially here as the 2025 NCAA Tournament field was announced Sunday on CBS, and the first look at the betting odds is here. With the “First Four” set to begin on Tuesday, FanDuel has updated its odds for the national champion.
The Round of 64 will then follow on Thursday as we wait to find out which Cinderella will capture our hearts this year. But as you get ready to pick your bracket Sunday evening ahead of all the action, these odds can serve as a good reference point when picking your champ.
Duke Blue Devils (+310)
Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils enter as the favorite to win the 2025 national championship. Flagg is the projected No. 1 overall this pick after this season and has looked the part to average 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Duke showed it is more than just Flagg on Saturday to defeat Louisville and win the ACC Tournament, claiming an automatic bid. Tyrese Proctor stepped up to nail a career-high six 3-pointers, while Kon Knueppel chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds.
Florida Gators (+400)
The Gators are fresh off of an SEC Tournament title win on Sunday against Tennessee. It marked the first time they had won the conference tournament since 2014, a year in which it would go on to advance to the Final Four.
Florida’s biggest advantage is its size, as it starts a pair of 6-11 big men in Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu to rank third in the country in rebounds per game (42.1). Guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin hold things down on the perimeter to rank first and second on the team in scoring, respectively.
Auburn Tigers (+500)
Auburn earned the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in school history after a dominant performance that saw them finish the regular season 28-5. Now it will look to back that up as it aims for its second Final Four appearance and first title in program history.
The Tigers are a veteran-laden squad and will hope that experience gives it even more of an advantage against its opponents. Big man Johni Broome is the team leader with 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, the latter two of which led the SEC.
Houston Cougars (+700)
Despite 22 total NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Fours, coach Kelvin Sampson has never won a national title in his career. FanDuel believes he has a solid shot to change that this time around as it gives Houston the fourth-best championship odds.
This is the third straight season that the Cougars have earned a No. 1 seed, as they find themselves as the top seed in the Midwest Region. Houston lost in the Sweet Sixteen each of the past two seasons and will hope the saying “defense wins championships rings true” as it enters the tournament as the nation’s No. 2 defense according to KenPom.
Alabama Crimson Tide (+1900)
The Crimson Tide are the third SEC team ranked inside the top five of the odds to win the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Final Four last season and have a chance to not only make it back, but finish things off by hoisting a trophy at the end.
Mark Sears returns from that team and leads Alabama with 18.7 points and 4.9 assists this season. He and Grant Nelson give the Crimson Tide a pair of starters who know what it’s like to make a deep tournament run, and they’ll aim for just that.
Tennessee Volunteers (+2100)
Tennessee fell just short in the SEC Tournament title game against Florida, but will look to bounce back with a deep tournament run. The Vols are coming off of an Elite Eight appearance a year ago and have veteran point guard Zakai Zeigler, who leads the SEC with 7.3 assists per game.
Dalton Knecht might be gone to the NBA, but North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier has stepped in to fill the leading scoring role with 17.9 points per game on 40.4% shooting from 3-point range. Tennessee earned a No. 2 seed and will have to get past Houston to reach the Final Four.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (+2400)
The Red Raiders fell in the first round last season in the inaugural year for coach Grant McCasland. But after finishing 25-8 this season and earned a No. 3 seed, they are ready to get their revenge.
Texas Tech actually has higher odds to win the title than the No. 2 seed in its region, which is St. John’s. They’ve certainly got the star power to do so, with JT Toppin leading the way and averaging 18.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Michigan State Spartans (+3000)
The Spartans find themselves in a familiar position, having made the NCAA Tournament for 27 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the NCAA. They’ve won one championship under coach Tom Izzo and made it to the Final Four eight times, most recently in 2019.
This year’s squad enters as a No. 2 seed in South Region, where it could face a potential matchup with top-seeded Auburn in the Elite Eight. Michigan State truly gets things done with a balanced attack and sound defense, with no player on its team averaging over 13 points per game.
Iowa State Cyclones (+3000)
Iowa State was dealt a tough blow, as it was revealed that Keshon Gilbert will miss the NCAA Tournament due to a groin injury. Gilbert has been out for the previous seven games as the Cyclones went 3-4 during that span.
That certainly doesn’t bode well for a long run, but FanDuel still ranks ISU inside the top 10 for national title odds. It will need Curtis Jones, who leads the team with 17.1 points per game, to step even more in his absence.
St. John’s Red Storm (+3200)
St. John’s hasn’t had a season like this in a long time, as it reached 30 wins for the first time since 1985-86. The Red Storm reached their second Final Four in school history that season but are still in search of their first national title.
St. John’s earned a No. 2 seed, which its highest since 2000, and is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. They’ve also got an experienced coach in Rick Pitino and a veteran group of starts, two ingredients for a potential deep run.
More NCAA Tournament national championship odds
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (+3600)
- Arizona Wildcats (+3800)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (+5000)
- Kentucky Wildcats (+5000)
- Maryland Terrapins (+5500)
- Wisconsin Badgers (+5500)
- Missouri Tigers (+6500)
- Purdue Boilermakers (+6500)
- Kansas Jayhawks (+6500)
- Texas A&M Aggies (+8000)
- Clemson Tigers (+10000)
- BYU Cougars (+10000)
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TODAY'S BEST
Jerry Jones is getting exactly what he wants with Micah Parsons drama
Do not let any of the noise and drama fool you. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is getting exactly what he wants with the Micah Parsons contract negotiation, even as it reached a boiling point on Friday with the star edge-rusher declaring a public trade demand. It's the perfect storm for Jones because all of this is doing the one thing that he loves more than anything in the world. It is keeping his team, his beloved Dallas Cowboys, as the top story in the NFL and the top headliner maker in the league. His team, his player and his story are the one thing that everybody is talking about. It's the top headline on every sports website. It's the top story on "SportsCenter" and ESPN. It's dominating the radio waves. It's put a spotlight on the Cowboys star and driven all of the NFL's discussions toward them. It doesn't matter if it's overly dramatic — or even bad press. It's still press. It's still focus on them. In Jones' world, the motto of "no press is bad press" is very much a way of life. He isn't worried about getting the best deal for the Cowboys or their salary-cap situation, and he might not even be concerned with putting the best possible team on the field. He is simply concerned with the Cowboys being the league's biggest newsmaker. There is a reason all of these big-time contract negotiations play out this way for the Cowboys. Whether it was Zack Martin, Ezekiel Elliott, Dez Bryant, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb or Parsons, they have all played out the same way. The Cowboys dragged their feet, a holdout was either threatened or started, the bridges seemed to be burning between the player and team, the negotiations would dominate the news cycle and then eventually a new, more expensive deal would eventually emerge. That is almost certainly how this process is going to play out. Trade demands get made all the time in the NFL, and they do not guarantee a trade will get made. It is often a last-ditch negotiating tactic to speed things along. They usually work in that context. By the time the regular season rolls around, the Cowboys and Parsons will likely come to terms on a contract, and all of this will be forgotten. It will probably end up costing Jones and the organization more than it would have had they agreed to a deal sooner, but again, that wouldn't have given the Cowboys the headlines they want. It is almost as if Jones likes having to pay top dollar because then he can talk about how he negotiated and paid out the most expensive deal. It's about glitz and glamour as opposed to dollars and cents. All of this fits in with Jones' overall mindset and approach when it comes to running the Cowboys. He is the decision-maker. He is the football guy. He is the only owner who does weekly news conferences after every game as if he's the coach, and he is the only owner who does a weekly radio show discussing the X's and O's of the team. It's all about satisfying his own ego, and nothing satisfies his ego more than seeing his team and his name in the news. A drawn-out contract negotiation is the best way to do that when there are no games being played. In terms of on-field success, the Cowboys have mostly been an afterthought over the past 30 years. No Super Bowls, no NFC Championship Game appearances (the longest current drought in the NFC) and mostly mediocre finishes. Any other franchise with that sort of track record would be an afterthought in the NFL. But not the Cowboys. Not Jerry Jones. It is all by design. It's the only thing they want and care about.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
One player from each AFC team who deserves Hall of Fame call
Let the (preseason) games begin. With the Detroit Lions-Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicking off 2025 action, Yardbarker NFL writers mulled a player — past or present — on each AFC team who merits enshrinement in Canton. AFC East BUFFALO BILLS | LB Von Miller | As the NFL’s active leader in sacks (129.5), Miller — who's now with the Commanders — is a sure bet for the Hall of Fame even though he missed 14 games in three years with Buffalo. In 10 seasons with Denver, Miller earned a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, made eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams and was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, the last defensive player to win the award. MIAMI DOLPHINS | WR Tyreek Hill | His subpar 2024 season aside (81 catches, 959 yards, six TD catches), the 31-year-old receiver boasts a Hall of Fame resume (eight Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro nods in nine years). Hill led NFL receivers with 1,799 yards in 2023 and has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, two fewer than Cris Carter, who spent the last five games of his Hall of Fame career with Miami. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) narrowly missed induction as a finalist in 2025, his first year of eligibility, and will be an automatic finalist in 2026. Vinatieri, who retired in 2021, holds records for most field goals made in the regular season (599) and playoffs (56) and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls before winning another with the Colts in 2007. NEW YORK JETS | QB Aaron Rodgers | The enigmatic passer disappointed as a Jet, but four first-team All-Pro honors, four NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers can’t be overlooked. Rodgers’ 62,952 passing yards are the seventh most in league history, and his 4.34 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the best of any quarterback, past or present. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS | WR Rod Smith | Smith played a key role when the Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The three-time Pro Bowler had 152 receiving yards in a 34-19 Super Bowl XXXIII win over the Atlanta Falcons, tied for the sixth most in a Super Bowl. The undrafted WR starred for Denver from 1995-2006, becoming the club’s career leader in receiving yards (11,389). KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | QB Patrick Mahomes | Star tight end Travis Kelce would be an excellent pick, too, but the Chiefs had won only one Super Bowl before Mahomes became the starter during the 2018 season. The 2017 first-round pick has won three Super Bowls and two MVPs in eight seasons with the Chiefs. Expect Mahomes, who turns 30 on Sept. 17, to keep bolstering his stellar resume. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Philip Rivers | Rivers, who retired as a Charger in July, never reached a Super Bowl during his career, but neither did former Chargers QB Dan Fouts. That didn’t prevent him from making the HOF in 1993. The same should go for eight-time Pro Bowler Rivers, who ranks sixth in career TD passes (421). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Guard Steve Wisniewski | It’s surprising Wisniewski isn’t in Canton already. Per Pro Football Reference, his HOF monitor score (76.58) is higher than that of HOF guard Mike Munchak (72.7). The former O-lineman is also a member of the HOF’s All-1990s team. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS | LB Terrell Suggs | Suggs, who played from 2003-19, and former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda were finalists for the 2025 class but missed out. Suggs was one of the more dominant pass-rushers of his era, accumulating 139 career sacks, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, one first-team All-Pro, a Defensive Player of the Year award and an NFL-record 202 tackles for loss. He was a key part of two Super Bowl winners. CINCINNATI BENGALS | QB Ken Anderson | The Bengals did not win a Super Bowl during Anderson’s career (1971-86), but that is pretty much the only thing separating him from other Hall of Fame quarterbacks, especially from his era in the 1970s. Anderson has an NFL MVP award and led the league in passing twice, completion percentage three times and passer rating four times. CLEVELAND BROWNS | Edge Myles Garrett | Garrett is still active, but it’s not hard to see the path his career is on. He has been the more dominant pass-rusher in the league from pretty much the day he arrived. He may not win a title in Cleveland, but he is going to finish as one of the best Browns players of all time and one of the best defenders of the modern era in the NFL. PITTSBURGH STEELERS | QB Ben Roethlisberger | Roethlisberger, who retired in 2022, does not have many individual accolades, but spending nearly two decades as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and earning two Super Bowl rings will be more than enough to get him in. It is just a matter of how long he might have to wait for induction. — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS | DE J.J. Watt | Widely considered to be a first-ballot lock, Watt — who retired following the 2022 season — will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028. His career could have been even better if not for several seasons being shortened by injury, but Watt is one of only three players to win three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Few players were capable of changing the game the way a healthy Watt could. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The three-time Pro Bowl selection made 29 game-winning kicks in his career, including two that won Super Bowls for the Patriots. Vinatieri has four Super Bowl rings and could be considered the most clutch kicker of all time. There are four kickers in the Hall of Fame, and it is almost impossible to argue against Vinatieri becoming the fifth. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | RB Fred Taylor | The wait continued in 2025 for Taylor, a Hall of Fame finalist for the second straight year, but he did not get the nod. Taylor, who retired in 2011, ranks 17th in NFL history with 11,695 rushing yards and holds numerous Jaguars records. The only running back ahead of him on the all-time rushing list who is not in the Hall of Fame is Frank Gore, and he is likely to get into Canton eventually. TENNESSEE TITANS | RB Derrick Henry | Titans legends Eddie George and Steve McNair advanced in the Hall of Fame voting process for 2025, but there is a good chance neither will get into Canton. Henry, meanwhile, is already 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,423 yards and coming off a season in which he ran for 1,921 yards. Henry, who spent the majority of his career in Tennessee, should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — Steve DelVecchio
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill stirs up drama, calls for teammate to be benched in certain situations
Tyreek Hill was just trying to be a good teammate, but his Miami Dolphins colleague didn't care for the message. On Friday, Hill gave a meaty performance during his media availability, broaching subjects from his mastery of the offense this year to saying he agreed with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that he needed to be a better leader on the Dolphins for the upcoming season. Then he took a shot at running back De'Von Achane. He suggested the Dolphins keep the 5-foot-9, 191-pound back off the field in third-and-short situations. "Take (Achane) out on 3rd-down," Hills told reporters, via the Dolphins. "That's my honest opinion. If it's third-and-short, he's not a power back. I've been telling him that in the locker room... I love De'Von, but If I'm being honest, that's why you got Jaylen Wright, that's why you got Ollie Gordon." Achane responded to Hill giving his opinion to the media. "That's how you feel," Achane wrote with a laughing emoji. Achane rushed for 907 yards and six touchdowns on 203 carries last season. That's an average of 4.5 yards per rush. The Dolphins' backfield as a whole struggled in the run game last season, averaging a pedestrian 105.6 rushing yards per contest. Achane certainly didn't thrive on third-and-short, but Hill's comments feel unnecessary. Last season, Hill caught 81 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns — his worst production since 2019, when he missed four games due to injury. Is Hill ready to admit that he's washed? Miami's offense was bad, and it didn't help that Tagovailoa missed time due to a concussion. Defenses took advantage of the Dolphins' limited and discombobulated offense last season. Miami's training-camp news conferences are becoming a concern. Hopefully for the team, Achane won't take the slight from Hill too personally.
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