Duke Lead Betting Odds for 2026 College Basketball Title After Heartbreaking Final Four Loss to Houston

Duke fell to a last-gasp defeat to Houston in the Final Four, with potential number one 2025 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg missing the crucial shot, but the manner of their performances up to that point is the reason that the Blue Devils lead the 2026 College Basketball title betting.

Duke’s last title came in 2015, and they came mighty close to adding to their tally of five NCAA Championships in 2024/25, and it’s no surprise that most of the sportsbooks feel next season could be their time to shine again.

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Head coach Jon Scheyer won’t be able to call upon Cooper Flagg, as well as another top draft selection, Khaman Maluach, which will greatly impact the team. Kon Knueppel is another who they will see leave for the NBA.

However, the fact that Isaiah Evans has committed for the next campaign is good news, and guard Caleb Foster will also be a key part of Scheyer’s plans.

Commenting on the exit of Flagg to the NBA, Scheyer was full of praise, commending the youngster,

“His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts — as good of a freshman season that a guy has had here,”

“But to me the separator and the joy of coaching Cooper is the person he was every day, the teammate that he was — never about statistics or anything other than creating an environment and helping his team to win.” Scheyer added.

Scheyer also lauded Knueppel in a similar effusive manner,

“Loved having Kon in our program,”

“So proud of him and what he did this season. He’s a guy that’s really about competition. He never shied away from the competitive plays that have to be made in order to win at a high level. As a freshman, Kon understood that. He played both sides of the ball — he had big scoring games and shooting games for us… The separator is anytime there’s a loose ball, Kon Knueppel’s putting his body on the line to come up with it.”

Duke leads the betting for next year with odds of around +1000 doing the rounds with the likes of Houston (+1200), Louisville (+1400), and Purdue (+1400) seen as their main potential challengers.

The fact that Scheyer already has a strong roster as well as a big NIL available, in the region of $8 to $10 million, to help further boost the Blue Devils is a big tick in the box for those considering a bet on Duke.

However, Scheyer has not had things all his own way; he has, after all, failed to lure Nate Ament, the top prospect, who has committed to Tennessee. Ament made an official visit to Duke in January, as well as a number of other colleges, before cementing his place at the Volunteers.

Nonetheless, Duke looks like the team to beat as Scheyer looks to bounce back from that Houston loss earlier this month.