Will Connecticut Win Back-to-Back National Titles?

The month of March has begun, which means one thing for sports fans across the globe: the NCAA Tournament is near. Winning a national championship is what each team strives for at the beginning of the season, and 68 teams who have earned a spot in the big dance will compete until one is remaining.

The Connecticut Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs in last year's national title game in a dominant 76-59 victory. After securing the program's fifth national championship in 2023, the Huskies are considered the front runners to repeat as champions in 2024.

Before the teams and seeding are decided, FanDuel Sportsbook is offering National Champion odds for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. With plenty of teams looking to knock off Connecticut, let's look at the top contenders in this year's tourney.

NCAA Tournament National Champion Odds

Connecticut Huskies (+550)

Cutting down the nets is no easy feat in college basketball, and the Huskies have now done it three times since the 2011 season. After tallying a 31-8 record last season, Connecticut currently owns a 25-3 overall record and a 15-2 record against Big East opponents.

Given the team's dominance under head coach Dan Hurley for yet another year, the Huskies are sitting at -125 in the Big East Tournament Winner odds. Despite Connecticut cruising during the regular season, it sits at No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll and KenPom's ratings.

What makes the Huskies such a dangerous team is the fact they deploy an experienced guard duo with Tristen Newton (15.2 PPG) and Cam Spencer (15.2 PPG), along with Donovan Clingan (12.3 PPG) -- who is a 7-foot-2 center. With Connecticut registering the 29th-most points per game (81.3) and allowing the 17th-fewest points per game (64.1), they are fully capable of being the first team since the Florida Gators in 2007 to win back-to-back national titles.

Houston Cougars (+700)

Stifling defense is the calling card for the Houston Cougars, who surrender the fewest points per game (56.2) in the entire country. Making the move from the AAC to the Big 12 hasn't slowed down the Cougars this season, producing a 25-3 overall record through their first 28 contests.

Houston sits atop the Big 12 with a 12-3 conference record, and they are the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 and KenPom's ratings. Head coach Kelvin Sampson wants his team to attack the offensive glass with the eighth-most offensive rebounds per game (14.29) and force teams to make mistakes with the 12th-most turnovers forced per game (16.25).

With the Oklahoma Sooners, Central Florida Knights, and Kansas Jayhawks remaining on their regular-season schedule, the Cougars are heavy favorites (-600) to win their first Big 12 regular-season title. Following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023, Houston is looking to win their first national championship in school history.

Purdue Boilermakers (+750)

The Purdue Boilermakers were on the wrong side of history last year when they became just the second team in history to lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed. After an embarrassing exit in last year's tourney, the Boilermakers -- led by 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey (23.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG) -- have their sights on putting that defeat behind them.

Purdue owns the No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 and KenPom ratings with a 25-3 record entering the final three games of the campaign. Having Edey patrol the paint on both ends of the floor has helped the Boilermakers post the 15th-best effective field-goal percentage (56.3%) and the second-best rebound margin (+11) in the nation.

There's no doubt Purdue has been battle-tested this season, beating all six ranked opponents they've faced thus far. Ahead of what will be Edey's final tournament as a member of the Boilermakers, the team wants to avoid another early exit as a top seed.

Arizona Wildcats (+1300)

The Arizona Wildcats own a 22-6 record and have the shortest Pac-12 Regular Season Winner odds (-310) with three games remaining. As the No. 12 team in the preseason polls, the Wildcats have climbed to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and No. 4 in the KenPom ratings.

Arizona has the second-most assists (18.9) and rebounds (43.43) per game while also having the 39th-best three-point percentage (36.9%) in college basketball. While the Wildcats have five players producing 10-plus points per game, it is guard Caleb Love (19.3 PPG) who is the X-factor on the offensive end of the court.

During last year's NCAA Tournament, Arizona lost to Princeton in the first round despite earning a No. 2 seed. The last -- and only -- time the Wildcats were dubbed national champions was back in 1997, so they are out to prove that a team from the Pac-12 is talented enough to win it all.

Tennessee Volunteers (+1300)

Another team with a 22-6 record and a chance to earn their respective regular-season title is the Tennessee Volunteers. The Volunteers have the shortest SEC Regular Season Winner odds (-115) right now, putting them slightly ahead of the Alabama Crimson Tide (-105).

Tennessee is amid a five-game winning streak, and their next matchup will be a road meeting with Alabama, who they beat 91-71 at home back on January 20. Dalton Knecht (20.8 PPG) is just one of 31 players in the country who is recording 20-plus points per game.

Aside from notching the 14th-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.63), Tennessee is also grabbing the 39th-most rebounds per game (39.0). While the SEC is viewed as a football conference, the Vols are a team that can make some noise in this year's much-anticipated tournament.

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.