Kris Johnson iGaming Journalist
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioIowa’s upset of No. 1 seed Florida yesterday busted March Madness brackets as the NCAA Tournament now rolls on to the Sweet 16.
Fellow No. 1 seeds Arizona, Michigan, and Duke remain the betting favorites to win the national championship, but we’ll give you a sleeper pick and longshot that would provide bigger paydays.
Updated NCAA Tournament Futures Odds at DraftKings
Here are updated odds on teams to win the national championship at DraftKings. They are current as of publication:
| Team | Odds |
| Arizona | +330 |
| Michigan | +340 |
| Duke | +370 |
| Houston | +700 |
| Purdue | +1300 |
| Illinois | +1400 |
| Iowa State | +1600 |
| UConn | +2500 |
| Michigan State | +3000 |
| St. John’s | +3500 |
| Arkansas | +4000 |
| Nebraska | +4500 |
| Tennessee | +6000 |
| Iowa | +12000 |
| Alabama | +13000 |
| Texas | +30000 |
Best Bet on Favorite to Win NCAA Tournament
Duke +370
The No. 1 overall seed received a serious sweat and wake-up call in the opening round against No. 16 seed Siena. The Blue Devils, who were favored by 27.5 points, escaped with a 71-65 victory. It would have ranked among the biggest March Madness upsets ever.
Duke reverted to elite form in Saturday’s 81-58 win over TCU. The Blue Devils benefited from the return of center Patrick Ngongba II to the lineup. He’s dealt with foot issues over the past few weeks and missed the entire ACC Tournament and the opening game against Siena.
Ngongba’s presence will be critical in Duke’s Sweet 16 matchup against St. John’s. He’ll likely be tasked with defending forward Zuby Ejiofor, who’s a load to handle in the paint. Ejiofor had a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds in yesterday’s win over Kansas.
TCU held Duke star Cameron Boozer to just two points in the first half, but the nation’s top player rebounded to finish with a team-high 19. Boozer was the betting favorite to win NCAA Tournament MVP heading into the tourney.
Isaiah Evans gives Duke a serious long-range threat. He finished with 17 points against TCU after going for 16 versus Siena. Evans made a pair of 3-pointers in each game.
Best Bet on Sleeper Pick to win NCAA Tournament
Michigan State +3000
Head coach Tom Izzo has carried the Spartans to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time. But he’s in search of just his second national title after Michigan State won back in 2000.
Michigan State is paced by do-it-all point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who leads the nation with 9.4 assists per game. He also leads the Spartans with 15.3 points per game.
The Spartans also benefit from a big frontcourt. Jaxon Kohler (12.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg), Coen Carr (12 ppg, 5.5 rpg), and Carson Cooper (11 ppg, 7.1 rpg) all average in double figures, too.
That talented frontline will be needed to stop UConn center Tarris Reed in the Sweet 16. He leads the Huskies with 14.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg.
Expect Michigan State to get by UConn, setting up a potential Elite 8 date with Duke.
Best Bet on Longshot to Win NCAA Tournament
Tennessee +6000
The Volunteers do it with defense, giving up just 69.1 points per game. No. 6 Tennessee “upset” No. 3 Virginia 79-72 to advance to the Sweet 16. The Volunteers were actually favored by 1.5 points.
Ja’kobi Gillespie led the Vols with 21 points, and Nate Ament added 16. Tennessee owns a signature win over Houston this season.
Tennessee faces Iowa State in the Sweet 16. The Cyclones could again be without star Joshua Jefferson (16.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.8 apg), who suffered a severe ankle sprain in the first round of March Madness. KenPom ranks Jefferson second in the race for player of the year behind Duke’s Boozer.
The Vols enter the game against the Cyclones as a 4.5-point underdog, but it would be no surprise to see Tennessee win, given its hot-shooting ways. Gillespie combined for 50 points in the first two games.
Tennessee shot 42.1% from the 3-point line and made 8 treys against UVA yesterday. Gillespie had three of those while Bishop Boswell checked in with four.
