Louisville, Duke Among Early Favorites for 2026 NCAA Championship

The national championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will feature the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars, both of whom are No. 1 seeds with matching 35-4 records. The match is set to tip off at 8:50 p.m. ET, with Florida favored by one point. Looking ahead, early betting odds for the 2026 championship have emerged, with Louisville Cardinals recognized as strong contenders, holding the third-best odds behind Duke and Houston. Louisville's optimism stems from their incoming talent, including a top-ranked recruiting class and key transfers, despite losing several players to graduation and the transfer portal. Meanwhile, the Duke Blue Devils are also favored for the 2026 tournament after a promising recruiting class, even as they face potential departures to the NBA Draft. Analysts emphasize the importance of the transfer portal in shaping these teams' futures as they prepare for next season.