Kentucky is coming in as one of the top-10 favorites to win the 2026 NCAA Championship.
With the college basketball offseason heating up, FanDuel Sportsbook has released its early odds for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship — and Kentucky Wildcats fans have reason for cautious optimism.
The Wildcats come in tied at No. 7 with +1800 odds to win the national title, sharing the spot with Texas Tech and St. John’s.
These odds suggest national confidence in the rebuilding efforts under head coach Mark Pope, who’s piecing together a roster through a blend of returning players, transfer portal additions, and a promising freshman class. Kentucky’s current projected roster includes Andrija Jelavic, Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh, Kam Williams, Brandon Garrison, Jayden Quaintance, Mouhamed Dioubate, Malachi Moreno, Jasper Johnson, Collin Chandler, Travis Perry, and Trent Noah. While the Cats may still be in the market for another guard, the early foundation shows potential.
At the top of FanDuel’s odds list is Duke, the national favorite at +1000. After falling just short in a Final Four thriller to Houston, the Blue Devils are viewed as early frontrunners to cut down the nets in 2026. Houston, fresh off a runner-up finish to Florida in the 2025 title game, sits right behind at +1200.
Tied at No. 3 are BYU and Purdue at +1400. Both programs reached the Sweet 16 last season and are expected to reload for another run. Also ahead of Kentucky is in-state rival Louisville, sitting at No. 5 with +1500 odds. The Cardinals haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since the 2016-17 season, but with new coach Pat Kelsey at the helm, expectations are rising fast.
UConn comes in at No. 6 with +1600 odds, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing second-round exit in 2025. Rounding out the top 10 are Arkansas, Kansas, Auburn, and Alabama, all tied at +2000.
With several key players still deciding on their future and roster moves yet to be finalized, Kentucky’s place in the top 10 is a sign of national respect — but also a challenge. If Pope can fill the final roster spots with impact talent and get strong contributions from returners and incoming freshmen, the Wildcats could be right in the thick of the championship race come March 2026.