College Basketball National Championship Futures Best Bets:
The championship futures landscape in college hoops is unique. Unlike college football, where you can often map out a powerhouse’s path to the College Football Playoff, the NCAA Tournament makes a mess of even the best projections. The single-elimination format, deep field of contenders, and dramatic stylistic contrasts leave plenty of room for chaos every spring. Navigating this market means embracing the madness, not pretending there’s a tidy roadmap.
My strategy is usually to sift through different pockets of value. I’ll back a top program flying slightly under the radar, target a mid-tier team with legitimate upside, and sprinkle in a sleeper with the talent or system to surprise people. These tickets aren’t always about identifying the team that will ultimately cut down the nets. Sometimes, it’s about grabbing a strong price on a team capable of making a run and keeping hedging options in play as the tournament unfolds. Let’s dive into three early championship futures I’m punching for 2026-27.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (25-1)
There’s some risk in backing Texas Tech to win the title. JT Toppin, who averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last year, won’t be back until late December or early January. But if the Red Raiders can stay afloat until his return, they’ll suddenly look a lot more like the teams sitting atop the championship oddsboard.
Toppin should be rounding into form by the time the tournament rolls around, and the rest of this roster is absolutely stacked.
Hofstra transfer Cruz Davis should be one of college basketball’s most productive lead guards this season, and he’ll have sharpshooter Donovan Atwell (45.8% from 3) as his running mate. Tech is also loaded at forward, with Darrion Williams returning to Lubbock and UCF transfer Jamichael Stillwell set to play alongside him.
The Red Raiders are expecting big things from UNLV transfer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, too, while international big man Bassala Bagayoko has plenty of fans.
Beyond Toppin’s recovery, the biggest question is whether all of Grant McCasland’s transfers will be eligible. If they are, Tech should push for the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. This team will also have the talent and experience to make a deep March run.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (35-1)
Is this the year for Mark Few? We might be asking that until the legendary head coach calls it quits. And while he’s certainly had more talented rosters, this group doesn’t have to be his best to be the one that finally wins a championship.
A dominant frontcourt pairing can be a massive advantage in a tournament setting, and the Bulldogs should have the best 4-5 combination in the country. Braden Huff returns after averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season, and there might not be a better back-to-the-basket offensive weapon in the nation. Joining him at center is Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop, a nimble big man who’s a real lob threat and has some perimeter skills.
Very few teams have the personnel to handle Huff and Diop, and the Zags have some promising options around them. Davis Fogle, Xaivian Lee, Chauncey Wiggins, and Javon Bennett all have the potential to turn in big years.
Like many programs, Gonzaga will need some favorable eligibility rulings. But this roster has big-time upside, and Few has a knack for getting the most out of his talent.
UCLA Bruins (70-1)
UCLA has a much lower floor than the other teams on this list, but the Bruins still have a championship ceiling — and 70-1 feels generous given the look of this roster.
Trent Perry took a huge step forward as Mick Cronin’s lead guard last season, and he should be even better in his third year in the system. UCLA also has an experienced center in Xavier Booker, giving the Bruins steady hands at two of basketball’s most important positions. But what makes this team especially intriguing is what it has at the two through four.
Jaylen Petty played big minutes as a freshman at Texas Tech last season and should be even better as a sophomore. He’s an electric offensive player who should pair nicely with Perry. Eric Dailey Jr. returns at power forward, bringing size, toughness, and athleticism alongside Booker. The biggest reason to believe in this team’s ceiling, though, is at small forward, where international phenom Nikola Kusturica will start.
Kusturica was given big money to play in Brentwood, and NBA front offices are already salivating over him. He’s a massive wing with impressive athleticism and a tremendous motor. He should be an absolute stud on both ends of the floor, with the potential to be the best player on the court just about every time he takes it.
The Bruins also have starter-quality players coming off the bench, so depth shouldn’t be a concern. There’s enough here for Cronin to make some magic, and Kusturica is at the center of it all.
