Sportsbooks See Value in Arizona, Ngongba, and Kentucky Amid Hype
Oddsmakers in Las Vegas offer steep payouts for the Wildcats, Duke's center, and the Wildcats' SEC title chances despite strong competition from Duke, Florida, and Michigan.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Las Vegas sportsbooks have set the initial odds for the 2026-27 college basketball season, and the numbers suggest a disconnect between the public favorites and the perceived value. While Duke and Florida sit at the top of the power rankings, bookmakers are offering higher payouts for Arizona, Duke center Patrick Ngongba, and Kentucky in the SEC. The city is positioning itself as the central hub for early-season betting as the season kicks off.
The Associated Press poll places 20 of the top 25 teams in Las Vegas for nonconference play. The majority of these squads will compete in the Players Era Eight tournament scheduled for November 17 to 19 at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Players Era 16 event follows from November 24 to 28, splitting games between Michelob Ultra Arena and T-Mobile Arena. These two events drive the early volume in future markets.
Arizona leads the national championship futures at 25-to-1 with Circa Sports. This price is high despite the Wildcats returning two starters, Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov. Duke and Florida hold the shorter odds at +450 and +550 respectively. The value case for Arizona rests on its recent history, as the team opened as a slight favorite in the previous year's Final Four against Michigan, even though it lost that game 91-73.
In the Wooden Player of the Year market, Patrick Ngongba of Duke is the longest shot among the elite players at 65-to-1 with Boomer's Sportsbook. The near seven-foot junior has not yet won the award, which has gone to Duke freshmen Cam Boozer and Cooper Flagg in the past two years. Ngongba posted 28 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes during an exhibition game against Kansas. His defensive impact and offensive development make him a candidate to fill the void left by those freshmen.
Kansas is the favorite to win the Players Era Eight tournament at 3-to-1. The Jayhawks face a favorable bracket path compared to Florida and Houston, which are on the same side of the draw. Kansas will likely face UNLV in the opening round and then either Auburn or West Virginia. The team's depth includes Tyran Stokes, a projected top pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, and veteran big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, who joined the roster after an exhibition loss to Duke.
Alabama carries the longest odds in the Players Era Sixteen market at 14-to-1. The Crimson Tide face a tougher path, opening against Baylor and potentially playing Gonzaga in the next round. Seven teams are considered primary contenders in this balanced bracket, including Miami, Michigan, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Iowa State, and Louisville. Alabama is viewed as the best shooting team in the group, led by playmaking forward Aden Holloway.
Kentucky is the best buy in the conference futures at 18-to-1 to win the SEC. The Wildcats were near odds-on favorites to win the conference a year ago but had a down season. Third-year coach Mark Pope has transferred in sharpshooting forward Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State. Pope's tactical approach and the addition of Momcilovic suggest the team has the tools to avoid another disappointment.
The availability of these long odds reflects the uncertainty inherent in early college basketball. Sportsbooks in Las Vegas are prepared for the influx of bettors who will use these numbers to assess the season's trajectory before the regular season is fully underway.
