The college basketball season just tipped off, and already we’re seeing some wild swings, especially for the defending champs. Michigan, who cut down the nets last season after a historic run, has seen its national title odds absolutely crater from a respectable +600 back in April all the way to a shocking +4000 as of November 2. That’s a massive hit, pushing them way outside the top ten contenders.
The Wolverines’ Wild Ride From Champions to Longshots
Michigan had an absolutely lights-out season a year ago under coach Dusty May. They went 37-3, setting a school record for wins, and crushed Big Ten play with a 19-1 record, a new conference high for league wins. They capped it all off by winning the Big Ten Tournament and their first national championship since 1989. It was truly a dominant season for the Wolverines.
But man, things can change fast. Coach May took off to coach the Dallas Mavericks, leaving some massive shoes to fill. New head coach Mike Boynton Jr. has inherited a championship backcourt in Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, plus some incoming transfers, which is a good start. Still, Michigan’s got major holes after losing Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara. Lendeborg, in particular, is already putting up 22.7 points per game in his early NBA career. When you lose that kind of talent and your championship coach, it’s no wonder the oddsmakers aren’t feeling it anymore.
Duke Is Loaded And Ready To Bring The Pain
While Michigan tries to figure things out, Duke is sitting pretty at the top of the championship oddsboard at +550. They’ve had their share of heartbreak, though, losing in the Final Four two years ago and getting bounced by UConn in dramatic fashion last season. You know they’re hungry.
Sure, they lost No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer to the NBA, but the Blue Devils have a ton of familiar faces returning. Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba II are all back in Durham. And get this: they snagged one of the nation’s top transfers in former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell. Last year, Blackwell was an absolute stat machine, averaging 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG. He was the *only* player in Big Ten history to rack up at least 650 points, 95 made 3-pointers, and 150 made free throws in a single season. Add freshman big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje to that projected starting five, and it’s easy to see why Duke is the team to beat right out of the gate.
This season is just getting started, and these early odds tell us a lot about who the smart money is on. Duke looks absolutely stacked, while Michigan’s got a mountain to climb just to get back into contention. It’s going to be a wild ride, and you just know everyone’s watching to see if Michigan can defy those crazy long odds or if Duke will finally get over the hump.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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