2023 College Basketball championship odds: Purdue favored; Houston rising

College Basketball

Updated Jan. 10, 2024 8:50 p.m. ET

It was a rare night in men’s college basketball on Tuesday, as top-ranked Purdue and No. 2 Houston lost on the same day.

Unranked Nebraska beat the top-ranked team for the first time in 41 years with an 88-72 victory over the Boilermakers.

Unranked Iowa State shocked the second-ranked Cougars 57-53.

It was the first time the top two men’s teams lost on the same day since Gonzaga and Arizona on Feb. 26, 2022.

It’s also the eighth time since the 2009-10 season that the top two teams have lost on the same day in the regular season.

So how did that affect the odds to win the national title?

The Boilermakers’ odds to win it all lengthened slightly to +850 from +800, as Purdue and reigning Player of the Year Zach Edey fell to 14-2 and saw their seven-game win streak ended.

The Cougars were the last unbeaten team in the Top 25, but fell to 14-1. Houston’s odds moved to +1100 from +1000. falling into a tie with Arizona behind the Boilermakers.

Two other teams made noticeable jumps up the oddsboard: blue bloods in the Kentucky Wildcats (+2000) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (+2500).

Let’s look at the latest odds to cut down the nets after March Madness, with insights from FOX Sports college basketball writer John Fanta.

2023-24 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TITLE ODDS:*

Purdue Boilermakers +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)

Arizona Wildcats +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)

Houston Cougars +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)

UConn Huskies +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)

Auburn Tigers: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)

Marquette Golden Eagles +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)

Duke Blue Devils +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

Kansas Jayhawks +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

Tennessee Volunteers +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

Kentucky Wildcats +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

North Carolina Tar Heels: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

Alabama Crimson Tide: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

Creighton Bluejays: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)

Baylor Bears: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)

Wisconsin Badgers: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)

BYU Cougars: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

Michigan State Spartans: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

Iowa State Cyclones: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Oklahoma Sooners: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Illinois Fighting Illini: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

* odds as of 1/10/2024

Fanta said he is impressed by what Bruce Pearl’s Auburn squad. The Tigers have won eight in a row to move into a tie for fifth on the oddsboard at +1700.

The odds for the Tigers reached as high as +6600 after Auburn started the season 5-2, including a 69-64 loss to Appalachian State on Dec. 3.

“Bruce Pearl has a complete team that the analytics love,” Fanta said. “The Tigers are one of only three teams (Purdue, Arizona) that sit in the top 10 of KenPom adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.

“With Johni Broome holding things down inside, and real depth, defense and tempo, this Tigers team has the potential to be a dark horse and get to Arizona this April.”

Kentucky moved to +2000 from +2500, as the Wildcats are on a five-game win streak, including an 87-83 win over the Tar Heels on Dec. 16.

North Carolina has won four in a row since then, including a 65-55 win over No. 16 Clemson on Saturday.

Follow along with FOX Sports for the latest in college basketball. March Madness will be here before we know it!