Now that the 2025-26 college basketball season is in the books, it’s already time for Florida fans to turn their attention to next season. After winning the SEC regular season title and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Gators suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Iowa to end their bid at going back-to-back.
And with the transfer portal opening today, there is a decent amount of uncertainty as to what Florida’s roster will actually look like for next season. But Vegas seems to have a hunch as to who is and isn’t coming back for next year, and their initial title favorites for 2027 are not what fans would have expected.
Florida considered early favorite for 2027
With confetti still falling on Michigan’s title win, Vegas dropped its favorites for the 2027 season. Coming in at +1100 is Florida, which is the favorite as of now. It’s tied with Duke at +1100, with Michigan at +1200, Michigan State at +1400, and Arizona at +1500.
Four of the top five favorites are all the No. 1 seeds from this year’s March Madness, so this isn’t completely going out on a limb. But given the roster uncertainty with Florida heading into next season, it feels notable that the Gators are on top with Vegas unless...
What does Vegas know?
The two massive mysteries with Florida are whether or not Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are going to return or depart for the NBA Draft. Both are considered second-round picks at the moment, and both would probably stand to make more money if they came back to Florida.
But even with Boogie Fland for sure set to return, the trio of Condon, Chinyelu, and Fland doesn’t feel like it would be enough to make Florida the outright favorite. Does this mean there is a possibility Thomas Haugh returns? Does Florida have an ace up its sleeve as the transfer portal opens?
Because, as we say all the time, Vegas doesn’t like to lose money, and even though having Florida on top for 2027 feels optimistic, there is a reason they build skyscrapers in the desert.