Illinois’s offseason plan was pretty clear. Keaton Wagler was heading to the NBA, and Kylan Boswell was out of eligibility, so if Brad Underwood could add one piece to the backcourt and bring everyone else back, the Fighting Illini would be a Final Four-caliber team again.
Well, Underwood executed that plan to perfection, bringing Stefan Vaaks from Providence and retaining the Ivisic twins, Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and Jake Davis. That group, along with the arrival of four-star freshman Quentin Coleman, may even be good enough to win it all, and the updated betting odds reflect that.
Illinois began the offseason at +1800 to win the national championship, but about a month later, with Underwood’s impressive retention, the Illini are +1600 in the FanDuel Sportsbook, tied for the fifth-best odds in the country with Arkansas.
Illinois sits at +1600 to win the 2027 national championship
Duke, Michigan, and Florida are the three favorites at +700, and after that triumvirate, UConn sits at fourth with 12-1 odds. The good news for Illinois is that all three of the co-favorites are facing potential pitfalls this offseason.
Starting in the Big Ten, Michigan is still awaiting draft decisions from Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. The betting odds likely don’t suppose that both are returning, and judging by his transfer portal activity, neither does Dusty May, but if both ultimately stay in the 2026 NBA Draft, that would be a significant blow, even if it's expected. Then there’s the looming possibility that Dusty May leaves for the NBA.
The 49-year-old newly crowned national champion is waiting to officially ink his new extension with Michigan, and has stated that he won’t be taking any other “college basketball jobs,” but he didn’t rule out a jump to the NBA. The Orlando Magic reportedly have interest in May, and the Golden State Warriors could be a possibility as well if Steve Kerr steps down.
Florida faces a similar challenge as Michigan. The 2025 national champs were able to retain their loaded front court again, bringing back Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, and Thomas Haugh for a third-straight season. Yet, there is a possibility that it all falls apart because Todd Golden makes a jump to the NBA. Golden has also been mentioned for the Golden State job, and the former San Francisco University head coach could leap at a return to the Bay Area.
Duke doesn’t face quite the same existential threat as its co-favorites, but Isaiah Evans and John Blackwell are both testing the NBA Draft waters. Evans is likely to go, while Blackwell is expected to return, but maybe he pulls a Cedric Coward and stays in the draft.
Illinois doesn’t have that type of drama looming over the program, and its continuity is unmatched. So, maybe the Illini will continue to climb up the odds board by the time the season comes around.
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