Nate Oats' Alabama emerges as bettors' favorite to win 2025 NCAA Tournament over Dan Hurley's UConn among others

After a historic Final Four run in March Madness last season, head coach Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for another dominant campaign in 2025. After a slight period of panic over players entering the transfer portal and leaving for the NBA, the roster is back with most players returning.

This could be one of several reasons why Alabama has come up as the favorite by bettors to win the 2025 NCAA championship. According to New York Times Sports' Adam Zagoria:

"Alabama MBB is the betting favorite to win the 2025 NCAA championship, per @BetOnline_ag. Followed by UConn, Kansas, Duke and Houston."

Besides betting sites, most way-too-early predictions also put Alabama in the top two alongside the Kansas Jayhawks, and a lot of that has to do with the roster.

Along with the return of Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wright Jr. and Jarin Stevenson, Oats has added some important pieces from the transfer portal. Aden Holloway (Auburn), Chris Youngblood (South Florida) and Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers) are all talented additions who will enhance Alabama's chances next season.

Nate Oats explains reason behind player's return to Alabama

Despite receiving positive feedback from NBA scouts, most draft prospects withdrew to return to college. During an interview with Andy Katz for a March Madness offseason chat, the Alabama coach shared the possible reasons for this:

"I mean got to give a lot of credit to coach Murphy," Oats said. "I hired Preston Murphy. He's an unbelievable recruiter, so he's done a great job, one. I think the Final Four run helped. I think there's some guys that feel like there's unfinished business that were on the team last year that want to come back and finish it."

He also bought up the case of Mark Sears, who was predicted to only get a two-way contract in the NBA:

"I think with the way NIL is working in college, a kid like him's much better off in college than on a two-way. So the way the college basketball rules are now helped us a little bit. And then you know I probably have a little bit of luck involved.

"But I think our playing style, kids want to play here and I think the way you treat them during the year, there's some loyalty to you. I think guys feel like they get better in our program and I think player development's a big deal in college basketball and it's a fun style of play too."

What are your predictions for Alabama in the upcoming season? Let us know in the comment section below.