Latest NIT Odds & Betting Favorites: Who is Favored to Win College Basketball Tournament?
The 2025 NIT field has been set, with the 32-team field set to get underway tonight. SMU, Dayton, UC Irvine, and San Francisco earned the top four seeds after stellar regular season showings.
Our NIT odds and favorites highlight the tournament's betting favorites and top seeds. The Mustangs - one of just four power-conference teams involved in this year's invitational - are the favorites to win the NIT (+350) at our best sports betting sites.
The 2025 NIT will culminate with the championship game at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Check out the full NIT bracket with updated tournament tip times.
📊 Opening NIT odds 2025
NIT odds from FanDuel as of Tuesday, March 18. Visit Sportsbook Review throughout the tournament to get the best college basketball prop bets.
- SMU +350
- Santa Clara +600
- San Francisco +650
- UC Irvine +800
- George Mason +1000
- Dayton +1100
- Stanford +1100
- North Texas +1300
- Saint Joseph's +2300
- Bradley +2900
- Arkansas State +3700
- St. Bonaventure +3700
- Oklahoma State +4500
- Loyola Chicago +4600
- Georgia Tech +4700
- North Alabama +5000
- Florida Atlantic +7500
- Middle Tennessee +8500
- UAB +9500
- Chattanooga +10000
- CSU Northridge +11000
- Saint Louis +11000
- Northern Iowa +12000
- Samford +14000
- Utah Valley +14000
- Jacksonville State +15000
- Northern Colorado +15000
- Kent State +18000
- Wichita State +20000
- Furman +25000
- San Jose State +25000
- UC Riverside +25000
🏆 NIT odds 2025: Teams to watch
🐎 SMU NIT odds: +350
SMU (23-10) earned the top seed in the tournament after finishing fourth in the ACC during its debut conference campaign. It is one of the four power conference schools - along with Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, and Stanford - to participate in the tournament after high-profile teams like Indiana, Wake Forest, and West Virginia declined invitations.
The Mustangs will host Northern Iowa in the first round on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2). The hosts are 9.5-point favorites over the Panthers at our best sports betting sites.
Best odds: +350 via FanDuel | $10 bet pays a $35 profit
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🪽 Dayton NIT odds: +1100
Dayton (22-10) is the tournament's No. 2 seed after a third-place finish in the Atlantic 10 behind VCU and George Mason. The Flyers were winners of six of their last seven in the regular season - including a win over the March Madness-bound Rams - but they ran out of steam in the A10 tournament and fell short of the NCAA Tournament.
Dayton is the only higher seed hitting the road for the first round, with the UD Arena in use for the First Four. The Flyers open up as 1.5-point favorites over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Best odds: +1100 via FanDuel | $10 bet pays a $110 profit
🐜 UC Irvine NIT odds: +800
UC Irvine is one of the unlucky snubs from the NCAA Tournament. The Anteaters finished the season a brilliant 28-6, but their inability to power past UC San Diego (30-4) in the Big West title game saw them banished to the NIT. Russell Turner's men are among the best defensive units in the country, finishing 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency in the KenPom rankings.
UC Irvine opens as a 7.5-point favorite over Northern Colorado at our best live betting sites. Tipoff is slated for Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) from the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
Best odds: +800 via FanDuel | $10 bet pays a $80 profit
🟢 San Francisco NIT odds: +650
San Francisco will look to build on its 24-9 overall record as it checks in as the last No. 1 seed in the NIT. The Dons missed out on the NCAA Tournament after finishing behind St. Mary's and Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference. After wins over Boise State, Oregon State, St. Mary's and Washington State this season, Chris Gerlufsen's squad should like its chances in the NIT.
San Francisco opens up the invitational tournament as a 6.5-point favorite over Utah Valley. The Dons take on the Wolverines from War Memorial Gym in San Francisco on Wednesday at 11 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
Best odds: +650 via FanDuel | $10 bet pays a $65 profit
🗓️ NIT schedule & key dates
- March 16: NIT bracket reveal
- March 18-19: First round
- March 22-23: Second round
- March 25-26: Quarterfinals
- April 1: Semifinals
- April 3: Championship
❓NIT FAQs
Who is the 2025 NIT favorite?
The SMU Mustangs are the favorites to win the 2025 National Invitation Tournament with +350 odds at our best sportsbooks. Those odds imply a win probability of 22.22%.
When does the NIT start?
The NIT begins on March 18. The first round is held on March 18 and March 19 at campus sites.
When does the NIT end?
The tournament concludes with the 2025 NIT championship game on Thursday, April 3. The champion will be crowned at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Where will the NIT be played?
The NIT will be played at campus sites until moving to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the semifinals and championship.
💰 College basketball betting odds pages
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| Women's March Madness odds | March Madness MVP predictions |
| Final Four odds | March Madness prop bets |
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