The conclusion of the NFL season means the sports world will focus much more of its attention on college basketball. With the NCAA tournament still a month away, the AP Top 25 Poll and latest betting odds suggest that there is a clear favorite to win the 2022 national championship.

Gonzaga is back atop the college basketball rankings, receiving 56 of 60 possible first-place votes for the Week 15 AP Poll. With +400 odds to win the championship at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bulldogs are easily considered the team to beat.

By defeating St. Mary’s 74-58, Gonzaga extended its winning streak to 14 games for a 21-2 overall record. The Bulldogs have only lost to No. 9 Duke and No. 25 Alabama. Gonzaga has beaten No. 20 Texas, No. 13 UCLA and No. 11 Texas Tech by double digits.

Former No. 1 Auburn fell to No. 2 in the poll after losing to Arkansas. The Tigers are 23-2 with both of their losses coming in overtime against teams ranked in the latest AP Poll. Auburn has +1000 national championship odds.

Gonzaga entered the preseason atop the AP poll and has taken back the No. 1 overall ranking for the third time this season. The Bulldogs have spent more time ranked No. 1 than any other team over the last four seasons. Baylor defeated Gonzaga in the 2021 National Championship game, handing the Bulldogs their only loss of the season.

Gonzaga leads the nation with 90 points per game and an average scoring margin of more than 25 points per game. Junior Drew Timme leads Gonzaga in scoring with 17.7 points per game. Potential No. 1 overall draft pick Chet Holmgren leads the Bulldogs with 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as a freshman.

No. 3 Arizona and No. 4 Kentucky are tied for second with +800 odds to win the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats are 22-2 and have only been defeated by No. 16 Tennessee and UCLA, which Arizona defeated in their second meeting. Kentucky’s only loss in the last 11 games has come against Auburn, and forward Oscar Tshiebwe might be the leading candidate to be named the National Player of the Year.

No. 5 Purdue (+1000), No. 6 Kansas (+1400) and No. 9 Duke (+1400) are the only other teams with better than 15/1 title odds.

Gonzaga Basketball
Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs controls the ball against Mattias Markusson #14 of the Loyola Marymount Lions in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on Feb. 27, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. William Mancebo/Getty Images
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