The college basketball season is just a few weeks away as the Louisville basketball program is set to tip off with the Kansas Jayhawks on October 24 for their blockbuster preseason showdown. The Cards are entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations, and Pat Kelsey has this squad eyeing history once again.
After a historic season last year and an incredible run in year one with Kelsey leading the squad, Louisville hit the Transfer Portal hard and earned key commitments from the 2025 recruiting class. The Cardinals have the No. 10 best odds to win their first National Title since 2013, with +2000 odds. However, this fanbase and program are seeking their first ACC Title since joining the conference in 2014.
FanDuel recently dropped its preseason odds to win the conference, and Louisville is sitting pretty good up at the top, but a familiar ACC powerhouse is above them, setting up for two intense showdowns in the regular season.
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Louisville basketball ACC Title odds
The Duke Blue Devils open up as slight favorites to win the ACC with +155 odds, while Louisville is just right there behind them with +220 odds. The Blue Devils had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation after Jon Scheyer landed five recruits in the top 50, including four 5-stars and one 4-star.
The Cardinals and Blue Devils took a different approach, as Louisville landed three recruits in the top 20 from the Transfer Portal and gained valuable experience, while also securing the No. 1 point guard and a 5-star point guard in Mikel Brown Jr.
Luckily for the fans, Louisville and Duke got scheduled to play each other twice this year, setting up two crucial but massive showdowns for these two National Title-contending squads. The Blue Devils have the third-best odds to win the 2026 National Championship with +1100 odds.
The Cardinals and Blue Devils are the dominant favorites to win the ACC, with North Carolina far behind with the third-best odds at +700, and North Carolina State has +750 odds to win it, and Clemson has +1900 odds to win to round out the top five.
ACC Title prediction
With the Cardinals heading to the Transfer Portal and acquiring three elite shooters, while also landing a dominant point guard, Louisville fans should expect a thrilling season. The Cardinals' non-conference schedule is a gauntlet and should prepare them for their conference schedule, but if they want that ACC crown, it is clear that those two showdowns with Duke will be massive.
Louisville and Duke play both games in January, and the two games are just 20 days apart. The Cardinals also end the season with four out of six games on the road, as they will face SMU, North Carolina, Clemson, and Miami all away from KFC Yum! Center.
However, Kelsey has built one of the best teams in the nation, and with key returners such as J'Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor, this team is poised for a historic run. It is going to be a close battle with the Blue Devils, but as of now, we predict Louisville to take home the ACC crown, mainly due to their team's experience.
The Blue Devils expect to be one of the best teams in the nation, but sometimes a lack of experience can hurt teams in college basketball. With Louisville's experience in Isaac McKneely, Ryan Conwell, their key returners, and their 5-star point guard sensation, the Cardinals will make history and secure their first ACC Title.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.