Duke Blue Devils projected as 2027 title favorites despite Florida ranking

Duke is the betting market favorite for the 2027 NCAA Tournament, even though Florida holds the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press, Coaches, and CBS Sports polls released Thursday. The Blue Devils' position in the futures odds is anchored by a roster depth that analysts consider superior to any other program in the country.

Adam Finkelstein, a CBS Sports writer, projects Patrick Ngongba II as the ninth pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, Dame Sarr as the 13th, and Cameron Williams as the 17th. Williams provided an immediate impact during Duke's season opener on Monday, scoring off the bench in an 84-50 victory over Army. This configuration gives the Blue Devils three players expected to be selected in the first round of next year's draft.

The talent extends beyond the projected first-rounders. John Blackwell, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 19.1 points per game last season while helping Wisconsin earn a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Duke also retains Cayden Boozer, a five-star recruit who started 11 games for a team that finished 35-3 last year, and Caleb Foster, another former five-star who started 30 games for that squad.

The roster includes Deron Rippey Jr., who ranked 12th in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports. It also features Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, a 17-year-old phenom who recorded 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in his first regular-season game in a Duke uniform. Boumtje Boumtje is not eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft but is currently viewed as the likely first overall pick for the 2028 draft.

This accumulation of stars makes Thursday night's game against Coastal Carolina a focal point for early-season evaluation. The contest serves as a primary opportunity to assess the national title favorite before the schedule intensifies. Finkelstein described the matchup as the one he is most looking forward to on Thursday's slate.

In an interview on Wednesday's Eye On College Basketball Podcast, Finkelstein told Matt Norlander that the quiet nature of the Thursday slate makes the Duke game the most attractive viewing option. He noted that the primary draw is the chance to see the sport's most talented roster in action for a second time this season.