Looking for non-Power Conference picks for the Title? While power conference teams typically dominate, there are always a few non-power conference teams that defy the odds and make a deep run.
Can Any Non-Power Conference Teams Win the National Title?
Breaking the Mold: Can a Non-Power Conference Team Win It All?
2025 College Basketball Season | 86th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s college basketball
March Madness: Tuesday, March 18th – Monday, April 7th, 2025
Betting the Perfect March Madness Bracket
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, known as March Madness, is such an unpredictable events when we talk about sports.
While power conference teams usually dominate, non-power conference teams sometimes challenge the status quo.
These programs have fewer resources but often rely on experience, chemistry, and strong coaching to compete with the sport’s giants.
This raises the question: can a non-power conference team win it all?
Historically, the answer has been “almost.” But with a few programs consistently punching above their weight, this season could bring a surprise.
Let’s break down the possibilities.
Difference Between Power and Non-Power Conference Teams
Power conferences include the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and Big East.
These schools have the largest budgets, the best facilities, and elite recruiting power.
They dominate the sport’s history and are regularly at the top of the rankings.
Non-power conference teams, often called mid-majors, come from leagues like the American Athletic Conference, West Coast Conference, and Mountain West.
They have smaller resources but can thrive with experienced rosters and cohesive play styles.
Programs like Gonzaga, Houston, and San Diego State have proven that mid-majors can compete, even if they’re underdogs.
Has It Happened Before?
No non-power conference team has won a national title since UNLV in 1990.
The Runnin’ Rebels crushed Duke to cap off a dominant season, becoming the last mid-major to win it all.
Before that, programs like Loyola Chicago (1963) and UTEP (1966) also claimed titles.
More recently, teams like Butler, Gonzaga, and San Diego State have made deep runs.
Butler came painfully close in 2010 and 2011, losing in the championship game both times.
Gonzaga reached the final in 2017 and 2021 but fell short.
San Diego State made it to the title game in 2023 before losing to UConn.
Writer’s Rundown on their March Madness Bracket Expert Picks
Non-Power Conference Teams to Watch
Houston Cazougars (+1275)
Houston has been a powerhouse in recent years, consistently making the NCAA Tournament and reaching the Final Four in 2021.
Now part of the Big 12, their roots as a mid-major still resonate.
Under Kelvin Sampson, Houston’s defense and rebounding make them dangerous in March.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (+1700)
Gonzaga has become the gold standard for mid-majors, consistently ranked in the Top 10.
The Bulldogs thrive with skilled big men and elite guards.
Despite two runner-up finishes, they’re still chasing that elusive championship.
San Diego State Aztecs (+19000)
Fresh off their first national title game appearance in 2023, San Diego State continues to build on its success.
Known for stifling defense and toughness, the Aztecs could be poised for another deep run if their core players stay healthy.
Florida Atlantic Owls (+50000)
FAU was a Cinderella story in 2023, making it to the Final Four.
The Owls return much of their roster and have proven they can compete with power conference teams.
At long odds, they are a sleeper pick to watch.
Non-Power Conference Teams Wining the 2025 National Title?
The road to a national championship is tough for non-power conference teams.
The last few decades have shown that while they can compete, breaking through to win it all is rare.
Still, programs like Houston, Gonzaga, and San Diego State have what it takes to shock the basketball world.
If a non-power conference team does win, it would rewrite the narrative of college basketball.
It may be a long shot, but with odds like these, it’s worth keeping an eye on these underdogs when March Madness begins.
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^ Top^ TopThat's great and all, but where's the 'team that ruins your March Madness bracket' award? 🏀💔
— Perfect Pool (@perfectpoolplay) December 24, 2024
The NCAA Basketball season is upon us, and with it comes the excitement of March Madness! As teams battle it out on the court, the odds to win the National Championship are constantly shifting.
Updated Top 2025 College Basketball National Championship Odds to Win
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| Duke | -103 |
| Florida | +275 |
| Houston | +420 |
| Auburn | +480 |
I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?
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NCAAB Betting: Can Any Non-Power Conference Teams Win National Title?
Previous Betting News
No team from outside a current power conference has won a national championship in college basketball since UNLV in 1990, but that drought could end come April. Here are the only schools with a realistic shot and their NCAAB odds. We are not including Dayton as we looked at the Flyers’ chances on Thursday here at Mybookie College Basketball Odds.
NCAAB: Can Any Non-Power Conference Teams Win National Title?
Gonzaga (+650)
Gonzaga should be a No. 1 seed in the NCAAB Tournament after winning yet another West Coast Conference Tournament title this week – the Zags lost just one conference game all season and two overall. The other loss was around Thanksgiving at a neutral site against Michigan. The Zags also won 2019-20 West Coast Conference regular season outright, their eighth straight regular season title and 23rd overall in program history. Gonzaga beat conference opponents by an average of 20.1 points this season during league play.
Coach Mark Few has the best offensive team in the country, and the Zags can fill it up from multiple spots. No team can go to as many players to score. The Zags are the lone team in the nation to have six players averaging double-digit scoring per game, with a seventh scoring 9.6 points per outing. But Gonzaga is not a great defensive team, and really good offenses can put up points against the Zags.
Filip Petrusev was named WCC Player of the Year. Petrusev averages a team-high 17.8 points per game, which ranks third in the West Coast Conference. He tops the league shooting 56.5 percent from the field. The sophomore is second in the WCC grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game, 5.4 defensive boards per game (third in WCC) and 2.4 offensive rebounds per game (fourth in WCC). He is ninth blocking 0.8 shots each game. Petrusev draws 7.8 fouls per 40 minutes, which is the third-most in the nation.
Corey Kispert and Killian Tillie joined Petrusev as All-WCC First Team selections. Kispert is 11th in the league in points per game (14.3) and ninth in minutes played per game (32.9). He leads the team in free-throw percentage (.818). Tillie led the league in field goal percentage during WCC play (58.0). He averaged 15.1 points in conference action, and 13.6 points overall.
Petrusev, Kispert and Tillie all are finalists for national Player of the Year Awards at their position. Joel Ayayi and Ryan Woolridge were tabbed honorable mention All-Conference, and Drew Timme was named to the All-Freshman team.
GU is the only program in the nation to have reached 30 wins in each of the past four seasons.
San Diego State (+1300)
San Diego State, which was the last team in the nation to lose this season (Feb. 22 vs. UNLV) likely lost its chance at the school’s first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAAB Tournament with a 59-56 upset loss to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament title game last Saturday. The Aggies’ Sam Merrill hit a contested 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds to play.
The Aztecs (30-2), who led by as many 16 points in the first half, had a chance to force overtime, but Malachi Flynn’s 3-point shot from just beyond half court rattled in and out at the buzzer. Utah State dropped both regular-season meetings to San Diego State, losing 77-68 at home and 80-68 on the road.
This is the best San Diego State team since Kawhi Leonard led the Aztecs to the Sweet 16 in 2010-11. Can this team go further than that one? The metrics say yes. SDSU is top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Most likely, SDSU will be a No. 2 seed in the West Region for the NCAAB Tournament.
San Diego State’s 30-2 start ties its best 32-game record in school history. San Diego State is 16-1 in road/neutral games this season, which is very important for the NCAA Tournament. San Diego State is 5-1 in neutral court games this season, including wins over Creighton, Iowa and Utah State. SDSU is 11-1 in NCAA NET Quadrant 1 and 2 games this season, with 11 of those victories coming away from home
Flynn is the team’s star and is the first Aztecs player to be recognized as an All-American since Xavier Thames in 2014. Flynn finished the regular season averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 37.2 percent from long range and 85.7 percent from the line.
The junior guard ranks seventh on the program’s single season scoring list with 564 points. In addition, he is 4th in free throw percentage (87.5 percent), 6th in three point attempts (204), 7th in assists (163), 8th in three-pointers (76), 9th in points-rebounds-assists (870), 15th in field goal attempts (417), 18th in scoring average (17.6/g) and assists (163), and 23rd in field goals (184) and free throws (120).
Flynn was named Mountain West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and is on several National Player of the Year lists.
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