Wooden Award Odds & Favorites 2026: Duke's Boozer Continues To Pull Away
With conference play on the horizon in college basketball, there's a runaway favorite in the Wooden Award odds race.
Duke freshman phenom Cameron Boozer is a +125 favorite to win the Wooden Award after leading the Blue Devils to three straight top 25 wins over Arkansas, Florida, and Michigan State. Purdue's Braden Smith (+900) and Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (+1300) remain Boozer's biggest competition, with both seniors leading top-ranked teams.
However, Boozer isn't the only freshman giving Smith and Lendeborg, two preseason favorites, a run for their money this college basketball season. BYU's AJ Dybansta (+2200), North Carolina's Caleb Wilson (+3000), Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. (+3500), and Arizona's Koa Peat (+3500) are all among the biggest favorites.
📊 Live Wooden Award odds 2026
Our Wooden Award odds update in real time based on the latest college basketball odds.
📈 Wooden Award betting insights
Wooden Award betting insights via BetMGM.
| Highest ticket percentage | Highest handle percentage | Biggest liabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Braden Smith, Purdue (14.1%) | Cameron Boozer, Duke (45.6%) | Cameron Boozer, Duke |
| Cameron Boozer, Duke (10.7%) | Braden Smith, Purdue (7.9%) | JT Toppin, Texas Tech |
| JT Toppin, Texas Tech (9.1%) | JT Toppin, Texas Tech (7.1%) | Braden Smith, Purdue |
🔢 Wooden Award opening odds
Odds via DraftKings.
- Braden Smith (+500)
- JT Toppin (+750)
- Yaxel Lendeborg (+1000)
- AJ Dybantsa (+1200)
- Trey Kaufman-Renn (+1800)
- Darryn Peterson (+2000)
- Darrion Williams (+2000)
- Otega Oweh (+2500)
- Solo Ball (+2500)
- Donovan Dent (+2500)
- Boogie Fland (+2500)
- Emanuel Sharp (+3000)
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie (+3000)
- Bryce Hopkins (+3000)
- Richie Saunders (+3500)
- Alex Karaban (+3500)
- Tahaad Pettiford (+3500)
- Milos Uzan (+4000)
- DJ Wagner (+4000)
💰 Wooden Award odds history
| Year | Name | Opening odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cooper Flagg, Duke | +700 |
| 2024 | Zach Edey, Purdue | +175 |
| 2023 | Zach Edey, Purdue | +3500 |
| 2022 | Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky | +4000 |
| 2021 | Luka Garza, Iowa | +250 |
| 2020 | Obi Toppin, Dayton | N/A |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson, Duke | N/A |
| 2018 | Jalen Brunson, Villanova | N/A |
| 2017 | Frank Mason, Kansas | N/A |
| 2016 | Buddy Hield, Oklahoma | N/A |
| 2015 | Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin | N/A |
| 2014 | Doug McDermott, Creighton | N/A |
| 2013 | Trey Burke, Michigan | N/A |
❓ Wooden Award FAQs
Who is the Wooden Award favorite?
Duke's Cameron Boozer is the Wooden Award odds favorite. Boozer's odds (+125) imply a 44.44% probability he'll win the award, according to our odds calculator.
When is the Wooden Award winner announced?
The Wooden Award winner is announced following the NCAA championship game.
Has a freshman ever won the Wooden Award?
Four freshmen have won the Wooden Award. Duke's Cooper Flagg last year, Duke's Zion Williamson (2019), Kentucky's Anthony Davis (2012), and Texas' Kevin Durant (2007).
Who won the Wooden Award last year?
Duke's Cooper Flagg won the Wooden Award last year as a freshman.
What is the difference between the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award?
Although both are college basketball player of the year awards, the voting processes are different.
The Naismith Award is voted on by a board of NCAA basketball administrators, media members, and head coaches. The Wooden Award is voted on by more than 1,000 sports writers and former winners, and also takes into consideration a player's academic performance and character on top of their play.
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