The Tar Heel State has a great history of success on a national level, and it got Bookies.com thinking about championship betting odds and where the entire North Carolina stands in some of the races for trophies. 

There are legitimate options across the board. With pro teams in the NFL, NBA, and NHL and historically strong programs at the college level, North Carolina is a sports-rich state. 

In honor of North Carolina’s sports betting launch on March 11, Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson revealed his odds as to which North Carolina team in the four major U.S. sports has the best chance to win the next championship. 

Next North Carolina Sports Championship Odds

This market is for entertainment purposes only and has been created by the Bookies.com team. It is not currently available on betting apps. Percentages will not add up to 100% most time because these are designed to simulate odds a sportsbook would set.

The men’s basketball programs at North Carolina and Duke are always on the hunt. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils own two of the richest traditions in NCAA history. UNC owns six national titles, the most recent in 2017, Duke has seven twos, the last being in 2019. 

But what about now? Each is led as a new coach begins a new era. So which is in a better spot? 

Hubert Davis led UNC to the national title game in his first year, in 2021-22. Last season, however, the Tar Heels failed to even make the NCAA Tournament. Jon Scheyer guided Duke to a third-place finish in the ACC in 2022-23, his first season, but a modest second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. 

RELATED: North Carolina Sports Betting Guide: 8 Operators On Track For March 11 Launch

Both programs are in solid shape now. As of Feb. 20, they sit 1 and 2 in the ACC standings and are ranked 8th and 10th in the AP poll. UNC has two Top 10 recruits coming in 2024-25, Duke has the nation’s top-ranked overall class. 

North Carolina is rich in college baseball right now, too. Three teams ranked in the Top 15 as of Feb. 20, but none higher than Wake Forest, which is No. 1 in the nation a year after advancing to the College World Series semifinals. The Demon Deacons are +700 favorites to win the title in college baseball futures odds. 

Duke, North Carolina, and East Carolina are also in the mix. All four teams, as well as NC State, had Top 31 recruiting classes for 2023 and are all  Top 40 for 2024. They all should remain competitive, though none will be favored to win a national title. 

NC State women’s basketball was ranked No. 6 in the country as of Feb. 20 and has advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in five of the last six NCAA Tournaments. Despite the lofty ranking, the Wolfpack are far behind the top contenders on the women’s basketball futures market. 

While the Tar Heel State is a hotbed for college basketball and baseball, its football success is legit but not considered on a national championship level. NC State finished 9-4, 6-2 in the ACC last year, while Duke and UNC each won eight games overall. None of those teams have odds better than +15000 to win next year’s title. Only UNC has an incoming recruiting class ranked in the Top 25 (it’s 17th). We’ve combined all NCAA football programs under one umbrella. 

From a pro sports perspective, the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and NFL’s Carolina Panthers have the worst odds to win next year’s title in their respective sports. The Panthers have a leg up on the Hornets because the NFL is structured so teams can bounce back quicker, plus they have Bryce Young and the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense to build around. 

The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, however, are in the mix right now. They’re at +900 to win the 2024 Stanley Cup, the fifth-lowest odds in the league. The NHL is known for its free-for-all postseasons, and Carolina is known this season for being as good as anyone when on its game. 

They’re also in a good spot for success in 2024-25 and beyond. It won’t shock NHL fans if the Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup since 2005-06 

The Field includes all the college football teams, plus other college programs that could put a charge in the system, including Wake Forest and NC State men’s basketball, Duke and UNC women’s basketball, and the aforementioned college baseball programs. 

Special Mentions

This list was only for pro teams and major sports in NCAA Division I programs. That left out teams that likely could win national titles in the coming years, Duke’s vaunted lacrosse program; the Wake Forest women’s golf team, the preseason No. 1 team in the nation heading into 2024; or North Carolina’s women’s field hockey team, which won the national title in 2023.