Below is a table of the favorites to win the National Championship heading into the Final Four and how they have performed. Also listed are the pre-Final Four odds of the eventual National Champion.
Summary: Since 1984 the favorite to win the National Championship prior to the Final Four has won the National Championship 22 times; lost in the National Championship game 5 times and lost in the National Semifinal 13 times.
| Year | Nat'l Champ Favorite Team |
Nat'l Champ Favorite Seed |
Nat'l Champ Favorite Odds |
Nat'l Champ Favorite Result |
Nat'l Champ Winner |
Nat'l Champ Winner Seed |
Nat'l Champ Winner Odds |
Nat'l Champ Winner Odds Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Connecticut | 1 | -190 | Won NC | Connecticut | 1 | -190 | 1st |
| 2023 | Connecticut | 4 | -125 | Won NC | Connecticut | 4 | -125 | 1st |
| 2022 | Duke | 2 | +160 | Lost SF | Kansas | 1 | +180 | 2nd |
| 2021 | Gonzaga | 1 | -225 | Lost NC | Baylor | 1 | +375 | 2nd |
| 2020 | Tournament Canceled | |||||||
| 2019 | Virginia | 1 | +158 | Won NC | Virginia | 1 | +158 | 1st |
| 2018 | Villanova | 1 | -105 | Won NC | Villanova | 1 | -105 | 1st |
| 2017 | North Carolina | 1 | +141 | Won NC | North Carolina | 1 | +141 | 1st |
| 2016 | North Carolina | 1 | -104 | Lost NC | Villanova | 2 | +253 | 2nd |
| 2015 | Kentucky | 1 | -140 | Lost SF | Duke | 1 | +300 | 2nd |
| 2014 | Florida | 1 | -120 | Lost SF | Connecticut | 7 | +800 | 4th |
| 2013 | Louisville | 1 | -111 | Won NC | Louisville | 1 | -111 | 1st |
| 2012 | Kentucky | 1 | -135 | Won NC | Kentucky | 1 | -135 | 1st |
| 2011 | Kentucky | 4 | +150 | Lost SF | Connecticut | 3 | +225 | 2nd |
| 2010 | Duke | 1 | +120 | Won NC | Duke | 1 | +120 | 1st |
| 2009 | North Carolina | 1 | +120 | Won NC | North Carolina | 1 | +120 | 1st |
| 2008 | North Carolina | 1 | +150 | Lost SF | Kansas | 1 | +200 | 2nd |
| 2007 | Florida | 1 | +200 | Won NC | Florida | 1 | +200 | 1st |
| 2006 | Florida | 3 | +150 | Won NC | Florida | 3 | +150 | 1st |
| 2005 | North Carolina | 1 | +140 | Won NC | North Carolina | 1 | +140 | 1st |
| 2004 | Connecticut | 2 | +140 | Won NC | Connecticut | 2 | +140 | 1st |
| 2003 | Texas | 1 | +200 | Lost SF | Syracuse | 3 | +350 | 4th |
| 2002 | Kansas | 1 | +140 | Lost SF | Maryland | 1 | +180 | 2nd |
| 2001 | Duke | 1 | +100 | Won NC | Duke | 1 | +100 | 1st |
| 2000 | Michigan State | 1 | -200 | Won NC | Michigan State | 1 | -200 | 1st |
| 1999 | Duke | 1 | -300 | Lost NC | Connecticut | 1 | +350 | 2nd |
| 1998 | North Carolina | 1 | +100 | Lost SF | Kentucky | 2 | +140 | 2nd |
| 1997 | Kentucky | 1 | +100 | Lost NC | Arizona | 4 | +800 | 4th |
| 1996 | Kentucky | 1 | -300 | Won NC | Kentucky | 1 | -300 | 1st |
| 1995 | UCLA | 1 | +140 | Won NC | UCLA | 1 | +140 | 1st |
| 1994 | Arkansas | 1 | +150 | Won NC | Arkansas | 1 | +150 | 1st |
| 1993 | Kentucky | 1 | -125 | Lost SF | North Carolina | 1 | +250 | 2nd |
| 1992 | Duke | 1 | -200 | Won NC | Duke | 1 | -200 | 1st |
| 1991 | UNLV | 1 | -200 | Lost SF | Duke | 2 | +600 | 3rd |
| 1990 | UNLV | 1 | +140 | Won NC | UNLV | 1 | +140 | 1st |
| 1989 | Duke | 2 | +160 | Lost SF | Michigan | 3 | +200 | T-2nd |
| 1988 | Arizona | 1 | +140 | Lost SF | Kansas | 6 | +400 | 4th |
| 1987 | UNLV | 1 | +120 | Lost SF | Indiana | 1 | +250 | 3rd |
| 1986 | Louisville | 2 | +160 | Won NC | Louisville | 2 | +160 | 1st |
| 1985 | Georgetown | 1 | -200 | Lost NC | Villanova | 8 | +350 | T-2nd |
| 1984 | Georgetown | 1 | +160 | Won NC | Georgetown | 1 | +160 | 1st |
