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.
From 1984 to 2022, the favorite to win the National Championship went on to win 20 times, lost in the National Championship five 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
