Vegas hosts top college basketball teams in two November tournaments

The 2026-27 college basketball season has begun, and Las Vegas is set to host a dense schedule of high-profile neutral-site games. Twenty of the 25 teams currently ranked in the Associated Press poll will play locally, with most participating in two major tournaments scheduled for November.

The Players Era Eight tournament runs from November 17 to 19 exclusively at Michelob Ultra Arena. The larger Players Era 16 event takes place from November 24 to 28, splitting games between Michelob Ultra Arena and T-Mobile Arena. Each of the top five teams in the initial AP poll has at least one nonconference game on the local schedule.

Sportsbooks have posted futures odds for the upcoming events. For the national championship, Arizona leads the field at 25-to-1 odds at Circa Sports. The Wildcats lost to Michigan 91-73 in last year's Final Four but return starters Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov. Duke and Florida hold the shortest odds at +450 and +550, respectively.

In the Players Era Eight bracket, Kansas is the favorite at 3-to-1. The Jayhawks face UNLV in the opening round and then either Auburn or West Virginia. Kansas joined veteran big man Trey Kaufman-Renn to its roster after an exhibition loss to Duke, pairing him with likely top 2027 NBA Draft pick Tyran Stokes. Florida and Houston are also strong contenders, but they are on the same side of the bracket, setting up a difficult semifinal.

Alabama is the longest-priced favorite in the Players Era 16 tournament at 14-to-1. The Crimson Tide open against Baylor and may face Gonzaga in the second round. Seven teams are projected as primary contenders in that event, including Miami, Michigan, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Iowa State, and Louisville. Alabama features playmaker Aden Holloway and is considered the best shooting team in the group.

For individual awards, Duke center Patrick Ngongba is the favorite for the Wooden Player of the Year at 65-to-1 odds at Boomer’s Sportsbook. The near 7-foot junior scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 32-minute exhibition against Kansas. Duke won the award the previous two years with Cam Boozer and Cooper Flagg.

In conference futures, Kentucky is listed to win the SEC at 18-to-1 odds. The Wildcats transferred sharpshooting forward Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State to join third-year coach Mark Pope's system. Kentucky was a near odds-on favorite to win the conference a year ago before a down season lowered its stock.