National title odds for the 2019-20 college basketball season have been released and UNC has been given favorable betting odds by major sports books.

Virginia, the defending national champions, are listed as the favorites with 5-1 odds. After being the first No. 1 seed in history to lose to a No. 16 seed, the Cavaliers rebounded this season with a 85-77 overtime win over Texas Tech in the national title game on Monday evening.

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North Carolina has been given 20-1 odds for the 2019-20 national title in these early rankings. The Tar Heels share the same odds as Michigan and Auburn, but are behind Virginia, Duke (8-1), Kentucky (8-1), Gonzaga (10-1), Michigan State (12-1), Louisville (15-1), and Villanova (15-1).

The Tar Heels are losing several key players from this year’s squad. Seniors Luke Maye, Cam Johnson, and Kenny Williams have exhausted their eligibility and freshmen Coby White and Nassir Little have each declared for the draft.

That leaves rising junior Garrison Brooks as the only returning starter for North Carolina next season. Brooks started all 36 games for the Tar Heels this season and ranked sixth on the team with 7.9 points per game.

Roy Williams’ squad returns several key bench players from last season as well, including Seventh Woods, Brandon Robinson, and Leaky Black. The Tar Heels have also signed five-star center Armando Bacot and three-star guard Jeremiah Francis in 2019 recruiting class. Five-star guard Cole Anthony, the No. 4 player in the 2019 class, listed UNC among his top four schools and is expected to make a final decision sometime in April.

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