2024-25 College Basketball Power Rankings (Jan. 6)

College basketball season is back, which means it’s time to search for betting edges on the hardwood. 

Below, you’ll find FTN’s college basketball power rankings for the 2024 season. These will be updated every week after games, adjusting for results, news and injuries. We can use these ratings to create a point spread between any two teams in the country on a neutral court. Just subtract the lower team’s rating from the higher-ranked team’s rating. If you compare that number to the spread of a particular game, you can find situations where FTN identifies a betting edge. We will also keep track of teams that are trending up or down, helping to further identify value compared to the public’s perception on media polls.

Here is the latest iteration of the FTN College Basketball Power Rankings for the 2024-2025 season! 

Key Takeaways 

• Auburn has ascended to its rightful spot atop our FTN Power Rankings. The Tigers continue to roll the competition, blowtorching both Monmouth and Missouri by almost identical scores. Auburn ranks No. 1 overall in adjusted offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. This is Bruce Pearl’s best team since he reached the Final Four in 2019.  
• Houston dropped one spot to No. 2 overall but still remains one of the clear best teams in the nation. The Cougars combined a 13-point road win at Oklahoma State with a 31-point destruction of a good BYU team. Houston is No. 1 overall in 2P defense, allowing a microscopic 37.5% from inside the arc. 
• Kansas responded to a conference-opening home loss to West Virginia with a 99-48 destruction of UCF. The Jayhawks move up two spots to No. 6 overall in our power rankings but have tough road games at Cincinnati and Iowa State upcoming. 
• Connecticut is our biggest faller, down three spots to No. 10 overall. The Huskies have won eight straight games but have battled injuries throughout the season. They escaped at home to Providence on Sunday but will be without star freshman Liam McNeeley for a few weeks with an ankle injury. 
• Our biggest riser in the top 25 is Vanderbilt, which has started the year 13-1. The Commodores’ non-conference strength of schedule only ranks 319th, but new head coach Mark Byington deserves credit for a hot start. Vanderbilt avoids playing a top SEC team until January 18 at home against in-state rival Tennessee.