SoCon Basketball Championship Futures Predictions: Favorites and Top Contenders
Updated November 11, 2026
Updated November 11, 2026
The 2027 Southern Conference (SoCon) Men's Basketball Championship chase features a competitive field mid-major programs seeking the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth. Defending tournament champion Furman enters the season with high expectations, while East Tennessee State, Wofford, Samford, and Western Carolina have the potential to challenge for the title. With Tennessee Tech joining the conference and an expanded 11-team tournament format debuting in Asheville, regular-season positioning could be especially important.
The defending tournament champions return experienced frontcourt talent, including Charles Johnston.
Last season's regular-season champions remain a serious threat under Brooks Savage.
Western Carolina has attracted interest despite significant offseason roster turnover.
Wofford possesses the perimeter talent to challenge the conference's leading teams.
The Bulldogs remain a dangerous contender, and will be expected to remain dangerous offensively.
The defending tournament champions return experienced frontcourt talent, including Charles Johnston.
Last season's regular-season champions remain a serious threat under Brooks Savage.
Western Carolina has attracted interest despite significant offseason roster turnover.
Wofford possesses the perimeter talent to challenge the conference's leading teams.
The Bulldogs remain a dangerous contender, and will be expected to remain dangerous offensively.
Our prediction to win the 2027 SoCon Men's Basketball Championship is Furman. During the 2025-26 season, Furman recorded a 55.2% effective field goal percentage while limiting opponents to 49.5%, demonstrating a positive shooting-efficiency differential. Although the roster has changed, returning forward Charles Johnston and incoming transfer Marcus Kell give Furman a strong foundation for maintaining efficient offensive production as the favorites in this year's college basketball odds in the SoCon.
Furman's frontcourt could prove particularly valuable against the conference's other leading contenders. Johnston averaged 9.0 rebounds per game last season, while Kell contributed 13.6 points per contest at Western Carolina. Their combination of rebounding, interior scoring, and experience should help the Paladins generate quality possessions without relying entirely on perimeter shooting.
East Tennessee State is likely to be Furman's top competition after winning the 2025-26 regular-season championship, while Wofford and Samford have the offensive personnel to create difficult tournament matchups. Nevertheless, Furman's experienced frontcourt, established offensive structure, and proven ability to navigate the SoCon tournament provide the strongest overall case to win this league and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
11 Team Tournament
The 2027 championship includes three opening-round games, making a top-five regular-season finish particularly valuable because those teams avoid the opening round.
All-New Schedule
The SoCon's 20-game, double-round-robin schedule gives every team two meetings with each conference opponent, providing useful head-to-head comparisons before tournament seeding.
Eagles Have Landed
The Golden Eagles enter their first SoCon season under Tobin Anderson, introducing a new opponent whose performance could influence the final standings and tournament matchups.
Neutral Site Setting
The tournament's neutral-site environment at Harrah's Cherokee Center–Asheville rewards programs that can handle consecutive postseason games and have experience playing at the venue.
