March Madness Odds 2026: Purdue, Houston, Duke, UConn Favorites To Start Season
As the college basketball season gets underway, two teams enter the year as the clear March Madness odds favorites, Purdue and Houston.
Matt Painter's team is just ahead of the Cougars, who beat the Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 last season, on the board. Purdue is the biggest betting favorite with +950 odds to win March Madness, thanks to Braden Smith, the Wooden Award odds favorite.
Houston is just behind Purdue at +1000, with Duke and UConn being the only other programs shorter than +1500 to win March Madness. Meanwhile, the defending champions, Florida, sit at +1700, with other programs being more popular college basketball picks to win the NCAA Tournament this season.
📊 Live March Madness odds 2026
Our March Madness odds update in real time based on the latest college basketball odds.
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🔢 March Madness opening odds
Odds via FanDuel.
- Duke: +1000
- Houston: +1200
- Louisville: +1400
- Purdue: +1400
- BYU: +1600
- Kansas: +1600
- Alabama: +1800
- Arkansas: +1800
- Auburn: +1800
- UConn: +1800
- Kentucky: +2000
- Florida: +2500
- Michigan: +2500
- St. John's: +2500
- Texas Tech: +2500
- Gonzaga: +3000
- Iowa State: +3000
- Tennessee: +3000
- UCLA: +3000
- Arizona: +3500
- Michigan State: +3500
- Baylor: +5000
- Creighton: +5000
- Indiana: +5000
- North Carolina: +5000
💰 March Madness odds history
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Florida | +6000 |
| 2023-24 | UConn | +2000 |
| 2022-23 | UConn | +8000 |
| 2021-22 | Kansas | +1400 |
| 2020-21 | Baylor | +800 |
| 2019-20 | Canceled | |
| 2018-19 | Virginia | +1350 |
| 2017-18 | Villanova | +2700 |
| 2016-17 | North Carolina | +1900 |
| 2015-16 | Villanova | +2500 |
| 2014-15 | Duke | +900 |
| 2013-14 | Connecticut | +6500 |
| 2012-13 | Louisville | +700 |
❓March Madness FAQs
Who is the March Madness 2026 favorite?
Purdue is the 2026 March Madness odds favorite. The Boilermakers' odds (+950) imply a 9.52% probability that they'll win the NCAA Tournament, according to our odds calculator.
Who won March Madness last year?
Florida beat Houston 65-63 in the NCAA Championship to win its third national title in program history.
When is the national championship game?
The 2026 March Madness tournament will begin with Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 15. The NCAA Championship will be played on Monday, April 6.
Where is the national championship game?
The Final Four and national championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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