🏀 March Madness Odds 2026: Favorites, Best Bets & NCAA Tournament Odds for Every Team
The March Madness odds have already shifted after the 2026 NCAA Tournament was revealed on Selection Sunday. Duke is the No. 1 overall seed, but fellow top seed Michigan leads the March Madness betting favorites ahead of the First Four on Tuesday/Wednesday and the first round tipping off Thursday.
Arizona and Florida, the other two No. 1 seeds, slot behind Duke and Michigan atop the March Madness betting lines with No. 2 seed Houston rounding out the top five. Those teams are the only ones with March Madness odds shorter than 20/1 across the board. Below, I break down the opening odds and my favorite early values to bet now.
🏀 Live March Madness odds 2026: Who will win NCAA Tournament?
See the official March Madness bracket for every team's path to the Final Four.
🏆 Who will win March Madness 2026?
See all of our March Madness predictions from our college basketball experts.
As much as it pains me to say it as a proud North Carolina alumnus, I'm picking Duke to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils are the top-ranked team by KenPom with a top-four offensive and defensive rating (adjusted for competition), and star freshman Cameron Boozer is in the midst of one of the best seasons in college basketball history. Duke hasn't lost since Feb. 7 despite missing multiple starters, but in a field full of injury-riddled contenders, Jon Scheyer's team should be at full strength when it counts.
🔮 March Madness odds: Best bets to win 2026 NCAA Tournament
See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Prediction | Best odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duke to win national title | +400 via FanDuel | No. 1 team by KenPom with the best player (Cameron Boozer) and 2 starters likely returning |
| Houston to win national title | +1100 via Caesars | Kelvin Sampson is no stranger to the Final Four, and he finally has a team that can score buckets |
| Iowa State to win national title | +2500 via Caesars | T.J. Otzelberger's team forces turnovers at an elite rate, and star Joshua Jefferson does the rest |
| Purdue to win national title | +3500 via bet365 | No. 1 offense led by soon-to-be assist king Braden Smith; senior-heavy lineup that makes big shots |
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Sportsbook Review may receive a commission if you sign up through our links. Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario. 21+ only. (Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
💰 March Madness odds for every team
NCAA Tournament opening odds via DraftKings as of Sunday, March 15.
| Team | Seed (Region) | To win title |
|---|---|---|
| Duke | 1 (East) | +330 |
| Michigan | 1 (Midwest) | +350 |
| Arizona | 1 (West) | +400 |
| Florida | 1 (South) | +700 |
| Houston | 2 (South) | +1000 |
| UConn | 2 (East) | +1700 |
| Illinois | 3 (South) | +1900 |
| Iowa State | 2 (Midwest) | +2200 |
| Purdue | 2 (West) | +3500 |
| Michigan State | 3 (East) | +4000 |
| Kansas | 4 (East) | +5000 |
| Arkansas | 4 (West) | +5000 |
| St. John's | 5 (East) | +5000 |
| Gonzaga | 3 (West) | +5500 |
| Virginia | 3 (Midwest) | +6000 |
| Vanderbilt | 5 (South) | +6500 |
| Wisconsin | 5 (West) | +7000 |
| Tennessee | 6 (Midwest) | +9000 |
| Nebraska | 4 (South) | +10000 |
| Kentucky | 7 (Midwest) | +10000 |
| Alabama | 4 (Midwest) | +10000 |
| North Carolina | 6 (South) | +11000 |
| Texas Tech | 5 (Midwest) | +11000 |
| Louisville | 6 (East) | +12000 |
| BYU | 6 (West) | +13000 |
| UCLA | 7 (East) | +13000 |
| Iowa | 9 (South) | +20000 |
| Clemson | 8 (South) | +20000 |
| Texas A&M | 10 (South) | +20000 |
| NC State | 11 (West) | +20000 |
| Missouri | 10 (West) | +25000 |
| Miami (FL) | 7 (West) | +25000 |
| Villanova | 8 (West) | +25000 |
| Utah State | 9 (West) | +25000 |
| Saint Mary's | 7 (South) | +25000 |
| Ohio State | 8 (East) | +25000 |
| Georgia | 8 (Midwest) | +30000 |
| UCF | 10 (East) | +30000 |
| TCU | 9 (East) | +30000 |
| SMU | 11 (Midwest) | +35000 |
| VCU | 11 (South) | +40000 |
| Saint Louis | 9 (Midwest) | +40000 |
| Santa Clara | 10 (Midwest) | +40000 |
| Texas | 11 (West) | +40000 |
| Akron | 12 (Midwest) | +50000 |
| South Florida | 11 (East) | +60000 |
| Miami (OH) | 11 (Midwest) | +100000 |
| Penn | 14 (South) | +100000 |
| McNeese | 12 (South) | +150000 |
| Northern Iowa | 12 (East) | +150000 |
| UMBC | 16 (Midwest) | +150000 |
| Hawaii | 13 (West) | +150000 |
| Troy | 13 (South) | +150000 |
| Hofstra | 13 (Midwest) | +200000 |
| Prairie View A&M | 16 (South) | +200000 |
| Siena | 16 (East) | +200000 |
| Queens | 15 (West) | +200000 |
| Lehigh | 16 (South) | +200000 |
| Idaho | 15 (South) | +200000 |
| North Dakota State | 14 (East) | +200000 |
| Cal Baptist | 13 (East) | +200000 |
| Wright State | 14 (Midwest) | +200000 |
| Tennessee State | 15 (Midwest) | +200000 |
| Howard | 16 (Midwest) | +200000 |
| High Point | 12 (West) | +200000 |
| LIU | 16 (West) | +200000 |
| Kennesaw State | 14 (West) | +200000 |
| Furman | 15 (East) | +200000 |
📈 Past March Madness winners & championship odds
| Year | Champion | Seed | Pre-tournament odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Florida | 1 | +1400 |
| 2024 | UConn | 1 | +350 |
| 2023 | UConn | 4 | +1600 |
| 2022 | Kansas | 1 | +1100 |
| 2021 | Baylor | 1 | +1000 |
| 2020 | Cancelled (COVID-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Virginia | 1 | +750 |
| 2018 | Villanova | 1 | +900 |
| 2017 | North Carolina | 1 | +700 |
| 2016 | Villanova | 2 | +2000 |
| 2015 | Duke | 1 | +700 |
Since 2000, 17 of the last 25 national champions have been No. 1 seeds, including seven of the last champions dating back to 2017. The only exception came in 2023, when UConn won as a No. 4 seed in one of the craziest tournaments of all time - only to repeat the following season as a No. 1 seed.
❓ 2026 March Madness odds FAQ
Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions for March Madness.
Who is the favorite to win March Madness in 2026?
Michigan (+325) and Duke (+333) are the favorites to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament via BetMGM. Duke is the No. 1 overall seed in the East Region, while Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest.
How are March Madness odds calculated?
The March Madness odds to win the NCAA Tournament are set by sportsbooks based on teams' performances across the entire season and recent weeks. They also factor in player health and availability; strength of schedule; projected matchups in the bracket; and betting action. Odds shift throughout the tournament as teams are eliminated and betting volume changes.
What is the 2026 March Madness bracket?
The official March Madness bracket was released on Selection Sunday with Duke (East), Arizona (West), Michigan (Midwest), and Florida (South) as the No. 1 seeds. The No. 2 seeds are UConn (East), Purdue (West), Iowa State (Midwest), and Houston (South).
What are the 2026 March Madness regions?
The four regions (with their No. 1 seeds) are the East Region (Duke), West Region (Arizona), Midwest Region (Michigan), and South Region (Florida).
When does March Madness 2026 start?
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17, in Dayton, Ohio. The first round starts Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20. The Final Four is Saturday, April 4, with the national championship on Monday, April 6.
Where is the 2026 Final Four?
The 2026 Final Four and national championship game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Final Four tips off Saturday, April 4, with the championship game on Monday, April 6.
Who won March Madness last year?
The Florida Gators won the 2025 NCAA Tournament, defeating Houston in a 65-63 final to win the national championship. Walter Clayton Jr. was named the March Madness Most Outstanding Player.
What seed wins March Madness the most?
Since 1985, 37 of 40 champions have been a top-four seed with more than half of those champions hailing from the top seed line. The lowest seed to win since 1985 is No. 8 Villanova in 1985. We break it all down in our March Madness stats and records.
Related Articles
