If Indiana sports have proven anything lately, this might finally be the time the Purdue Boilermakers get over the hump.
Although Matt Painter’s team has failed to make it past the Sweet Sixteen in five consecutive years, the Boilermakers enter the new campaign as +900 favorites in the March Madness and college basketball odds, with Houston (+1000) and Duke (+1200) right on their heels.
Here's a look at the early National Championship odds as we get ready for a new college basketball season, set to tip off on Monday, November 3.
March Madness odds
| Team |  |
|---|---|
 Purdue Boilermakers |
+900 |
 Houston Cougars |
+1000 |
 Duke Blue Devils |
+1200 |
 UConn Huskies |
+1400 |
 Kentucky Wildcats |
+1400 |
 Florida Gators |
+1600 |
 BYU Cougars |
+1800 |
 Michigan Wolverines |
+1800 |
 St. John's Red Storm |
+1800 |
 Kansas Jayhawks |
+2000 |
Odds as of 10-31-2025.
March Madness 2026 schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 |
| First Four | March 17-18 |
| First Round | March 19-20 |
| Second Round | March 21-22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 |
| Final Four | April 4 |
| National Championship Game | April 6 |
Popular March Madness markets
- Women's March Madness odds
- March Madness Final Four odds
- March Madness MVP odds
- March Madness betting sites
Past March Madness winners
| Year | Champion | Opening odds | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Florida | +8000 | Houston |
| 2024 | Connecticut | +1100 | Purdue |
| 2023 | Connecticut | +1600 | San Diego State |
| 2022 | Kansas | +2000 | North Carolina |
| 2021 | Baylor | +800 | Gonzaga |
| 2020 | No tournament (COVID-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Virginia | +1800 | Texas Tech |
| 2018 | Villanova | +1200 | Michigan |
| 2017 | North Carolina | +2400 | Gonzaga |
| 2016 | Villanova | +2000 | North Carolina |
| 2015 | Duke | +1000 | Wisconsin |
March Madness trends
• Of the 20 teams that have entered the tournament with undefeated records, only seven have gone on to win the national championship.
• Only 13 teams successfully defended their national championship the following season.
• UCLA has the most NCAA titles of all time (11), although the Bruins have not won the tournament since 1995.
• A No. 1-seeded team has won the national championship 59.6% of the time since regional seeding was introduced in 1979.
March Madness Title Odds FAQs
The Purdue Boilermakers (+900) are the current favorites to win the national championship.
The Florida Gators won March Madness in 2025, defeating Houston 65-63 in the national championship.
The Duke Blue Devils are currently listed at +1200 to win the natty.
Calculating March Madness odds involves assessing the probability of different outcomes in the tournament. Oddsmakers use various factors including team performance, player health, head-to-head matchups, tournament experience, coaching, venue, and advanced statistics. Bookmakers use these factors to set initial odds, and as bets are placed, odds may shift based on the money wagered on each side.
The only other school to win three-straight national championships is UCLA, who actually won seven straight titles from 1967-1973.
