The March Madness bracket is down to 16 teams.
Three No. 1 seeds remain after Florida fell to Iowa, and those three squads make up the top of the National Championship odds board.
Michigan still has the best odds to win March Madness, with Arizona and Duke next up in the latest college basketball odds ahead of the Sweet 16.
March Madness odds
| Team |  |
Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|
 Michigan |
+300 | No. 4 Alabama (Friday) |
 Arizona |
+325 | No. 4 Arkansas (Thursday) |
 Duke |
+400 | No. 5 St. John's (Friday) |
 Houston |
+700 | No. 3 Illinois (Thursday) |
 Purdue |
+1400 | No. 11 Texas (Thursday) |
 Illinois |
+1400 | No. 2 Houston (Thursday) |
 Iowa State |
+1600 | No. 6 Tennessee (Friday) |
 UConn |
+2500 | No. 3 Michigan State (Friday) |
 Michigan State |
+3000 | No. 2 UConn (Friday) |
 St. John's |
+3000 | No. 1 Duke (Friday) |
 Arkansas |
+4000 | No. 1 Arizona (Thursday) |
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How these odds have shifted
Duke had the best odds to win the NCAA Tournament heading into Round 1, but their odds jumped from +350 to +475 despite surviving a scare from Siena. The Blue Devils are clearly missing Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster, who continue to nurse injuries.
In that time frame, Duke has been passed up by Arizona and Michigan in the March Madness winner odds. Michigan is up to +300, while Arizona is second on the board at +325 after taking down Utah State in Round 2.
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March Madness favorites
Michigan (+300)
Before their setback against Duke, Michigan's only stumble came in January against Wisconsin, and Yaxel Lendeborg & Co. responded by rattling off 11 consecutive wins en route to the No. 1 seed in the Midwest.
Michigan crushed Howard to jump-start its tournament and did the very same thing to Saint Louis in Round 2. Oddsmakers have taken notice and slotted them into the No. 1 spot, at least for now.
Arizona (+325)
The Wildcats sat atop the odds board and were undefeated before suffering back-to-back losses to No. 14 Kansas and No. 16 Texas Tech.
However, nine straight wins — including running the table to win the Big 12 Tournament — have helped them reshape the narrative.
Arizona hasn't made it past the Sweet Sixteen in more than a decade, and this roster may be as well-positioned as any to get over the hump.
It looked like its tournament was in danger against Utah State, but the Wildcats ultimately prevailed, and now they face Arkansas with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.
Duke (+400)
The Blue Devils’ win over Michigan vaulted them to No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25, and they haven't looked back, earning an unsurprising No. 1 seed in the East Region.
Cameron Boozer is the player to watch in Durham, emerging as one of the most highly-touted prospects for the upcoming NBA Draft. However, basketball is a team game, and the Blue Devils were clearly missing the injured Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster in a close shave vs. No. 16 Siena.
The Blue Devils did cruise against No. 9 TCU in Round 2, though, and some time off could serve them well ahead of the Sweet Sixteen.
2026 March Madness futures bets
| Bet | Odds | Bet Date | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Title: Michigan |
+450 | Feb. 11 | 0.5 |
❌ Final Four:  Kansas |
+350 | Feb. 11 | 0.5 |
❌ To Make NCAA Tournament:  USC |
-105 | Feb. 11 | 0.5 |
| West Region: Arizona |
-135 | Mar. 18 | 1.0 |
| Elite Eight: Iowa State |
-115 | Mar. 18 | 1.0 |
The Michigan Wolverines are atop nearly every rating system. Considering their size, experience, depth, and a 5-0 record against ranked opponents, I'm backing them to win the title with my predictions for March Madness.
With a healthy Darryn Peterson, the Kansas Jayhawks have looked like a title contender, and getting them at nearly 4:1 to make the Final Four would be a steal if he's at full strength by tourney time.
Sometimes, futures bets go like this. USC was 18-6 when this initial "make the tournament" wager was placed. but the Trojans went on to lose their final eight games of the season in an epic late-year meltdown.
Among Arizona, Duke, and Michigan, the Wildcats have the easier path to the Final Four. Arizona is at full strength, and its freshman seem to be hitting their stride. The Wildcats will power through the West Region, where every other top team has major flaws.
Unlike past versions of Iowa State, this squad rebounds at a high level and has the grit to win games when the shots aren't falling. The three toughest possible opponents on the road to the Elite Eight are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the Cyclones are rated significantly higher than all of them.
March Madness odds over time
March Madness betting splits
Highest ticket percentage:
• Michigan 11.4%
• Duke 10.0%
• Arizona 8.7%
Highest handle percentage:
• Arizona 14.4%
• Michigan 14.0%
• Florida 10.6%
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
Bettors have been banking big all season on the Wolverines, who have the highest ticket percentage and handle percentage in the nation.
Michigan spent all 19 weeks in the AP Top 25, starting out at No. 7 in the preseason and climbing to No. 1 in mid-February.
March Madness 2026 schedule
| Event | Date | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 | -- |
| First Four | March 17-18 | UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio) |
| First Round | March 19-20 | Various |
| Second Round | March 21-22 | Various |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 | Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, Calif.); United Center (Chicago, Ill.); Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.) |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 | Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, Calif.); United Center (Chicago, Ill.); Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.) |
| Final Four | April 4 | Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.) |
| National Championship Game | April 6 | Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.) |
Popular March Madness markets
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2026 March Madness opening odds
- Houston +900
- Duke +1000
- UConn +1400
- Louisville +1700
- Auburn +1800
- Florida +1900
- Purdue +1900
- Kansas +2000
- Kentucky +2000
- Arkansas +2000
- BYU +2000
- Alabama +2000
- Michigan +2500
- Texas Tech +2500
- St. John's +2500
- Gonzaga +3000
- Michigan State +3000
- Iowa State +3000
- Arizona +4000
- UCLA +4000
- North Carolina +4000
- Illinois +6000
- Vanderbilt +15000
- Iowa +15000
- Nebraska +20000
Bookmakers had high hopes for Louisville entering the 2025-26 season, but the Cardinals have largely underperformed to the tune of a dismal 3-6 record against Top 25 teams. Their inability to hang with the best programs in the country doesn't bode well for their chances of playing in April.
Past March Madness winners
(Opening odds courtesy Sports Odds History)
| 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.
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March Madness Title Odds FAQs
Arizona (+350), Michigan (+400), and Duke (+475) are the current March Madness favorites.
The Florida Gators won March Madness in 2025, defeating Houston 65-63 in the national championship.
The Duke Blue Devils are currently listed at +475 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.
You can find spreads for every 2026 March Madness game by visiting our Covers NCAAB Scores & Matchup page. You'll find complete betting lines, line movement data, consensus picks and much more.
