The 2026 edition of March Madness is behind us, as the Michigan Wolverines cut down the nets at the expense of the UConn Huskies.
National Championship odds for 2027 are already on the board, with Michigan holding fairly low odds to repeat. However, the Wolverines are looking up at the Duke Blue Devils in the wagering.
Let's dig into the latest college basketball odds.
March Madness odds
| Team |  |
|---|---|
 Duke Blue Devils |
+750 |
 Michigan Wolverines |
+1000 |
 Florida Gators |
+1200 |
 Arizona Wildcats |
+1400 |
 Michigan State Spartans |
+1400 |
 Connecticut Huskies |
+1600 |
 Houston Cougars |
+1600 |
 Kansas Jayhawks |
+1600 |
 Arkansas Razorbacks |
+1800 |
 Illinois Fighting Illini |
+2000 |
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March Madness favorites
Duke (+750)
The Duke Blue Devils are expected to lose reigning Naismith College Player of the Year Award winner Cameron Boozer to the NBA Draft, but coach Jon Scheyer knows how to retool.
Duke already has commitments from three of the Top 15 incoming freshmen, including No. 3 Cameron Williams.
Michigan (+1000)
Dusty May took full advantage of the transfer portal a year ago to forge a fantastic Michigan Wolverines team.
He'll likely be just as busy again this offseason, although the expected returns of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney will cushion the blow of potentially losing Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, and/or Yaxel Lendeborg.
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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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |  Michigan |
+2500 | Connecticut |
| 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.
Embrace the madness
Visit our best March Madness betting sites today to wager on this year's men's basketball tournament. You're very own "One Shining Moment" opportunity awaits!
March Madness Title Odds FAQs
Duke (+750) is favored over Michigan (+1000) in the National Championship odds.
The Michigan Wolverines won March Madness in 2026 over the UConn Huskies.
The Duke Blue Devils are +750 to win the 2027 National Championship.
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.
