March Madness Prop Bets: Best Tournament Props & Alternative Markets for 2026

Beyond spreads and totals, March Madness prop bets offer some of the most mispriced markets of the NCAA Tournament — from Final Four yes/no odds to seed win totals.

Chris Vasile - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Chris Vasile • Betting Analyst
Feb 12, 2026 • 14:57 ET • 5 min read
Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) drives against Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5).
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) drives against Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5).

The NCAA Tournament is chaos by design, and chaos creates opportunity. While most bettors focus on point spreads and bracket pools, March Madness prop bets open the door to softer markets built around volatility, seed perception, and public bias.

From "Make the Field" to Final Four odds and region winner props, these markets reward bettors who understand timing, structure, and how sportsbooks price uncertainty.

If you’re looking to attack the tournament beyond the bracket, prop bets are where the edge lives.

March Madness prop odds

To make the Final Four

Team bet365 Implied Probability
Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
-120 54.5%
Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
-105 51.2%
Duke
Duke Blue Devils
+130 43.5%
Houston
Houston Cougars
+175 36.4%
Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
+275 26.7%
Florida
Florida Gators
+325 23.5%
Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks
+350 22.2%
Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies
+375 21.1%
Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones
+400 20.0%
Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers
+600 14.3%
Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
+650 13.3%
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
+700 12.5%
Gonzaga
Gonzaga Bulldogs
+850 10.5%
Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
+900 10.0%
UNC
North Carolina Tar Heels
+1100 8.3%
Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
+1100 8.3%
Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide
+1200 7.7%
St. John's
St. John's Red Storm
+1200 7.7%
BYU
BYU Cougars
+1400 6.7%
Louisville
Louisville Cardinals
+1400 6.7%
Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers
+1400 6.7%
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores
+1400 6.7%
Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers
+1600 5.9%
Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
+2200 4.3%

Arizona and Michigan sit as the early favorites to reach the Final Four, both carrying implied probabilities north of 50%. Duke and Houston round out the top tier, while Illinois and Florida present mid-range value options depending on bracket placement.

As always, these prices will shift significantly after Selection Sunday when region paths become clearer.

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To make the field of 68

Team Yes No
Miami (Ohio)
Miami (OH)
-190 +150
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
+450 -700
San Diego State
San Diego State
-210 +160
TCU
TCU
+160 -210
Texas
Texas
-230 +175
UCLA
UCLA
-280 +210

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Yes/No markets provide flexibility for bettors who want exposure without committing to outright futures. Heavy “No” prices on teams like Oklahoma State reflect long-shot status, while tighter splits such as TCU or San Diego State suggest more balanced projections.

March Madness MVP

The March Madness MVP (also known as the tournament's most outstanding player) is a fun market that can provide value, provided you have a good take on which team will win the national title. After all, the MVP has come from the tournament winner every year since 1983.

March Madness prop bets explained

Prop bets — also known as proposition bets — aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about March Madness odds. Tournament prop menus have expanded dramatically, now including region winners, exact matchup outcomes, conference performance props, and player tournament leader markets. They're also a great attraction for those learning how to bet on March Madness

March Madness props focus on individual team or player performances and particular events or happenings during a game, round, or tournament. Some prop bets can unfold in a matter of minutes, while others are graded on the Final Four and National Championship results.  

Where can I bet on March Madness props?

March Madness is one of the most popular times of the year for sports bettors, making it one of the busiest times of the year for online sportsbooks. Every betting site will offer March Madness scores, matchups, and odds, but the top sites are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and offer a ton of markets for each game. Check out the best March Madness betting sites in your region. 

Tips for betting on March Madness props 

March Madness prop bets can vary in focus and scope. Some props are longer-running markets, graded after a certain round or at the end of the NCAA Tournament. Other props are game-based and limited to a particular matchup. 

Tournament Bracket Build your bracket

For betting on tournament or round props, you’ll want to build out your March Madness bracket and lay your path to the Final Four. Weigh each matchup and then base those prop bets on how you see the Big Dance playing out. 

Cinderella Spotting Cinderella

Singling out a Cinderella team that could provide an upset or two is vital to getting value from the March Madness props. Finding a live lower seed or an unknown mid-major giant killer can score some big plus-money prop payouts.

Avoid Contradictions Don’t contradict

Make sure your March Madness prop picks are in line with your single-game wagers. You don’t want to play the Over on the number of Big Ten schools making it out of the Round of 64 and then fade Michigan to cover as a favorite in the first round. 

Create Narrative Set a narrative

When it comes to game props, such as team and player prop bets, set a narrative for how you see the matchup playing out. If you think a talented big man will have his way with a smaller opponent, then look to the Over on props for points and rebounds. If you like a small-conference Cinderella to shoot their way to an upset win, look to back up that opinion with an Over wager on the team’s total number of 3-point buckets made. 

Covers Global Two Color Money Money management

The excitement of March Madness can get the best of basketball bettors, so have a money management system in place. If you plan on playing some NCAA Tournament props, designate a certain amount of your bankroll to just those types of wagers. This will help you be more selective about your prop bets and narrow down which types of bets you are winning and losing throughout the Big Dance.

Instant Replay: March Madness prop bets 

  • March Madness prop bets can focus on various aspects of the tournament, from the rounds to seeds to the overall tournament and individual matchups.
  • March Madness game props are gaining popularity, and sportsbooks will have more of these than ever in 2025.
  • The “First to 15” prop is one of the most exciting and entertaining bets you can make during the NCAA Tournament.
  • Set a narrative for your March Madness props, whether that’s building out your bracket or setting a game script for player and team props.

March Madness prop bets FAQs

Pages related to this topic

Chris Vasile Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Chris Vasile is a betting analyst with over 13 years of experience breaking down soccer betting markets, with additional coverage across the WNBA and NFL. He focuses on finding numbers that are slow to adjust — whether it’s due to scheduling spots, player usage, or recent form — and explaining why a line is worth playing. His work has appeared across major betting and sports media platforms, including Covers, VSiN, BetMGM Network, and SportsGrid, where he’s delivered sharp analysis on both mainstream and niche markets. At Covers, he contributes to major tournament coverage and daily betting content, with a particular focus on soccer. He also runs the Game Day Wagers YouTube channel, where he shares daily picks and betting insights tailored for serious bettors.

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