We are in the Elite Eight in 2026 March Madness Boxand Arizona leads No. 1 seeds Duke and Michigan in the last National Championship Odds.
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March Madness has lived up to its name so far, with No. 9 Iowa and No. 6 Tennessee making it this far.
Let’s see the latest college basketball odds.
March Madness Odds
| Equipment |
Next opponent |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Arizona |
+240 |
No. 2 Purdue (Saturday) |
|
Michigan |
+350 |
No. 6 Tennessee (Sunday) |
|
Duke |
+375 |
No. 2 UConn (Sunday) |
|
Illinois |
+750 |
No. 9 Iowa (Saturday) |
|
Purdue |
+1400 |
No. 1 Arizona (Saturday) |
|
University of Connecticut |
+1500 |
No. 1 Duke (Sunday) |
|
Tennessee |
+2800 |
No. 1 Michigan (Sunday) |
|
Iowa |
+5000 |
No. 3 Illinois (Saturday) |
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How these probabilities have changed
Duke had the best odds to win the NCAA tournament heading into Round 1, but bettors have soured a little on the Blue Devils, as Duke had to survive some close shaves to get this far.
Arizona and Michigan have oscillated for first place in the March Madness Winner Oddsdepending on who has advanced further first.
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Illinois made a big jump from +1400 to +700 after punching its ticket to the Elite Eight with an upset win over Houston.
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March Madness Favorites
Arizona (+250)
The Wildcats were 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 qualifying 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 their tournament was in jeopardy against Utah State, but the Wildcats ultimately prevailed. They crushed Arkansas to reach the Elite Eight, where they will face Purdue.
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Duke (+270)
The Blue Devils’ win over Michigan vaulted them to the No. 1 ranking in the latest AP Top 25, and they haven’t looked back, earning a surprising No. 1 ranking 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 tight contest against No. 16 Siena.
Their win over No. 9 TCU in Round 2 was a struggle for 30 minutes, and No. 5 St. John’s took Duke all the way in the Sweet 16.
Michigan (+290)
Before its setback against Duke, Michigan’s only stumble came in January against Wisconsin, and Yaxel Lendeborg & Co. responded by reeling off 11 straight wins on its way to the No. 1 ranking in the Midwest.
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Michigan has scored at least 90 points in every game so far in this tournament.
2026 March Madness Futures Betting
|
Bet |
Odd |
Bet date |
Units |
|---|---|---|---|
|
National Title: Michigan |
+450 |
February 11 |
0.5 |
|
❌Final Four: Kansas |
+350 |
February 11 |
0.5 |
|
❌ To reach the NCAA tournament: USC |
-105 |
February 11 |
0.5 |
|
Western Region: Arizona |
-135 |
March 18 |
1.0 |
|
❌ Elite Eight: Iowa State |
-115 |
March 18 |
1.0 |
The Michigan Wolverines are at the top of almost every ranking system. Considering their size, experience, depth and a 5-0 record against ranked opponents, I’m rooting for 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 to the Final Four at almost 4:1 would be a steal if they’re at full strength at tournament time.
Sometimes futures betting is like that. USC was 18-6 when this initial “make the tournament” bid was made. but the Trojans lost their final eight games of the season in an epic late-year meltdown.
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Between Arizona, Duke and Michigan, the Wildcats have the easiest path to the Final Four. Arizona is in top form and its freshmen seem to be making good progress. The Wildcats will advance through the West Region, where every other major team has major flaws.
Unlike previous versions of Iowa State, this team rebounds at a high level and has the nerve to win games when shots aren’t hitting. 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 Division
Highest percentage of entries:
• Michigan 11.4%
• Duke 10.0%
• Arizona 8.7%
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higher management percentage:
• Arizona 14.4%
• Michigan 14.0%
• Florida 10.6%
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
Bettors have bet heavily all season on the Wolverines, who have the highest tackle and handle percentage in the country.
Michigan spent all 19 weeks in the AP Top 25, starting at No. 7 in the preseason and rising to No. 1 in mid-February.
March Madness Calendar 2026
|
Event |
Date |
Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Selection Sunday |
March 15 |
— |
|
First four |
March 17-18 |
UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio) |
|
First Round |
March 19-20 |
Several |
|
Second Round |
March 21-22 |
Several |
|
Sweet 16 |
March 26-27 |
Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, California); United Center (Chicago, Illinois); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC) |
|
elite eight |
March 28-29 |
Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, California); United Center (Chicago, Illinois); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC) |
|
Final four |
April 4 |
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
|
national championship game |
April 6 |
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
Popular March Madness Markets
March Madness 2026 Opening Odds
Oddsmakers had high hopes for Louisville entering the 2025-26 season, but the Cardinals have greatly underperformed with a dismal 3-6 record against top 25 teams. His inability to make the top programs in the country doesn’t bode well for his chances of playing in April.
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Previous March Madness Winners
(Opening odds courtesy of Sports Odds History)
|
Year |
Champion |
Opening fees |
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 |
villanueva |
+1200 |
Michigan |
|
2017 |
North Carolina |
+2400 |
gonzaga |
|
2016 |
villanueva |
+2000 |
North Carolina |
|
2015 |
Duke |
+1000 |
Wisconsin |
March Madness Trends
• Of the 20 teams that entered the tournament with undefeated records, only seven won 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 qualifying was introduced in 1979.
embrace the madness
Visit our best March Madness betting sites today to bet on this year’s men’s basketball tournament. Your very own chance at “A Shining Moment” awaits you!
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