March Madness Odds 2026: Duke, Houston Favorites With Florida Long Shot To Repeat
The 2026 March Madness odds expect two familiar faces to be in the mix again next season, with the Duke Blue Devils and Houston Cougars listed as the favorites to win the NCAA Championship. The reigning champions, the Florida Gators, are long shots to repeat given where they began last season.
The odds will move over the next year as a result of player transfers and commitments, team performance and player injuries, and betting action. Keep an eye on our best live betting sites and oddsboard below for the best value throughout the year.
📊 2026 March Madness odds
Here's a look at the early 2026 March Madness odds. You can also check out our college basketball player prop odds tool for the best March Madness odds across legal sportsbooks in your area.
🏆 2026 March Madness favorites
🐾 Houston (+1300)
Kelvin Sampson has built a well-oiled machine in Houston. The Cougars reached their pinnacle under the veteran coach last season, and even though they ultimately fell short, they've established themselves as a national powerhouse out of the Big 12.
Houston welcomes three top-20 players from the ESPN 100 to campus next season as it prepares to mix the No. 2 recruiting class with some returning veterans. Houston is the early 2026 NCAA Tournament favorite at our best sports betting sites, with its +1300 odds returning $130 in profits on a $10 winning bet.
📊 Best odds: +1300 via BetRivers (7.14% implied probability)
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😈 Duke (+1400)
Similar to Houston, Duke made its deepest run under its current coach last season. The Blue Devils reached the Final Four, but the title drought extended as the blueblood is now going on 11 years without a banner. While the future NBA draft odds No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, is off to the NBA, Jon Scheyer is prepared to run it back with a new group.
Duke has the best incoming freshman class in the country, led by a pair of five stars in Cameron and Cayden Boozer. They'll quickly fill the void left behind by Flagg as they look to bring a title back to Durham, N.C., for the first time since 2015. The Blue Devils are trading at +1400, giving them an implied 6.67% probability of triumphing in the tournament.
📊 Best odds: +1400 via BetRivers (6.67% implied probability)
🏀 2026 March Madness contenders
🐊 Florida (+2500)
The last time Florida stood alone atop the college basketball world, it extended its stay on the throne for another season by going back-to-back under Billy Donovan. Todd Golden will look to replicate Donovan's successes nearly 20 years later, but oddsmakers don't believe it's likely that the Gators will repeat.
Florida is trading at +2500 in the early betting markets at our best sports betting apps. Only three schools (Florida, UConn, and Villanova) have defied odds that long over the last 13 years. Nevertheless, the Gators will give it a go with freshman recruits Cornelius Ingram Jr. and Alexander Lloyd expected to play big roles for Golden's team.
📊 Odds: +2500 via FanDuel (3.85% implied probability)
📊 Opening 2026 March Madness odds
Opening NCAA Championship odds via FanDuel as of April 7.
- Duke: +1000
- Houston: +1200
- Louisville: +1400
- Purdue: +1400
- BYU: +1600
- Kansas: +1600
- Alabama: +1800
- Arkansas: +1800
- Auburn: +1800
- UConn: +1800
- Kentucky: +2000
- Florida: +2500
- Michigan: +2500
- St. John's: +2500
- Texas Tech: +2500
- Gonzaga: +3000
- Iowa State: +3000
- Tennessee: +3000
- UCLA: +3000
- Arizona: +3500
- Michigan State: +3500
- Baylor: +5000
- Creighton: +5000
- Indiana: +5000
- North Carolina: +5000
🔢 March Madness betting history
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Florida | +6000 |
| 2023-24 | UConn | +2000 |
| 2022-23 | UConn | +8000 |
| 2021-22 | Kansas | +1400 |
| 2020-21 | Baylor | +800 |
| 2019-20 | Canceled | |
| 2018-19 | Virginia | +1350 |
| 2017-18 | Villanova | +2700 |
| 2016-17 | North Carolina | +1900 |
| 2015-16 | Villanova | +2500 |
| 2014-15 | Duke | +900 |
| 2013-14 | Connecticut | +6500 |
| 2012-13 | Louisville | +700 |
💡 How to bet on March Madness
First, pick a reputable sportsbook among our best March Madness betting sites. Check out the odds for various teams; for example, if Duke is at +500 and Gonzaga is at +800, Duke is more favored to win. Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet.
If you bet $100 on Duke at +500 and they win, you’ll get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Use the March Madness betting promos to get the most out of any wagers on the NCAA Tournament winner.
❓March Madness FAQs
Who is the March Madness 2026 favorite?
Houston is the 2026 March Madness betting favorite with odds of +1300 representing an implied win probability of 7.14%. A winning $10 bet on the Cougars would return a $130 profit.
Who won March Madness last year?
Florida beat Houston 65-63 in the NCAA Championship to win its third national title in program history.
When is the national championship game?
The 2026 March Madness tournament will begin with Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 15. The NCAA Championship will be played on Monday, April 6.
Where is the national championship game?
The Final Four and national championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
💰 March Madness betting odds pages
| March Madness odds | March Madness MVP odds |
| Women's March Madness odds | March Madness MVP predictions |
| Final Four odds | March Madness prop bets |
👑 Best March Madness betting sites
Ready to place your March Madness bets? Check out the best March Madness betting promos from our best March Madness betting sites, as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review.
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