March Madness 2026 Betting Guide Odds, Bracket, Picks & How to Bet
March Madness 2026 at a Glance
March Madness 2026 is the biggest betting event in college basketball and it rewards preparation more than hype. This at a glance section covers what U.S. bettors look for before placing a wager: the official NCAA Tournament timeline (Selection Sunday through the National Championship), how the 68-team bracket is built (including the First Four), and the most-bet markets each round… spreads, totals, moneylines, futures, and key props. Use it as a quick reference for when odds typically open, what moves lines during the week (injury news, travel, rest, and matchup edges), and how to size bets responsibly as volatility increases in single-elimination play.
This March Madness hub updates yearly with bracket releases, betting odds, expert NCAAB picks, and live tournament analysis.
The 2026 March Madness schedule begins on March 15 with Selection Sunday and runs through to the NCAA Championship game on April 6. The Championship Game marks the end of March Madness and will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The March Madness schedule features games across the United States, with 68 teams participating in the tournament.
March Madness First Four
The 2026 First Four games will take place on March 17 & 18 in the UD Arena in Dayton, OH. First introduced in 2011, the First Four section allows additional schools to compete in March Madness with an extended field of 68 games.
The First Four are play-in games before the start of the Round of 64, and feature four games played between:
- The four lowest-seeded at-large teams (teams selected by the committee but didn’t win their conference)
- The four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers (conference champions from smaller conferences)
The winners of these games will fill out the final spots in the main bracket.
March Madness Format
March Madness follows a single-elimination format, meaning every game is win-or-go-home. Once a team loses, they’re out of the tournament. This structure creates the high-stakes drama fans love—every possession matters, and upsets can change the entire bracket.
The tournament starts with 68 teams, narrows to 64 after the First Four, and progresses through:
- Round of 64
- Round of 32
- Sweet 16
- Elite Eight
- Final Four
- National Championship Game
The winner of the National Championship game are then crowned as the overall winner.
March Madness Schedule & Key Dates
The 2026 NCAA Tournament runs from Selection Sunday on March 15 through the National Championship Game on April 6.
Below are the key dates every college basketball fan and bettor needs to know:
Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026
The official bracket reveal happens on Selection Sunday. This is when the NCAA announces all 68 teams, their seeds, and matchups for the tournament.
First Four: March 17 & 18, 2026
Held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, the First Four consists of four play-in games that determine the final spots in the Round of 64.
Round of 64: March 19 & 20, 2026
The real madness begins here. All 64 teams hit the court in a two-day frenzy of basketball action.
Round of 32: March 21 & 22, 2026
Winners from the Round of 64 advance to the Round of 32, cutting the field in half.
Sweet 16: March 26 & 27, 2026
The top 16 teams battle for a spot in the Elite Eight. Expect high drama and bracket-busting upsets.
Elite Eight: March 28 & 29, 2026
Only eight teams remain, fighting for a coveted trip to the Final Four.
Final Four: April 4, 2026
The last four teams meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to determine who will play for the championship.
National Championship Game: April 6, 2026
The ultimate showdown for college basketball glory. One game, one champion.
Latest March Madness Odds (Live Updates)
With so many games played in a short period of time, it’s more important than ever to have access to live odds. This allows you to capitalize on line shifts and act swiftly when opening new lines and markets.
March Madness Futures Odds
NCAA Men’s National Championship Winner 2026
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arizona | +500 |
| Michigan | +550 |
| Duke | +650 |
| Houston | +950 |
| Illinois | +1200 |
| Florida | +1400 |
| Kansas | +1700 |
| UConn | +1700 |
| Iowa State | +1800 |
| All Other Selections | +2500 or Higher |
Game-by-Game Odds
Moneyline, Spread and Totals odds will be shown for each game here as soon as they’re available.
March Madness Picks & Predictions (Updated Daily)
Our March Madness picks update daily throughout the tournament, covering every round from the First Four through the National Championship.
Today’s March Madness Picks
Our expert picks will appear here at the start of the tournament.
Best March Madness Betting Sites for US Players
There’s little doubt that March Madness is going to be the most popular sporting event in March 2026. As a result, every sportsbook is going to be in on the action, so it’s important to know the best March Madness betting sites before you start. We’ve used our experience to look at previous years and also the latest trends in the offshore betting industry, so if you’re looking for sites, this is where to bet on March Madness:
BetOnline: Best Overall NCAA Betting
BetOnline is seen by many as the premier sportsbook in the offshore industry, so it’s little surprise that they offer the best overall betting experience for NCAA sports.
We consistently praise them for getting their lines up before others, and their parlay builder is easy to use, meaning you can move quickly to get the best value on those underdog bets before other sites have even opened their markets.
New bettors can also benefit from their welcome offer, which gives you a free bet worth up to $250, and there’s no rollover requirement on the bonus either. This sets them apart from the competition and gives you a free shot at any point of the tournament. In our review of BetOnline, we also found that crypto users can receive payouts to their wallets within 10 minutes, making BetOnline the best overall option for betting on March Madness.
Read our full BetOnline sportsbook review for U.S. bettors
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New Player Bonus
50% up to $250
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BetUS – Best for Live Betting
Experienced March Madness bettors know that the best value is found during games, as March Madness may be the most fascinating tournament for live betting.
A slow start can flip a heavy favorite to an underdog in minutes, meaning you can get instant moneyline value once the game has begun.
The reason why we’ve rated BetUS as the best March Madness sportsbook for live betting is because of how swift and easy their live betting site is.
Odds can move in an instant, so you need to be able to place a bet within seconds. The minimal lag and quick betting options set them apart from the competition.
The 2025 tournament saw two of the biggest comebacks in the history of March Madness, and BetUS is your best bet for finding value on similar comebacks in 2026. You can also find huge welcome bonuses to help increase your bankroll going into the tournament.
Full BetUS betting site review with features, fees, and withdrawal info
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New Player Bonus
125% up to $2,625
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Bovada – Best for Casual Bettors
Whilst modern-day sportsbooks fight to include as much data and innovation to stand out from the crowd, what about the casual March Madness bettor?
Perhaps it sounds insulting to suggest a sportsbook is on the basic side and offers a step back in time, but that’s what casual bettors look for, and it’s why Bovada continues to thrive.
Their industry history dates back to 2011, and their reputation as a safe, trusted brand continues to serve them well.
Bovada offers a deep market, competing with the best for March Madness, but new users may find it easier to navigate. New bettors can also benefit from pre-determined parlay boosters if they’re not sure what to bet on, and you can also find strong welcome bonuses below before you bet.
See our Bovada review and bonus terms breakdown
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New Player Bonus
$750
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How we build these rankings: We compare payout reliability, odds quality, bonus terms, betting markets, live-betting performance, and customer support.
How to Bet on March Madness (Beginner to Advanced)
Due to the popularity of March Madness brackets, the tournament attracts potential bettors who are either new or, at the very least, would be considered casual bettors at best.
It’s also a tournament where experienced sharps can win big by finding niche value, so let’s take a look at all you need to know about your March Madness betting options.
Common March Madness Bet Types
- Spread: Betting with a predetermined handicap based on the strength of the teams
- Moneyline: Betting on who will win the game
- Totals: Betting over or under a predetermined number of total points by both teams
These are the three most common bet types across all sports and apply to each individual game. You can also combine your picks for multiple games to create a parlay, which offers better odds, but you lose if any of your selections are wrong.
Futures Betting (Champion, Final Four)
- National Champion: Pick the team you think will win the tournament
- Final Four: Bet on which teams will make it to the semifinals. These bets often offer high payouts but require predicting the tournament’s trajectory weeks in advance.
Bracket Betting vs Sportsbook Betting
Bracket Betting: Predict every game in the tournament; usually for pools or contests.
Sportsbook Betting: Focus on individual games, props, and futures with real-time odds.
Combining both approaches can maximize engagement and potential winnings.
Live Betting Strategy During March Madness
Live betting lets you wager as games unfold. Key tips:
- Watch for momentum shifts: a big run can quickly change the odds.
- Target value spots when favorites fall behind early but have time to recover.
- Use timeouts and foul trouble as signals for potential swings.
Crypto Betting on March Madness
You can take advantage of any of these bet types using cryptocurrency. The benefit for bettors is that you can move money in and out much faster than with traditional methods, allowing you to be more agile and take advantage of any value you find.
March Madness Strategy & Betting Angles
One of the key reasons for the popularity of March Madness is the underdog stories. There’s more to betting on the tournament than picking favorites, as you need to understand trends, look at historical performance, and keep an eye on market behavior. Here’s some key information and strategies to consider.
How Seeds Perform Historically
Although the number one seeds tend to dominate the earlier rounds, they don’t win every single year. Recent statistics show that since the tournament expanded in 1985, a No. 1 seed has won more than 60% of championships.
Cinderella stories are often the heartbeat of March Madness as fans fall in love with an underdog, but note that the lowest-seeded team to win it all was No. 8 Villanova in 1985.
As for Final Four betting, there have been six occasions where a number 11 seed has made it, whilst the lowest to make the Elite Eight was Saint Peter’s in 2022 as the 15 seed.
This means that although there’s value in individual upsets, lower-seeded teams rarely make it all the way.
Conference Strength Trends
Teams from the Big East and Big 12 tend to dominate, especially when it comes to futures betting on the winners and Final Four.
The ACC and SEC have a presence in the Elite Eight but rarely produce winners, meaning these teams are rarely considered as high-value bets.
Of the other high-profile conferences, the Big Ten hasn’t produced an overall winner since 2000. Beyond these conferences, there are opportunities for upsets and potential value in spread betting. The most important tip is to account for momentum: a strong favorite that consistently fails to cover the spread may be primed for an upset loss.
Public vs Sharp Money
- Public bettors tend to favor top-tier programs and high seeds, which often inflates lines.
- Sharp bettors look for inefficiencies – like undervalued mid-majors or totals mispriced due to pace.
- Monitoring line movement and betting splits can reveal where the smart money is going.
Past March Madness Champions & Results
Although previous winners aren’t always an indicator of strong performance the following year, it’s important to look at the overall trends in the Championship Game as well.
March Madness 2025 Champion: Florida Gators
Final Score: Florida 65 – Houston 63
Closing Line: Florida -1 (slight favorite)
Did the Favorite Cover? Yes: Florida covered the spread by 1 point.
Florida erased a second-half deficit to claim its third national title, beating Houston in a nail-biter at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
March Madness 2024 Champion: UConn Huskies
Final Score: UConn 75 – Purdue 60
Closing Line: UConn -6.5
Did the Favorite Cover? Yes: UConn dominated and easily covered.
The Huskies secured back-to-back titles with a commanding win over Purdue.
March Madness 2023 Champion: UConn Huskies
Final Score: UConn 76 – San Diego State 59
Closing Line: UConn -6.5
Did the Favorite Cover? Yes: Another strong performance from UConn as a favorite.
March Madness 2022 Champion: Kansas Jayhawks
Final Score: Kansas 72 – North Carolina 69
Closing Line: Kansas -4
Did the Favorite Cover? No, Kansas won but failed to cover the spread.
March Madness 2021 Champion: Baylor Bears
Final Score: Baylor 86 – Gonzaga 70
Closing Line: Baylor +4.5 (underdog)
Did the Favorite Cover? No, Baylor won outright as an underdog.
Where to Watch March Madness (TV & Streaming Guide)
Wondering how to watch March Madness? The NCAA Tournament is broadcast across multiple networks and streaming platforms, making it easy to catch every game.
TV Channels
- CBS
Covers key matchups, including the Final Four and National Championship. - TBS, TNT, truTV
Broadcast early rounds and select regional games.
Streaming Options
- Paramount+ – Stream CBS games live.
- YouTube TV – Includes CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV in its package.
- Hulu + Live TV – Full coverage with all major channels.
- Sling TV – Offers TBS, TNT, and truTV (CBS may require an add-on).
International Viewing
- Canada – TSN and Sportsnet typically carry coverage.
- UK & Europe – ESPN Player or select streaming services.
- Other Regions – Check local sports networks or the NCAA’s official streaming options.
FAQs – Most Searched March Madness Questions
March Madness tips off in mid‑March every year, with the 2026 tournament beginning with Selection Sunday on March 15.
The NCAA Tournament features 68 teams, 32 automatic qualifiers and 36 at‑large bids.
Teams are seeded 1-16 in four regions. Win, and you advance; lose, and you’re out. The bracket shrinks each round until only the Final Four, and eventually the national champion, remains.
Selection Sunday is the live reveal show where the NCAA committee announces the full 68‑team field, seeds, and regional placements.
Yes: in states where online sports betting is legal, you can wager on everything from game lines to futures and props throughout the tournament.
Yes. Every game is win‑or‑go‑home, which is why upsets and Cinderella runs are so common.
Written by Tom McNeil
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