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Featured Last Updated Mar 29 2026, 6:10 PM

2026 March Madness Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Elite 8

Patrick Everson
Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert
8 minute read
2026 March Madness Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Elite 8

The March Madness Odds Elite 8 market is beginning to take shape, with matchups set for the first two bids into the Final Four.

Surprising No. 9 seed Iowa meets No. 3 seed Illinois in Saturday's opener on the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 odds board. And No. 1 seeds Michigan, Arizona and Duke are still part of the festivities, as well.

Here's everything you need to know about college basketball odds for 2026 March Madness Elite 8 games: opening lines, spreads and betting trends. Check back for updates throughout the week, and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

(Feature image: Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

March Madness Elite 8 Odds

East Region

UConn vs. Duke Odds

CONN @ DUKE Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
+5.5 -112 +2 -120 +1.5 -105 +2.5 -120 +2 -105 +2.5 -110 +2.5 -115 +8.5 -125 +2.5 -114 +4.5 -110  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
-5.5 -108 -2 -110 -1.5 -125 -2.5 -110 -2 -115 -2.5 -114 -2.5 -110 -8.5 -110 -2.5 -112 -4.5 -110  
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
o134.5 -110 o63 -110 N/A o63.5 -115 o63 -115 o62.5 -122 o63.5 -110 o71.5 -115 o63.5 -106 o135.5 -110  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
u134.5 -110 u63 -120 N/A u63.5 -115 u63 -115 u62.5 -104 u63.5 -105 u71.5 -125 u63.5 -122 u135.5 -110  
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
+170 +125 +125 +135 +135 +144 +145 N/A +145 +180  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
-205 -160 -165 -175 -160 -178 +150 N/A -186 -218  
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
+5.5 -112 N/A N/A N/A +2.5 -120 +2.5 -118 +2.5 -120 +1.5 -115 +2.5 -115 +4.5 -110  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
-5.5 -108 N/A N/A N/A -2.5 -110 -2.5 -106 -2.5 -110 -1.5 -115 -2.5 -115 -4.5 -110  
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
o134.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A o36.5 -128 N/A N/A N/A o135.5 -110  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
u134.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A u36.5 -100 N/A N/A N/A u135.5 -110  
Final
UConn Huskies 633 UConn
+170 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +145 +130 +148 +180  
Duke Blue Devils 634 Duke
-205 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -190 -170 -200 -218  
  • Opening point spread: Duke -5.5
  • Opening moneyline: Duke -218/UConn +180
  • Opening total: Over/Under 134.5 points scored
  • Time: 5:05 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)

LATEST UPDATE: Fifty minutes pre-tip, Duke is -5.5 (-102) in BetMGM's 2026 Elite 8 odds. Late Friday night, the Blue Devils opened -4.5, and they've been at various iterations of -5.5 since Saturday morning.

However, underdog UConn is getting some looks.

"Surprisingly, we will be rooting for Duke in this one. Much more bets on UConn +5.5, and we also have futures liability on UConn. Duke is a winner on the futures book," BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said.

The total is at 135.5 (Under -115), up from the 133.5 opener, with a stop at 134.5 along the way. Cipollini said per usual, the Under is the need.

SECOND UPDATE: Duke is -5.5 (-102) at DraftKings, as of 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The Blue Devils opened at -5.5 and on Saturday morning dipped to -4.5 (-115) for about three hours.

UConn is a trendy underdog in the early going, attracting 72% of spread tickets/75% of spread money.

DK's total just moved off 134.5 (Under -115) to 133.5 (Over -115), after opening at 134.5 flat late Friday night. Still, 85% of early tickets/71% of early dollars are on the Over.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 1 seed Duke (35-2 SU/21-16 ATS) trailed No. 5 seed St. John's 55-45 with 15 minutes left Friday night. But the Blue Devils quickly made up the gap and ultimately held on for an 80-75 victory laying 6.5 points.

Duke is on a 14-0 SU tear, part of a 24-1 overall SU run.

No. 2 UConn (32-5 SU/15-22 ATS) led No. 3 Michigan State 25-6 midway through the first half and gave it all back, in a game that was close much of the second half. But the Huskies ultimately won 67-63 as 2.5-point favorites.

After a regular season in which UConn was one of the worst spread-covering outfits in the nation, the Huskies are 4-2 ATS across the Big East and NCAA Tournaments (5-1 SU). In fact, under Danny Hurley, the Huskies are on runs of:

  • 9-0 ATS in the Sweet 16 or later
  • 13-0 ATS in the Round of 32 or later

If those streaks are to continue, they will do so with UConn an underdog. Minutes ago, just after UConn's Sweet 16 win, DraftKings opened Duke -5.5 in March Madness Elite 8 odds.

Check back Saturday for updates on odds and action for this matchup.

Completed Games

Midwest Region

Tennessee vs. Michigan Odds

TENN @ MICH Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
+7.5 -110 +4.5 -115 +4.5 -120 +4.5 -110 +4.5 -115 +4.5 -110 -4.5 -115 +4.5 -120 +4.5 -118 +8.5 -112  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
-7.5 -110 -4.5 -115 -4.5 -110 -4.5 -120 -4.5 -105 -4.5 -114 +4.5 -120 -4.5 even -4.5 -108 -8.5 -108  
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
o146.5 -110 o67.5 -130 N/A o68.5 -115 o68.5 -115 o68.5 -113 o68.5 -115 o68.5 -105 o68.5 -110 o146.5 -105  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
u146.5 -110 u67.5 even N/A u68.5 -115 u68.5 -115 u68.5 -113 u68.5 -110 u68.5 -115 u68.5 -115 u146.5 -115  
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
+270 +200 +185 +220 +222 +205 +220 N/A +215 +330  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
-340 -260 -250 -298 -278 -260 -275 N/A -278 -425  
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
+7.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A +3.5 -110 +3.5 -120 +5.5 -120 +3.5 -105 +5.5 -121 +8.5 -112  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
-7.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A -3.5 -120 -3.5 -104 -5.5 -110 -3.5 -125 -5.5 -110 -8.5 -108  
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
o146.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A o40.5 -111 N/A N/A N/A o146.5 -105  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
u146.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A u40.5 -115 N/A N/A N/A u146.5 -115  
Final
Tennessee Volunteers 635 Tennessee
+270 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -350 +175 +255 +330  
Michigan Wolverines 636 Michigan
-340 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -275 -240 -360 -425  
  • Opening point spread: Michigan -7.5
  • Opening moneyline: Michigan -340/Tennessee +270
  • Opening total: Over/Under 146.5 points scored
  • Time: 2:15 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)

Before you wager, check out Action Network's Sunday Elite 8 Best Bets!

LATEST UPDATE: Fifty minutes before tipoff, Michigan is laying 8.5 points in BetMGM's March Madness Elite 8 odds. Late Friday night, the Wolverines opened -7.5, and in today's early hours, the line dipped to -6.5 (-125).

But it then returned to -7.5 and has been at various iterations of -8.5 since 11:30 a.m. ET.

"Tons of Michigan action. We will certainly be rooting for Tennessee. At 8.5, it's two-way action. But when we were at 6.5 and 7.5, it was all Michigan," BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said.

The total is at 146.5 flat, just off the 146.5 (Over -115) opener and up from the 145.5 (Over -115) low point reached twice earlier today. Cipollini said the Under is the need, per usual.

SECOND UPDATE: As of 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Michigan is -7.5 in DraftKings' 2026 Elite 8 odds. Since the line first posted late Friday night, the only adjustment has been to the juice. The Wolverines opened -7.5 flat, went to -7.5 (-105) and are now -7.5 (-112).

Early spread play is solidly on Michigan, at 65% of bets/74% of money.

DraftKings' total is painted to 146.5 so far, with no movement. The Over is taking 68% of bets/60% of cash so far.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 1 seed Michigan (34-3 SU/17-20 ATS) trailed Alabama 49-47 after a high-scoring first half. But the Wolverines took control early in the second half en route to a 90-77 victory as 9.5-point favorites.

Michigan is 7-1 SU in its last eight games and covered for the second straight game, after an 0-6 ATS purge.

No. 6 Tennessee (25-11 SU/17-19 ATS) led No. 2 Iowa State 34-33 at halftime. Then the Vols opened the second half with a 23-10 run and never let the Cyclones draw closer than eight, winning 76-62 as 2.5-point underdogs.

Minutes later, late Friday night, DraftKings opened Michigan -7.5 vs. Tennessee in March Madness Elite Eight odds. Check back Saturday for updates on odds and action.

West Region

Arizona vs. Purdue Odds

PUR @ ARIZ Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
+6.5 -115 +2.5 -115 +3.5 -125 +2.5 -105 +2.5 -110 +2.5 -106 +3.5 -125 +2.5 -105 +2.5 -103 +5.5 -105  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
-6.5 -105 -2.5 -115 -3.5 -105 -2.5 -125 -2.5 -110 -2.5 -118 -3.5 even -2.5 -115 -2.5 -124 -5.5 -115  
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
o152.5 -110 o72 -115 o71.5 -115 o72.5 -110 o72 -125 o72.5 -113 o72.5 -110 o72.5 -110 o72.5 -112 o152.5 -110  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
u152.5 -110 u72 -115 u71.5 -115 u72.5 -120 u72 -105 u72.5 -113 u72.5 -115 u72.5 -110 u72.5 -114 u152.5 -110  
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
+220 +150 +145 +154 +158 +148 +160 N/A +160 +220  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
-270 -190 -200 -200 -190 -184 -210 N/A -210 -270  
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
+6.5 -115 N/A N/A N/A +2.5 -115 +2.5 -118 +3.5 -115 +2.5 -115 +3.5 -115 +5.5 -105  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
-6.5 -105 N/A N/A N/A -2.5 -115 -2.5 -106 -3.5 -115 -2.5 -115 -3.5 -115 -5.5 -115  
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
o152.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A o41.5 -100 N/A N/A N/A o152.5 -110  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
u152.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A u41.5 -128 N/A N/A N/A u152.5 -110  
Final
Purdue Boilermakers 631 Purdue
+220 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +185 +135 +185 +220  
Arizona Wildcats 632 Arizona
-270 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -240 -175 -245 -270  
  • Opening point spread: Arizona -5.5
  • Opening moneyline: Arizona -250/Purdue +205
  • Opening total: Over/Under 151.5 points scored
  • Time: 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday (TBS/truTV)

LATEST UPDATE: An hour before tipoff Saturday night, Arizona is laying 5.5 points in The SuperBook's 2026 Sweet 16 odds. The Wildcats opened -6 late Thursday night, dipped to -5.5 this morning and -5 briefly this afternoon. The number then rebounded to Arizona -5.5.

"Arizona is very popular on the spread, and Arizona moneyline is in all these parlays," SuperBook vice president John Murray said. "There's sharp money on the 'dog, Purdue +6. And Purdue is bad for our futures, while Arizona is good.

"So if Arizona wins and doesn't cover, we'd be fine with that."

The SuperBook's total is at 152.5, where it's been for the past few hours. It opened at 152.5, quickly bottomed out at 151.5, then peaked this morning at 153.5. Murray said it's not much of a decision, but Under is the preference.

SECOND UPDATE: Arizona is -6.5 (-105) in DraftKings' March Madness Sweet 16 odds, as of 1:30 p.m. ET Friday. The Wildcats opened -5.5 on Thursday night, then spent the first hour toggling between -6.5 (-105) and -5.5 (-118).

Early spread play is all Arizona, at 74% of bets/81% of money.

DK's total is at 152.5, matching the opener, after spending about 12 hours at 151.5 (Over -115). The Over is drawing 86% of early bets/96% of early money.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 2 seed Purdue (30-8 SU/17-21 ATS) got all it could handle from plucky No. 11 seed Texas. The Boilermakers won 79-77 on a Trey Kaufman-Renn tip-in in the final second, while failing to cover as 8.5-point favorites.

Purdue is on a 7-0 SU run (4-3 ATS), taking four games in four days in the Big Ten Tourney, then winning its first three in the NCAA Tourney.

On the flip side, No. 1 Arizona (35-2 SU/23-14 ATS) built an 11-point halftime lead and stretched it out in the second half vs. No. 4 Arkansas. The Wildcats went on to a 109-88 victory as 8.5-point favorites.

Arizona is on a 12-0 SU tear, going 8-4 ATS in that stretch.

Late Thursday night, DraftKings Sportsbook opened Arizona -5.5 vs. Purdue in March Madness Elite Eight odds. Within minutes, the Wildcats advanced to -6.5 (-105), and the total went from 151.5 to 152.5.

Check back Friday for updates on odds and action in this matchup.

South Region

Iowa vs. Illinois Odds

IOWA @ ILL Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
+6.5 -105 +3.5 -115 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -104 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -105 +6.5 -102  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
-6.5 -115 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -121 -6.5 -118  
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
o140.5 -108 o65 -110 o64.5 -120 o65.5 -110 o65.5 -115 o65.5 -106 o65.5 -105 o65.5 even o65.5 -105 o138.5 -112  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
u140.5 -112 u65 -120 u64.5 -110 u65.5 -120 u65.5 -115 u65.5 -120 u65.5 -120 u65.5 -120 u65.5 -122 u138.5 -108  
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
+235 +172 +170 +175 +185 +186 +195 N/A +195 +270  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
-290 -225 -235 -230 -225 -235 -240 N/A -250 -340  
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
+6.5 -105 N/A N/A N/A +2.5 -105 +2.5 -104 +3.5 -120 +3.5 -120 +4.5 -125 +6.5 -102  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
-6.5 -115 N/A N/A N/A -2.5 -125 -2.5 -120 -3.5 -125 -3.5 -110 -4.5 -106 -6.5 -118  
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
o140.5 -108 N/A N/A N/A N/A o38.5 -104 N/A N/A N/A o138.5 -112  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
u140.5 -112 N/A N/A N/A N/A u38.5 -122 N/A N/A N/A u138.5 -108  
Final
Iowa Hawkeyes 629 Iowa
+235 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +165 +165 +195 +270  
Illinois Fighting Illini 630 Illinois
-290 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -275 -225 -278 -340  
  • Opening point spread: Illinois -6.5
  • Opening moneyline: Illinois -285/Iowa +230
  • Opening total: Over/Under 140.5 points scored
  • Time: 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday (TBS/truTV)

LATEST UPDATE: Ninety minutes before tipoff, Illinois is -7.5 (-102) in BetMGM's March Madness Elite 8 odds. Since Thursday night, when the line opened at Fighting Illini -6.5, it's toggled between -6.5/-7.5 multiple times at various juice.

The latest move came at 3 p.m. ET, from Illinois -6.5 (-115) to -7.5 (-102).

"Today is simple science. We need one of the 'dogs to win. Spread money is way on the favorites, but lots of moneyline parlays on the favorites, too," BetMGM trading manager Tristan Davis said. "We're not fussed about the totals. Just one of the two 'dogs is needed to win."

BetMGM's total is at 138.5 (Over -115), after opening at 139.5 and bottoming out multiple times at various iterations of 137.5.

SECOND UPDATE: As of 1:30 p.m. ET Friday, Illinois is -7.5 (-105) at DraftKings Sportsbook having moved off -6.5 (-115) 30 minutes ago. On Thursday night, the Fighting Illini opened -6.5 flat and went to -6.5 (-115) in the first 30 minutes.

Illinois is taking 60% of early spread bets/72% of early spread money.

DraftKings' total tumbled from 140.5 to 137.5 (Over -115) within an hour Thursday night, then steadied at 138.5. Ticket count is almost even, but 74% of early cash is on the Under.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 9 seed Iowa (24-12 SU/21-15 ATS) didn't have a letdown after its huge upset of No. 1 seed Florida last weekend. The Hawkeyes topped No. 4 Nebraska 77-71 as 1.5-point underdogs Thursday night.

Iowa is 3-0 SU and ATS in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 Illinois (27-8 SU/19-16 ATS) was in a rockfight with No. 2 Houston in the first half, taking a 24-22 lead. But the Fighting Illini opened the second half with a 20-4 run, then held off a late Cougars charge to win 65-55 as 2.5-point underdogs.

Equally impressive: It was a de facto road game for Illinois, at the Toyota Center in Houston. Like Iowa, the Illini are 3-0 SU and ATS in the NCAA Tourney.

DraftKings opened Illinois -6.5 vs. Iowa in 2026 March Madness Elite 8 odds. There was a modest adjustment in the first 30 minutes, to Illinois -6.5 (-115). But the total fell back a point, from 140.5 to 139.5.

Check back Friday for updates on odds and action in this matchup.

As Big Ten rivals, Illinois and Iowa met once in the regular season. On Jan. 11, the Illini won 75-69 laying 1.5 points on the road.

NCAA Tournament Kalshi Odds

Prediction markets such as Kalshi are also involved with college basketball conference tournaments. Check out the Kalshi promo code before trading on NCAA Tournament futures odds:

  • Arizona +285
  • Michigan +285
  • Duke +317
  • Illinois +669
  • Purdue +1567
  • UConn +1567
  • Tennessee +3233
  • Iowa +4900

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson
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