2026 NCAA Tournament Championship Odds: Michigan Returns to Favorite
NCAA Tournament odds for 2026 are heating up as March Madness reaches the Final Four. For much of the past few months, Michigan and Arizona went back-and-forth as the favorite.
Then Duke joined the party atop 2026 March Madness futures. As the field of 64 opened, it was the Blue Devils at No. 1 in 2026 NCAA Tournament futures odds.
With Duke now gone, Michigan is and Arizona are in a tight race as the favorite.
Prediction markets are part of the mix, as well. Prediction market apps such as Kalshi offer users a way to trade contracts on who will win the college basketball national championship.
Below are National Championship odds at traditional sportsbooks, as well as Polymarket. Use our Polymarket invite code to get started by clicking on the module below.
Below are current NCAA men's basketball national championship odds, followed by sportsbook insights. Also, check out Patrick Everson's March Madness Final Four Odds Report for more insights. To get the most out of your college basketball bets, use our bet365 bonus code.
(Feature image: Amber Searls/Imagn Images)
National Championship Winner Odds
2025-26 March Madness Futures Odds
Duke Dusted
LATEST UPDATE: Arguably no team was hotter than Duke (35-2), through the Sweet 16. The Blue Devils were on a 14-game run, part of a 24-1 tear dating to mid-December.
As the Elite 8 arrived, Duke was the +425 third choice in BetMGM's March Madness futures odds. The Blue Devils then put UConn in a 44-29 halftime hole, with a berth to the Final Four on the line.
Then Duke imploded. UConn erased almost all of that deficit, getting within 72-70 in the waning seconds. A shocking Duke turnover and even more shocking Braylon Mullins 3-pointer in the final second gave the Huskies a 73-72 upset.
That cleared the way for fellow No. 1 seeds Michigan (35-3) and Arizona (36-2). The Wolverines are now the +165 favorite, the shortest price of any team this season. And the Wildcats are right behind at +180.
Unfortunately, those two teams meet in the Final Four on Saturday. So one of them will be out.
"We're now looking to avoid UConn," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. "Arizona is a good winner for the book right now. Michigan, as it stands, is a great result, too."
Arizona represents the biggest jumper from last April's opening odds. The Wildcats began at +4000, then won their first 23 games to get into the favorites mix.
BetMGM took a $50,000 bet on Arizona +450, for a potential win of $225,000.
As for No. 2 seed UConn (33-5), it's the last of the four remaining teams in BetMGM's NCAA Tournament futures odds, at +550. A BetMGM customer has a $25,000 bet on UConn +900 to win the title, for potential profit of $225,000.
Illinois (28-8) leapt to the +475 third choice, after getting to the Final Four via a Sweet 16 upset of No. 2 seed Houston and an Elite 8 win over upstart No. 9 seed Iowa. Pre-tourney, the Fighting Illini could be at +2200 or longer.
The top five in ticket count in BetMGM's NCAA Tournament championship odds:
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Duke
- Houston
- Florida
And the top five in money in BetMGM's March Madness futures odds:
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Duke
- Illinois
- Houston
As noted above, Houston fell in the Sweet 16 and Duke in the Elite 8. Florida bowed out in a Round of 32 upset loss to Iowa.
Opening National Championship Odds
Below are BetMGM's opening odds last April for a few of the top teams to win the 2025-2026 College Basketball National Championship:
- Houston +900
- Duke +1000
- Purdue +1400
- UConn +1400
- Auburn +1800
- Kentucky +2000
- BYU +2000
- Florida +2000
- Kansas +2000
- Arkansas +2000
- Louisville +2000
- Alabama +2000
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Betting on College Basketball
March Madness odds represent the likelihood of a team winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. These odds are determined by sportsbooks and can change throughout the season, based on a team's performance and potential matchups..
Check out more resources and where to locate the best March Madness odds below:
Best CBB Betting Sites I Sportsbook Promos for March Madness Betting I Best College Basketball Parlay Picks I How To Make A March Madness Bracket
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How To Bet On College Basketball Futures
March Madness is among the most popular events on the American sports betting calendar. College basketball futures wagers can lead to generous returns if you can land the right team at good odds for the NCAA Tournament, held over three weekends from mid-March to early April.
Check out our online sportsbook directory to find the best odds and most secure places to make college basketball bets, as well as exclusive sportsbook offers.
Similar to other sports, the majority of online oddsmakers post College Basketball Futures at the conclusion of the previous season. The betting market usually sees a spike of popularity in May or June, as top players decide whether to stay in college or enter the NBA Draft.
Some bettors have a knack for forecasting who’s returning and leaving, which could create a huge advantage over the oddsmakers. Knowing that a team will be more experienced is a huge advantage in the College Basketball Futures market.
Learn how to bet on futures.
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