NCAA Tournament Odds and Predictions 2026: Michigan Is a New Betting Favorite

• Arizona and Michigan have separated themselves as the nation’s top two teams, both holding perfect 11-0 records and projected as the tournament’s top overall seeds

• UConn has officially moved onto the number 1-seed line in latest projections, joining Arizona, Michigan, and Duke—who remains a top seed despite a recent upset loss to Texas Tech

• High-major programs like Indiana, Villanova, UCLA, and Baylor are currently hovering on the "bubble," as teams transition from non-conference play into critical league matchups

The national championship for men’s college basketball is decided every year by a single-elimination tournament featuring the 68 best teams in the country during the regular season. On this page, we’ll keep you up to date with the odds for the top contenders, the best sportsbooks for betting on them, how to read those odds, and so much more!

NCAA Tournament Odds 2026

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Sign up for a FanDuel account today and claim your welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

Rest of the teams listed at +3000 odds and higher.

NCAA Tournament Winner - My Pick

Purdue (+1200) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Purdue is a good betting candidate because they offer the rare combination of roster continuity and elite statistical efficiency. Unlike most contenders that lose stars to the NBA, the Boilermakers returned a veteran core led by All-American point guard Braden Smith and forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. Currently ranked in the KenPom Top 5 with an 11–1 record, they have already secured "statement" wins over Alabama and Auburn.

By adding size through transfer Oscar Cluff and the return of 7'4" Daniel Jacobsen, they have successfully addressed their previous rebounding and defensive depth issues, making them arguably the most "battle-tested" team in the country.

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How to Bet on the NCAA Tournament Winner

Online sportsbooks will often have odds posted for the next NCAAM Tournament most of the year for fans to put money on. Placing a wager on your team is pretty easy to do:

You’ll need to open an account with a sportsbook, but I’d recommend opening a few to take advantage of the welcome promos and because, at this stage of the season, odds can vary significantly across books.

Once you’ve done that, find the book with the most advantageous odds for the team you want to bet on. Make sure you have money in your account. Click on the team, enter your desired wager on the betting slip, and place your bet.

How to Read NCAA Tournament Winner Odds

Futures odds will be expressed as a three-digit number with a + or – in front. If the odds have a minus number, that means you will need to risk whatever the odds are to win $100. So, if the odds are -1000, you’ll need to bet $1000 to win $100.

But if the odds have a + sign in front, the odds are what you’ll win if you bet $100. If the team has +1000 odds like Houston to start the season, you’ll win $1000 if you bet $100.

If a team has odds, it has a better than 50% chance of winning, and if it has + odds, it has a less than 50% chance of winning.

Where to Bet on the NCAA Tournament Winner

The following are my preferred online sportsbooks for betting on the NCAAM Tournament Winner:

• FanDuel Sportsbook: Not every sportsbook has both a mobile app and a desktop site, or if they do, they don’t function the same. FanDuel has both; what you can do on one, you can do on the other with ease. Navigating both is simple and easy to do, and when you are at a game, you’ll have no trouble using your FanDuel mobile app. Claim the FanDuel welcome bonus today: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

• Caesars Sportsbook: I am really high on Caesars because of their current welcome promo: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 20 Bets. I love betting on player props and occasionally live betting, but I tend to keep my wagers small so I can place more bets. Doubling my winnings will make it so much more fun. Use our promo code WSN20X to claim this offer.

• BetMGM Sportsbook: I’m a big fan of betting on parlays and same game parlays, and BetMGM’s builder is the best in the business. Sign up for a BetMGM account with our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.
  
  *21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

NCAA Tournament Winner History

Florida won the school’s third national championship last season, but the all-time record belongs to UCLA with 11, followed by Kentucky with 8, North Carolina and UConn with 6, and Duke and Indiana with 5.

The following table contains a list of the last 15 NCAAM Championship winners: