March Madness is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar. Every year it delivers non-stop games, thrilling upsets and incredible storylines. Now that the regular season is over and the conference tournaments have been decided, the stage is set for the 2026 tournament.
The NCAA revealed the 68-team field on Selection Sunday, locking in this year’s official bracket.
For the next three weeks, college basketball will dominate the headlines and provide all of the drama and excitement you could hope for.
Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida all snagged No. 1 seeds and are among the top contenders to win the national championship. There are also a number of potential Cinderella teams looking to pull off a few upsets and enjoy an extended run in the national spotlight.
Thinking of placing any bets or submitting your picks for the office pool? Before you do, let’s take a closer look at some of the current favourites to win this year’s tournament. We’ll also share a few college teams offering strong betting value, so you can cash in on all the madness.
The Favourites
Duke Blue Devils +325
As ACC tournament champions with a 32-2 overall record, it came as no surprise that Duke landed the top seed in the East Region and No. 1 overall. The Blue Devils are one of the most complete teams in all of college basketball. They feature a lineup that can dictate play on both ends of the floor.
Cameron Boozer is the focal point of the offence and leads the team in points, rebounds and assists. On top of that, the team is ranked No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency. If they can get Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster back to full health, watch out. A blue blood with star power, an efficient offence and an elite defence is a recipe for success.
Michigan Wolverines +325
The Wolverines ran the Big Ten this season, finishing the year with a 31-3 mark. Despite falling to Purdue in the Big Ten championship game over the weekend, they were awarded the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. They look like an absolute powerhouse heading into the tournament.
Michigan has built its success around excellent rebounding, an efficient half-court offence and disciplined defensive play. They have a balanced attack with frontcourt players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara all sharing the load. They struggle at times with their outside shooting and have had issues with turnovers. Even so, the Wolverines remain a serious threat to win it all.
Arizona Wildcats +400
As the No. 1 seed in the West Region of this year’s bracket, Arizona (32-2) is riding a nine-game winning streak and ready to make some noise in the tournament. They finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally. This run included an impressive win over Houston in the Big 12 Championship Game.
The Wildcats are one of the tallest teams in the country, creating a huge mismatch for most rosters. Their size allows them to take over in the low post and create a high number of second chances on the offensive glass. Arizona hasn’t reached a Final Four in 25 years. However, they have been knocking on the door in recent seasons. This could be the year they finally break through.
The Longshots
Houston Cougars +950
With a starting five that offers a unique mix of skill and experience, the Cougars (28-6) have all the talent needed to contend in this year’s tournament. This team is returning several starters from last year’s national championship game appearance, where they fell painfully short in a 65-63 loss to Florida.
While Houston may have faltered a bit down the stretch this season, it wasn’t that long ago that they were ranked No. 1 in the country. Kevin Sampson is one of the game’s top coaches. Houston enter the tournament as a two-seed and remain legitimate challengers to go the distance.
UConn Huskies +2000
Another two-seed offering excellent betting value, the Huskies (29-5) are loaded with talent and excel at just about everything. People are quick to forget, but this team is just a year removed from back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024. They would quickly enter the dynasty discussion if coach Dan Hurley can get the job done again in 2026.
It will help that they have four All-Big East selections in Alex Karaban, Silas Demary Jr., Tarris Reed Jr. and Solo Ball. UConn also boasts five different players averaging double-digits in points this season. Their current odds suggest they are long shots. However, this is a blue blood program that’s very familiar with tournament success and remains on the shortlist of potential champions.
Texas Tech Red Raiders +10000
If you want to back a true dark horse with real potential, Texas Tech could be the play. After finishing third in the Big 12 at 22-10, they received the five-seed in the Midwest Region and have some stiff competition ahead if they want to reach the Final Four. Still, this team always comes ready to play.
Texas Tech isn’t afraid to let loose from long range. Players like Donovan Atwell and Christian Anderson are both shooting over 42% from beyond the arc. Granted, they’re a bit thin up front after losing JT Toppin for the year to a torn ACL. Still, the team has shown great resilience in his absence. March Madness is made for upsets, and if the Red Raiders’ shooters get hot, they could become this year’s Cinderella story.
If all this March Madness talk has got you in the shooting hoops spirit, take a look at our list of the craziest NBA stat lines of all time.