2026 Men's March Madness favorites: Ranking the top 20 teams based on odds
Blake SchusterThe March to the men's national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has begun in earnest as 68 of the best college basketball teams in the country battle to cut down the nets. Entering Selection Sunday, Michigan was the slight favorite to win the title at BetMGM with +325 odds (bet $100 to win $325), followed closely by Duke (+333), Arizona (+425) and Florida (+600).
Here's a look at the top 20 teams with the best odds of winning the national championship as of Monday, March 16.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the men's NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
Join the USA TODAY Bracket Challenge for your shot at $1 millionMen's March Madness live championship odds
All odds via BetMGM as of 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 15, 2026
1. Michigan (+325)
2. Duke (+333)
3. Arizona (+425)
4. Florida (+600)
5. Houston (+1000)
6. UConn (+1800)
7. Iowa State (+1900)
8. Illinois (+2000)
9. Kansas (+4000)
10. Purdue (+4500)
T11. Arkansas (+5000)
T11. Michigan State (+5000)
13. Gonzaga (+5500)
T14. St. John's (+6600)
T14. Wisconsin (+6600)
T14. Vanderbilt (+6600)
17. Virginia (+8000)
T18. Alabama (+10000)
T18. Louisville (+10000)
T18. Tennessee (+10000)
T18. Nebraska (+10000)
2026 Men's NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 17-18: First Four
- March 19-20: First Round
- March 21-22: Second Round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4: Final Four
- April 6: National Championship
Where is men's March Madness this year?
- First Four: UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
- First & Second Rounds: Buffalo, NY., Greenville, SC., Oklahoma City, OK., Portland, OR., Tampa, FL., Philadelphia, PA., San Diego, CA., and St. Louis, MO.
- Sweet 16 & Elite 8: Houston, TX., San Jose, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
- Final Four & National Championship: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.