March Madness tips off this week as the 2026 NCAA Tournament gets underway. With the bracket now set following Selection Sunday, top March Madness sportsbooks have released odds for every matchup in the opening round as teams begin their run toward the national championship.
First-round betting odds for every March Madness game are listed below. Action begins with the First Four on March 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio, with the official first round of the tournament taking place March 19 and 20. Teams that advance will move on to the second round on March 21 and 22 as the tournament continues toward the Final Four on April 4 and the national championship game on April 6 in Indianapolis.
Odds are current as of March 15th at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Jump to region: East | West | South | Midwest
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Best NCAA Tournament odds: First round
East Region odds
Duke enters the tournament as the favorite in the East Region and will look to take advantage of a strong path through the bracket. Full seeds and odds for the East Region are listed below.
| Matchup | Favorite | Total |
| 1 Duke vs. 16 Siena | Duke (-27.5) | 136.5 |
| 8 Ohio State vs. 9 TCU | Ohio State (-2.5) | 147.5 |
| 5 St. John’s vs. 12 Northwestern | St. John’s (-9.5) | 130.5 |
| 4 Kansas vs. 13 Cal Baptist | Kansas (-12.5) | 134.5 |
| 6 Louisville vs. 11 South Florida | Louisville (-7.5) | 163.5 |
| 3 Michigan State vs. 14 North Dakota State | Michigan State (-15.5) | 143.5 |
| 7 UCLA vs. 10 UCF | UCLA (-6.5) | 154.5 |
| 2 UConn vs. 15 Furman | UConn (-18.5) | 136.5 |
West Region odds
Arizona and Purdue enter the West Region as the top favorites and headline a competitive group of teams looking to reach the Final Four. Both programs bring strong resumes into the tournament and are expected to contend for the regional title. Full seeds and odds for the West Region are listed below.
| Matchup | Favorite | Total |
| 1 Arizona vs. 16 Long Island | Arizona (-29.5) | 150.5 |
| 8 Villanova vs. 9 Utah State | Utah State (-1.5) | 147.5 |
| 5 Wisconsin vs. 12 High Point | Wisconsin (-12.5) | 166.5 |
| 4 Arkansas vs. 13 Hawaii | Arkansas (-15.5) | 161.5 |
| 6 BYU vs. 11 Texas/NC State | TBD | TBD |
| 3 Gonzaga vs. 14 Kennesaw State | Gonzaga (-18.5) | 157.5 |
| 7 Miami (FL) vs. 10 Missouri | Miami (FL) (-2.5) | 150.5 |
| 2 Purdue vs. 15 Queens (N.C) | Purdue (-23.5) | 165.5 |
South Region odds
Florida is the No. 1 seed in the South Region and will look to lead a strong group of teams through the bracket. The Gators open the tournament against the winner of the First Four matchup between Prairie View A&M and Lehigh, who will battle for the No. 16 seed. Full seeds and odds for the West Region are listed below.
| Matchup | Favorite | Total |
| 1 Florida vs. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | TBD | TBD |
| 8 Clemson vs. 9 Iowa | Iowa (-1.5) | 130.5 |
| 5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 McNeese | Vanderbilt (-10.5) | 150.5 |
| 4 Nebraska vs. 13 Troy | Nebrasksa (-13.5) | 133.5 |
| 6 North Carolina vs. 11 VCU | North Carolina (-1.5) | 155.5 |
| 3 Illinois vs. 14 Penn | Illinois (-20.5) | 149.5 |
| 7 St. Mary’s vs. 10 Texas A&M | St. Mary’s (-2.5) | 148.5 |
| 2 Houston vs. 15 Idaho | Houston (-19.5) | 133.5 |
Midwest Region odds
Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and is one of the top contenders for the national championship. The Wolverines will face the winner of the First Four matchup between UMBC and Howard, who will battle for the No. 16 seed in the region. Full odds and seeds are below.
| Matchup | Favorite | Total |
| 1 Michigan vs. 16 UMCB/Howard | TBD | TBD |
| 8 Georgia vs. 9 Saint Louis | Georgia (-1.5) | 171.5 |
| 5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Akron | Texas Tech (-8.5) | |
| 4 Alabama vs. 13 Hofstra | Alabama (-10.5) | 161.5 |
| 6 Tennessee vs. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU | TBD | TBD |
| 3 Virginia vs. 14 Wright State | Virginia (-17.5) | 144.5 |
| 7 Kentucky vs. 10 Santa Clara | Kentucky (-2.5) | 161.5 |
| 2 Iowa State vs. 15 Tennessee State | Iowa State (-23.5) | 148.5 |
March Madness first round betting preview
Ohio State vs. TCU
Ohio State enters this matchup as a slight favorite at -2.5, and the total is set at 147.5.
Ohio State earned the No. 8 seed in the East Region after putting together a strong season in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes showed consistency throughout the year and will look to rely on their balanced scoring and defensive play to move past the opening round.
TCU comes in as the No. 9 seed after navigating a competitive Big 12 schedule. The Horned Frogs have proven they can compete with top teams and will aim to pull off a mild upset in what projects to be one of the more competitive first-round games in the region.
Wisconsin vs. High Point
Wisconsin is favored by 12.5 points in this West Region matchup, with the total set at 166.5.
Wisconsin secured a No. 5 seed after a strong season that featured solid performances on both ends of the floor. The Badgers will look to control the pace and lean on their experience to avoid an early upset.
High Point enters the tournament as the No. 12 seed and hopes to play the role of bracket-buster. The Panthers had a strong year in conference play and will look to push the tempo and create scoring opportunities against the favored Badgers.
St. Mary’s vs. Texas A&M
St. Mary’s is a 2.5-point favorite in this South Region matchup, with the total listed at 148.5.
St. Mary’s enters the tournament as the No. 7 seed after another strong season in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels are known for their disciplined offense and tough half-court defense, which could be key in a closely contested matchup.
Texas A&M is the No. 10 seed and brings plenty of experience from the SEC. The Aggies have been battle-tested against high-level competition and will try to capitalize on any opportunities to advance in the bracket.
Kentucky vs. Santa Clara
Kentucky is favored by 2.5 points in this Midwest Region matchup, and the total is set at 161.5.
Kentucky earned the No. 7 seed after navigating a challenging SEC schedule. The Wildcats have shown the ability to score in bunches and will look to use their athleticism to gain an edge in the opening round.
Santa Clara enters as the No. 10 seed and will try to build on a successful season that earned them a spot in the tournament. The Broncos have shown offensive firepower throughout the year and could make this one of the most entertaining games of the first round.
