2026 March Madness Odds: Duke Leads Odds Boards As Favorite Over Houston, UCONN, Purdue


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Now that Florida has defeated Houston in the national championship game, it’s time to start talking 2026 March Madness winner odds available at top college basketball betting sites. Opening odds show Duke (+1000) as a slight early favorite over Houston (+1100). Connecticut (+1400), BYU (+1500), and Purdue (+1600) round out the top five. The Final Four will take place April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

We have a breakdown of the current CBB championship odds below.

2026 March Madness Odds Movement

Futures odds for the 2026 NCAA Tournament champion are now available with the Duke Blue Devils, Houston Cougars, Connecticut Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, and BYU Cougars the favorites. The odds at March Madness betting apps will shift throughout the 2025-26 season in response to betting action and other developments, such injuries and the team’s chances of making a deep March Madness run. The table below will display odds movement for top teams along with opening odds.

Odds are from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGMCaesars, bet365, and BetRivers. After you’re done line shopping, read for more tips about how to bet on March Madness.

TeamCurrent OddsOpening Odds
Duke+1000
Houston+1100
UConn+1400
Purdue+1600
BYU+1800
Arkansas+2000
Kentucky+2000
Kansas+2000
Louisville+2200
Florida+2500
Auburn+2500
Arizona+2500
Alabama+2500
Texas Tech+2500
Michigan+2500
Baylor+3000
Tennessee+3500
Michigan State+3500
Iowa State+4000
UCLA+4500
North Carolina+4500
Gonzaga+4500
Creighton+6000
Texas+6000
Wisconsin +7000
Illinois+7000
Oregon+7500
Ole Miss+8000
Indiana+8000
Villanova+9000
USC +9000
Iowa+9000

Odds to win the Wooden Award

Looking for more sports betting options on March Madness? Another popular wager is on which player will win the Wooden Award, which goes to the player deemed to be the most outstanding for the tournament as a whole. Sportsbooks will post odds as we get closer to the 2025-26 college basketball season.

Where can I bet on March Madness?

College basketball betting can be confusing, especially when certain states have laws that do not allow wagers on certain teams. Below we go over how state-by-state laws can vary when it comes to March Madness betting. If you’re looking for a sign-up bonus, consider the bet365 promo code, which in some states could be worth up to $1,000.

StateCan I bet on March Madness?In-state teams?Player props?
ArizonaYesYesNo
ArkansasYesYesYes
ColoradoYesYesNo
ConnecticutYesYes (tournament only)Yes (out-of-state teams only)
D.C.YesNoYes
DelawareYesNoYes (out-of-state teams only)
FloridaYesYesNo
IllinoisYesNoNo
IndianaYesYesYes (out-of-state teams only)
IowaYesYesNo
KansasYesYesYes
KentuckyYesYesYes
LouisianaYesYesNo
MaineYesNoYes (out-of-state teams only)
MarylandYesYesNo
MassachusettsYesYes (tournament only)No
MichiganYesYesYes
MississippiYesYesNo
MontanaYesYesYes
NevadaYesYesYes
New HampshireYesNoNo
New JerseyYesNoYes (out-of-state teams only)
New MexicoYesYesYes
New YorkYesNoNo
North CarolinaYesYesYes
OhioYesYesNo
OntarioYesYesYes
OregonNot online; in person onlyYesNo
PennsylvaniaYesYesNo
Rhode IslandYesNoYes (out-of-state teams only)
South DakotaYesNoNo
TennesseeYesYesNo
VermontYesYes (tournament only)No
VirginiaYesNoNo
WashingtonYesNoNo
West VirginiaYesYesNo
WyomingYesYesYes

CBB bettors even have a new sportsbook to register for in two new states. Click to find the sign-up and additional superboost offers in the bet365 Illinois promo code and bet365 Tennessee welcome bonus.

YearWinning teamPreseason oddsDid the preseason favorite win?
2025Florida +4000No
2024UConn+2000No
2023UConn+8000No
2022Kansas+1400No
2021Baylor+10000No
2019Virginia+1350No
2018Villanova+2700No
2017UNC+1900No
2016Villanova+2500No
2015Duke+900No
2014UConn+6500No
2013Louisville+700No

March Madness odds FAQ

Who is the current favorite to win March Madness?

The opening 2026 March Madness odds show the Duke Blue Devils (+1000) as a slight favorite over the Houston Cougars (+1100). UConn (+1400), Purdue (+1600), and BYU (+1800) are next on the odds board.

What are Florida’s opening odds to win March Madness?

The Florida Gators odds to win March Madness opened at +2500. The defending champion Gators opened the 2024-25 season with +4000 odds to win the national championship.

Where can I bet on March Madness?

March Madness odds are available at sportsbooks throughout the country in states where betting is legal. This includes North Carolina, where legal online sports betting launched in March 2024, just in time for the NCAA Tournament. Check the regulations of your specific state to see if there are restrictions when it comes to betting on in-state colleges. 

What are the newest sportsbooks to bet with for the NCAA Tournament?

Bet365 Sportsbook has launched in Illinois and Tennessee.