2026 NCAA Tournament Championship Odds: Michigan Surges to Favorite
NCAA Tournament odds for 2026 have been on the board since even before Florida beat Houston in last season's title game. And both of those teams are in the mix so far this season.
However, Michigan is the big news at the moment, solidly atop 2026 March Madness odds in mid-December. The Wolverines are the only team shorter than 10/1.
Below are current NCAA men's basketball national championship odds, followed by sportsbook insights. To get the most out of your college basketball bets, use our bet365 bonus code.
National Championship Winner Odds
| Time | Bet365 | BetMGM | DraftKings | Caesars | FanDuel | RiversCasino | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |  › |  › |  › |  › |  › |  › | |
| +450 | +375 | +475 | +450 | +450 | +425 | ||
| +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +900 | +1100 | +1000 | ||
| +900 | +750 | +1000 | +700 | +900 | +850 | ||
| +1000 | +1100 | +1100 | +900 | +1000 | +1000 | ||
| +1100 | +1200 | +1200 | +1000 | +1100 | +1100 | ||
| +1400 | +1400 | +1300 | +1600 | +1600 | +1400 | ||
| +1200 | +1100 | +1300 | +1000 | +1200 | +1200 | ||
| +1200 | +1300 | +1500 | +1500 | +1200 | +1400 | ||
| +1800 | +2500 | +1800 | +2500 | +2500 | +2200 | ||
| +2200 | +2200 | +2000 | +2200 | +3000 | +2000 | ||
| +2800 | +2500 | +2500 | +3500 | +3000 | +2500 | ||
|
| |||||||
2025-26 NCAA Tournament Odds
Michigan Men
LATEST UPDATE: Back in April, even before Florida edged Houston 65-63 to lift the trophy, BetMGM posted March Madness futures odds for 2025-26. No real surprise, the defending champion Cougars led the way at +900.
Duke followed at +1000, then came Purdue and UConn as the co-third choice at +1400. Just ahead of the Nov. 4 regular-season openers, it was the Boilermakers on top at +750. Houston followed at +900, then Duke and Kentucky at +1300. UConn and Florida were the co-fifth choice.
Fast-forward to Dec. 13, though, and it's none of those teams leading the way. Rather, Michigan (9-0) is the growing favorite at +375. Preseason, the Wolverines were +1600, but are off to a great start, including blowout wins over Auburn and Gonzaga, clearing 100 points both times.
UConn and Arizona are the co-second choice at +1000. Duke and Purdue round out the top five, with both +1100.
The top five in ticket count in BetMGM's NCAA Tournament championship odds:
- Michigan
- Purdue
- Duke
- Houston
- UConn
And the top five in money reads exactly the same in BetMGM's NCAA Tournament futures odds:
- Michigan
- Purdue
- Duke
- Houston
- UConn
Flying Under the Radar
LATEST UPDATE: BetMGM senior trader Michael Ranftle pointed to a Big 12 outfit and ACC team as potential sleepers.
"BYU and Louisville took some bets at the opening number. But no one is backing them this fall," he said. "People probably want to see it play out [more] on the court before putting their money behind them."
BYU (8-1) reached the Sweet 16 last season before bowing out to Alabama. In 2026 NCAA Tournament odds, the Cougars opened +2000, moved to the +1800 ninth choice before the season tipped off and are now +3000.
Louisville made it to the 2024-25 NCAA Tourney as a No. 8 seed, its first trip to the Big Dance since 2019. But the Cardinals lost to Creighton in the first round.
BetMGM opened Louisville +2000 in 2025-26 March Madness futures, and the Cards began the season at +2500. That's where Louisville (9-1) sits in mid-December, as well.
Opening National Championship Odds
Below are BetMGM's opening odds for a few of the top teams to win the 2025-2026 College Basketball National Championship:
- Houston +900
- Duke +1000
- Purdue +1400
- UConn +1400
- Auburn +1800
- Kentucky +2000
- BYU +2000
- Florida +2000
- Kansas +2000
- Arkansas +2000
- Louisville +2000
- Alabama +2000
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Betting on College Basketball
March Madness odds represent the likelihood of a team winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. These odds are determined by sportsbooks and can change throughout the season, based on a team's performance and potential matchups..
Check out more resources and where to locate the best March Madness odds below:
Best CBB Betting Sites I Sportsbook Promos for March Madness Betting I Best College Basketball Parlay Picks I How To Make A March Madness Bracket
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How To Bet On College Basketball Futures
March Madness is among the most popular events on the American sports betting calendar. College basketball futures wagers can lead to generous returns if you can land the right team at good odds for the NCAA Tournament, held over three weekends from mid-March to early April.
Check out our online sportsbook directory to find the best odds and most secure places to make college basketball bets, as well as exclusive sportsbook offers.
Similar to other sports, the majority of online oddsmakers post College Basketball Futures at the conclusion of the previous season. The betting market usually sees a spike of popularity in May or June, as top players decide whether to stay in college or enter the NBA Draft.
Some bettors have a knack for forecasting who’s returning and leaving, which could create a huge advantage over the oddsmakers. Knowing that a team will be more experienced is a huge advantage in the College Basketball Futures market.
Learn how to bet on futures.
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