2026 March Madness Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Elite 8

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

The March Madness Odds Elite 8 market is beginning to take shape, with matchups set for the first two bids into the Final Four.

Surprising No. 9 seed Iowa meets No. 3 seed Illinois in Saturday's opener on the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 odds board. The second matchup: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 1 Arizona.

Here's everything you need to know about college basketball odds for 2026 March Madness Elite 8 games: opening lines, spreads and betting trends. Check back for updates throughout the week, and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

(Feature image: David Banks/Imagn Images)

March Madness Elite 8 Odds

South Region

Illinois vs. Iowa Odds

• Opening point spread: Illinois -6.5
• Opening moneyline: Illinois -285/Iowa +230
• Opening total: Over/Under 140.5 points scored
• Time: 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday (TBS/truTV)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 9 seed Iowa (24-12 SU/21-15 ATS) didn't have a letdown after its huge upset of No. 1 seed Florida last weekend. The Hawkeyes topped No. 4 Nebraska 77-71 as 1.5-point underdogs Thursday night.

Iowa is 3-0 SU and ATS in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 Illinois (27-8 SU/19-16 ATS) was in a rockfight with No. 2 Houston in the first half, taking a 24-22 lead. But the Fighting Illini opened the second half with a 20-4 run, then held off a late Cougars charge to win 65-55 as 2.5-point underdogs.

Equally impressive: It was a de facto road game for Illinois, at the Toyota Center in Houston. Like Iowa, the Illini are 3-0 SU and ATS in the NCAA Tourney.

DraftKings opened Illinois -6.5 vs. Iowa in 2026 March Madness Elite 8 odds. There was a modest adjustment in the first 30 minutes, to Illinois -6.5 (-115). But the total fell back a point, from 140.5 to 139.5.

Check back Friday for updates on odds and action in this matchup.

As Big Ten rivals, Illinois and Iowa met once in the regular season. On Jan. 11, the Illini won 75-69 laying 1.5 points on the road.

West Region

Arizona vs. Purdue Odds

• Opening point spread: Arizona -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Arizona -250/Purdue +205
• Opening total: Over/Under 151.5 points scored
• Time: 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday (TBS/truTV)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 2 seed Purdue (30-8 SU/17-21 ATS) got all it could handle from plucky No. 11 seed Texas. The Boilermakers won 79-77 on a Trey Kaufman-Renn tip-in in the final second, while failing to cover as 8.5-point favorites.

Purdue is on a 7-0 SU run (4-3 ATS), taking four games in four days in the Big Ten Tourney, then winning its first three in the NCAA Tourney.

On the flip side, No. 1 Arizona (35-2 SU/23-14 ATS) built an 11-point halftime lead and stretched it out in the second half vs. No. 4 Arkansas. The Wildcats went on to a 109-88 victory as 8.5-point favorites.

Arizona is on a 12-0 SU tear, going 8-4 ATS in that stretch.

Late Thursday night, DraftKings Sportsbook opened Arizona -5.5 vs. Purdue in March Madness Elite Eight odds. Within minutes, the Wildcats advanced to -6.5 (-105), and the total went from 151.5 to 152.5.

Check back Friday for updates on odds and action in this matchup.

East Region

Michigan State/UConn vs. St. John's/Duke Odds

• Opening point spread: TBA
• Opening moneyline: TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under TBA points scored
• Time: TBA Sunday

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Check back Friday night for updates on March Madness Elite 8 odds, as this matchup materializes.

Midwest Region

Tennessee/Iowa State vs. Alabama/Michigan Odds

• Opening point spread: TBA
• Opening moneyline: TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under TBA points scored
• Time: TBA Sunday

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Check back Friday night for updates on 2026 Elite Eight odds, as this matchup comes together.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson