The 2025-26 men’s college basketball is set to come to an end on Sunday, March 8.
That means with conference championship week picking up the following week, the 2026 version of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness is almost upon us. Of course, the last weekend of the regular season could not be without drama, too.
Marquette did the unthinkable and knocked off No. 4 Connecticut to likely push the Huskies to a No. 2 seed, while Florida’s convincing win over Kentucky on the road likely secured the final No. 1 seed for the the Gators heading into the conference tournaments.
Entering the conference tournaments, No. 1 Duke is the favorite to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with fellow projected 1-seeds Michigan, Arizona and Florida not far behind.
Here’s a look at the top 20 teams with the best odds of winning the national championship:
March Madness favorites: Ranking Top 20 college basketball teams based on odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, March 8
Duke has emerged as the slight favorite over Michigan to win the 2026 national title. The Blue Devils picked up a major win over the Wolverines on Feb. 21, which likely secured themselves the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
Fellow No. 1 projected seeds in Arizona and Florida, round out the top four for most likely cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. The Gators are seeking to join UCLA as the only program to ever win back-to-back championships twice, and will enter the tournament as the defending champs.
- 1. Duke, +320
- 2. Michigan, +325
- 3. Arizona, +475
- 4. Florida, +575
- 5. Houston, +1000
- 6. Connecticut, +1300
- 7. Illinois, +1800
- 8. Iowa State, +2200
- 9. Kansas, +3500
- 10. Michigan State, +4000
- 11. Purdue, +5000
- 12. Gonzaga, +5500
- T-13. Arkansas, +6600
- T-13. Virginia, +6600
- T-15. Alabama, +8000
- T-15. Nebraska, +8000
- 17. Louisville, +9000
- T-18. St. John’s, +10000
- T-18. Tennessee, +10000
- T-18. Vanderbilt, +10000
When does March Madness start?
The NCAA tournament First Four on the men’s side begins on Tuesday, March 17 and continues on Wednesday, March 18.
The four men’s games, which are held in Dayton, Ohio, feature the final four at-large selections to the field, as well as the four lowest-rated No. 16 seeds. The winner of each matchup advances to the first round. First-round games will take place on March 19 and March 20.
When is March Madness Selection Sunday?
- Date: Sunday, March 15
Selection Sunday for the 2025-26 college basketball season will take place on Sunday, March 15, with both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament brackets being revealed.
