March Madness & Bets 2026: Odds, Favorites, Predictions, Schedule
🗓️ Date: 17–18 March 2026
☘️ Start Time:
⏰ USA (Eastern Time): 18:40 (17–18 March)
⏰ Europe (Central European Time): 23:40 (17–18 March)
📍 Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio, USA
March Madness 2026, officially the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, will take place from March 17 to April 6. The tournament features 68 college teams, with the main bracket consisting of 64 teams divided into four regions — East, South, Midwest, and West — with 16 teams in each region.
The event begins on Selection Sunday (March 15, 2026), when the NCAA announces the participating teams, after which millions of fans start analyzing odds and predicting the tournament favorites.
March Madness is famous for its dramatic finishes and “Cinderella stories,” when underdog teams unexpectedly defeat top contenders and advance deep into the tournament.
March Madness 2026 Dates and Schedule
Men’s tournament: will take place from March 17 to April 6, starting with the First Fourin Dayton, Ohio, and concluding with the national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Women’s tournament: Kicks off March 18 and ends April 5 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
Top 5 Bookmakers to Bet on March Madness 2026
Below are the top 5 bookmakers that offer betting markets for March Madness 2026. These sportsbooks provide extensive coverage of the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments, competitive odds on futures and game lines, and well-developed live betting options throughout the tournament.
Men’s NCAA Tournament 2026
Below is the full schedule for the key stages of the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament, from Selection Sunday to the national championship game.
| 🗓️ Date (2026) | 🏆 Event |
|---|---|
| March 15 | Selection Sunday |
| March 17-18 | First Four |
| March 19-20 | First Round |
| March 21-22 | Second Round |
| March 26-27 | Sweet 16 (Regional Semifinals) |
| March 28-29 | Elite Eight (Regional Finals) |
| April 4 | Final Four Semifinals |
| April 6 | NCAA Championship Game |
Here are the men’s favorites according to 1xBet:
| 🏀 Team | 📈 1xBet Odds | ⬆️ Probability (%) | 🪙 Profit on $100 Bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | 4.25 | 23.53% | $325 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4.40 | 22.73% | $340 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 5.75 | 17.39% | $475 |
| Florida Gators | 8.00 | 12.50% | $700 |
| Houston Cougars | 12.00 | 8.33% | $1,100 |
Duke enters the tournament as the betting favorite with odds of 4.25, which implies a probability of about 23.53%. Close behind are the Michigan Wolverines at 4.40 (22.73%), while Arizona is also among the main contenders with odds of 5.75. Florida and Houston complete the group of leading teams, with odds of 8.00 and 12.00 respectively, offering significantly higher potential payouts for bettors.
Women’s NCAA Tournament 2026
The tournament unfolds over several stages during March and early April, beginning with Selection Sunday and ending with the national championship game. The key dates of March Madness 2026 are shown in the table below.
| 🗓️ Date (2026) | 🏆 Event |
|---|---|
| March 15 | Selection Sunday |
| March 18-19 | First Four |
| March 20-21 | First Round |
| March 22-23 | Second Round |
| March 27-28 | Sweet 16 (Regional Semifinals) |
| March 29-30 | Elite Eight (Regional Finals) |
| April 3 | Final Four Semifinals |
| April 5 | NCAA Championship Game |
Here are the women’s favorites according to 1xBet:
| 🏐 Team | 📈 1xBet Odds | ⬆️ Implied Probability (%) | 🪙 Profit on $100 Bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn Huskies | 1.357 | 73.69% | $35.70 |
| UCLA Bruins | 6.50 | 15.38% | $550 |
| Texas Longhorns | 8.00 | 12.50% | $700 |
| South Carolina Gamecocks | 10.00 | 10.00% | $900 |
| LSU Tigers | 17.00 | 5.88% | $1,600 |
According to the latest projections from major sports media and bookmakers, several traditional college basketball powerhouses are expected to be among the main contenders to win March Madness 2026. Teams such as UConn, UCLA Bruins, Texas Longhorns and South Carolina Gamecocks are frequently mentioned among the top candidates for the NCAA title.
But March Madness isn’t only about basketball — it’s also about big money. The tournament attracts millions of fans and bettors every year, making it one of the most wagered-on sporting events in the United States.
How the Tournament Works
The NCAA March Madness features 68 college basketball teams divided into four regions — East, South, Midwest and West, each containing 16 teams in the main bracket.
Teams qualify in two ways:
- 31 automatic bids — awarded to teams that win their conference tournaments.
- 37 at-large bids — selected by the NCAA Selection Committee based on regular-season and conference performances.
Before the main bracket begins, eight teams compete in the First Four to determine the final spots in the tournament field. The winners advance to join the remaining teams in the official bracket.
The tournament then unfolds over three weeks of single-elimination games, where every matchup is win-or-go-home. The competition progresses through the First Round, Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four, before concluding with the NCAA Championship Game.
This knockout format is what makes March Madness one of the most unpredictable and exciting tournaments in sports.
Recap of the 2025 Tournament
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament ended with Florida Gators winning the national championship. In the title game, Florida defeated Houston Cougars 65–63, capturing the program’s first NCAA title since 2007.
The tournament once again delivered dramatic finishes and major upsets, reminding fans why March Madness is considered one of the most unpredictable events in sports.
Watch the best moments from March Madness 2025:
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