The NCAAB season is set to reach its climax we reach the opening week of the 2026 March Madness tournament, where the Florida Gators look to defend their crown from last year.
The top college basketball teams in the country will all go toe-to-toe in order to earn a chance to be crowned national champions, with the Final Four and finale set to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana at the start of next month.
There will be a host of projects looking to put their names in the history books this time around, and we’ll take a look at the best options to be crowned champions, as we provide our best free March Madness betting picks to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the action on the court.
| March Madness 2026 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Wildcats | +360 | +390 | +390 |
| Duke Blue Devils | +375 | +325 | +325 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +400 | +375 | +375 |
| Florida Gators | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Houston Cougars | +1100 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Iowa State Cyclones | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
Check out the best March Madness betting sites here.
Below you’ll find a list of the favorites to win the March Madness 2026 tournament.
The favorites to come out on top this year are the Duke Blue Devils, and thats because while they have the best defensive record in the country, they also have the man leading the charge for Player of the Year in Cameron Boozer leading their charge.
The 18-year-old power forward, and son of NBA star Carlos Boozer, has had an excellent personal seaosn so far, averaging 22.7 points per game alongside 10.7 rebounds per game and four assists per game, all while shooting 58.3% for the season.
Those numbers and his performances have, obviously, drawn comparisons to Cooper Flagg, who went as the number one pick in the NBA Draft last season, and he is being strongly tipped to be among the top five picks when the draft takes place this summer.
While Duke aren’t as stacked with their starting team as they were last year, they still have more than enough about them to be genuine contenders for the championship. They’ve also been rocked by news that starting point guard Caleb Foster has suffered a season-ending injury, while starting center Patrick Ngongba II is dealing with a foot problem.
They have a straightforward route to the Final Four if they deliver the performances at the tournament that they have been in the regular season, and at odds of +375, they have great value in backing them to go all the way for the first time since 2015.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
The Arizona Wildcats were widely expected to dominate last season with their stunning lineup which saw four starters move on last year. But Tommy Lloyd, who is coaching his fifth-season with the team, has done a stellar job of reigniting them with a new-look team.
Brayden Burries and Koa Peat have been the men entrusted to lead the team, and they have delivered. Burries is averaging 15.5 points per game this season, while Peat is averaging 13.8 points per season, showing that they are more than capable of leading this team to glory. They are also well supported, with the likes of Ivan Kharchenkov chipping in with 10.1 points per game too.
Arizona have been one of the most well-rounded teams in the country this season, and have earned huge wins over Top-10 ranked teams such as Florida Gators, UConn Huskies, and Houston Cougars.
They have been dealt a major blow though, after sixth-man LJ Carson suffered a torn ACL, but they will take confidence from the fact that they aren’t the only team likely to be without key stars.
On paper, especially with the current injury issues, there is very little separating Arizona and Duke. At +390, there is great value on a team with a solid record against the nation’s better teams, who are elite at both ends of the court. This may well be worth a punt.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
A team who nobody expected to be here at the start of the season, the Michigan Wolverines come into this tournament with an incredible 26-2 record so far, including wins over a number of top sides.
Head coach Dusty May is in his second season in the job, and are ranked inside the top five teams in the country both offensively and defensively. That is helped by the fact they have the incredible Yaxel Lendeborg in their side, who is averaging an impressive 14.2 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, and 3.3 assists per game on a 49.6 shooting percentage.
With their closest rivals struggling with some key injuries, as mentioned, the Wolverines have a phenomenal opportunity to shock everyone by claiming the March Madness title for the first time since 1989.
At +400 odds, there is great value in them outside of the top two favorites to get the job done, and they’re well worth a punt.
A quick mention for the reigning champions is worthwhile, but they’re a completely different team from 12 months ago.
Florida lost Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard from the roster, but have kept all of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu, which has also kept them competitive. The three of them are averaging a combined 42.8 points per game, as well as a combined average of 26 rebounds per game, which shows their quality.
They’re having a good season as a team, and +700 odds for a team who know exactly what it means to go all the way is excellent, but they will be underdogs if they make it to the Final Four alongside the other favorites.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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