All four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four last year, and this time around, Arizona has risen in the rankings as it looks to cut down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Photo By – Imagn Images. Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10).
After opening at No. 13 in the preseason AP Top 25, Arizona has surged to a 21–0 record and emerged as the favorite in the latest March Madness and college basketball odds.
As the regular season heats up in January, here’s an updated look at the National Championship odds.
March Madness odds
Odds as of 1-27-2026.
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March Madness betting splits
Highest ticket percentage:
•   Michigan 11.5%
•  Duke 8.7%
•  Purdue 7.8%
Highest handle percentage:
•  Michigan 14.5%
•  Purdue 10.1%
•  UConn 8.6%
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
March Madness 2026 schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 |
| First Four | March 17-18 |
| First Round | March 19-20 |
| Second Round | March 21-22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 |
| Final Four | April 4 |
| National Championship Game | April 6 |
Popular March Madness markets
Past March Madness winners
| Year | Champion | Opening odds | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Florida | +8000 | Houston |
| 2024 | Connecticut | +1100 | Purdue |
| 2023 | Connecticut | +1600 | San Diego State |
| 2022 | Kansas | +2000 | North Carolina |
| 2021 | Baylor | +800 | Gonzaga |
| 2020 | No tournament (COVID-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Virginia | +1800 | Texas Tech |
| 2018 | Villanova | +1200 | Michigan |
| 2017 | North Carolina | +2400 | Gonzaga |
| 2016 | Villanova | +2000 | North Carolina |
| 2015 | Duke | +1000 | Wisconsin |
March Madness trends
• Of the 20 teams that have entered the tournament with undefeated records, only seven have gone on to win the national championship.
• Only 13 teams successfully defended their national championship the following season.
• UCLA has the most NCAA titles of all time (11), although the Bruins have not won the tournament since 1995.
• A No. 1-seeded team has won the national championship 59.6% of the time since regional seeding was introduced in 1979.
March Madness Title Odds FAQs
The Arizona Wildcats (+425) are the favorites to win the national championship.
The Florida Gators won March Madness in 2025, defeating Houston 65-63 in the national championship.
The Duke Blue Devils are currently listed at +800 to win the natty.
Calculating March Madness odds involves assessing the probability of different outcomes in the tournament. Oddsmakers use various factors including team performance, player health, head-to-head matchups, tournament experience, coaching, venue, and advanced statistics. Bookmakers use these factors to set initial odds, and as bets are placed, odds may shift based on the money wagered on each side.
The only other school to win three-straight national championships is UCLA, who actually won seven straight titles from 1967-1973.
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