March Madness Odds 2026: UConn Upsets Duke in Thrilling Finish, Remains Underdog

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We are down to the Final Four in the 2026 March Madness bracket, and Arizona is leading fellow No.

1 seed Michigan in the latest National Championship odds.

March Madness has continued living up to its billing, with No.

1 Duke getting outscored 44-28 by UConn in the second half, ultimately falling to the Huskies in the Elite 8.

Let's look at the latest college basketball oddswith the Final Four looming on Saturday, April 4.

March Madness odds

TeamNext Opponent
Arizona+170No.

1 Michigan (Saturday)
Michigan+175No.

1 Arizona (Saturday)
Illinois+400No.

2 UConn (Saturday)
UConn+550No.

3 Illinois (Saturday)
Odds from bet365, one of our best betting apps.

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How these odds have shifted

Duke had the best odds to win the NCAA Tournament heading into Round 1, but bettors have soured somewhat on the banged-up Blue Devils, as Duke had to survive some close shaves to make it this far.

Arizona and Michigan have see-sawed for the top spot in the March Madness winner odds, depending on who has advanced further first.

Illinois made a big jump from +1400 to +550 after punching its ticket to the Final Four with a win over Iowa.

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March Madness favorites

Arizona (+170)

The Wildcats sat atop the odds board and were undefeated before suffering back-to-back losses to No.

14 Kansas and No.

16 Texas Tech.

However, nine straight wins — including running the table to win the Big 12 Tournament  — have helped them reshape the narrative.

Arizona hasn't made it past the Sweet Sixteen in more than a decade, and this roster may be as well-positioned as any to get over the hump.

It looked like its tournament was in danger against Utah State, but the Wildcats ultimately prevailed.

They crushed Arkansas and Purdue to reach the Final Four, where they'll play the winner of Michigan/Tennessee.

Michigan (+175)

Before their setback against Duke, Michigan's only stumble came in January against Wisconsin, and Yaxel Lendeborg & Co.

responded by rattling off 11 consecutive wins en route to the No.

1 seed in the Midwest.

Michigan has scored at least 90 points in each game so far in this tournament.

Illinois (+400)

Despite trailing at the half, the Illinois Fighting Illini ultimately dispatched the Iowa Hawkeyes to punch their ticket to the Final Four.

All four Illinois wins have been by double digits, and now it draws a UConn squad that put everything on the floor to topple Duke.

UConn (+550)

Maybe we shouldn't doubt Dan Hurley-coached teams.

This marks the third time in four seasons that his UConn Huskies have made it to the Final Four, and the other two ended with a national championship.

UConn looked cooked at the half against the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday, trailing 44-29, but a wild turnaround that included a 26-point, nine-rebound game from Tarris Reed Jr., led to a one-point victory after Braylon Mullins hit a 35-foot 3-pointer with less than a second remaining.

2026 March Madness futures bets

BetOddsBet DateUnitsNational Title: Michigan+450Feb.

110.5❌ Final Four:  Kansas+350Feb.

110.5 ❌ To Make NCAA Tournament: USC-105Feb.

110.5💸 West Region:  Arizona-135Mar.

181.0💸 Elite Eight: Iowa State-115Mar.

181.0
The Michigan Wolverines are atop nearly every rating system.

Considering their size, experience, depth, and a 5-0 record against ranked opponents, I'm backing them to win the title with my predictions for March Madness.

With a healthy Darryn Peterson, the Kansas Jayhawks have looked like a title contender, and getting them at nearly 4:1 to make the Final Four would be a steal if he's at full strength by tourney time.

Sometimes, futures bets go like this.

USC was 18-6 when this initial "make the tournament" wager was placed.

but the Trojans went on to lose their final eight games of the season in an epic late-year meltdown.

Among Arizona, Duke, and Michigan, the Wildcats have the easier path to the Final Four.

Arizona is at full strength, and its freshman seem to be hitting their stride.

The Wildcats will power through the West Region, where every other top team has major flaws.

Unlike past versions of Iowa State, this squad rebounds at a high level and has the grit to win games when the shots aren't falling.

The three toughest possible opponents on the road to the Elite Eight are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the Cyclones are rated significantly higher than all of them.

March Madness odds over time

March Madness betting splits

Highest ticket percentage:
•    Michigan 11.4%
•    Duke 10.0%
•    Arizona 8.7%
Highesthandle percentage:
•    Arizona 14.4%
•    Michigan 14.0%
•    Florida 10.6%
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
Bettors have been banking big all season on the Wolverines, who have the highest ticket percentage and handle percentage in the nation.

Michigan spent all 19 weeks in the AP Top 25, starting out at No.

7 in the preseason and climbing to No.

1 in mid-February.

March Madness 2026 schedule

EventDateLocation(s)Selection SundayMarch 15--First Four March 17-18UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)First RoundMarch 19-20VariousSecond RoundMarch 21-22VariousSweet 16March 26-27Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, Calif.); United Center (Chicago, Ill.); Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)Elite EightMarch 28-29Toyota Center (Houston, Texas); SAP Center (San Jose, Calif.); United Center (Chicago, Ill.); Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)Final FourApril 4Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.)National Championship GameApril 6Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Popular March Madness markets

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2026 March Madness opening odds

• Houston +900
• Duke +1000
• UConn +1400
• Louisville +1700
• Auburn +1800
• Florida +1900
• Purdue +1900
• Kansas +2000
• Kentucky +2000
• Arkansas +2000
• BYU +2000
• Alabama +2000
• Michigan +2500
• Texas Tech +2500
• St.

  John's +2500

• Gonzaga +3000
• Michigan State +3000
• Iowa State +3000
• Arizona +4000
• UCLA +4000
• North Carolina +4000
• Illinois +6000
• Vanderbilt +15000
• Iowa +15000
• Nebraska +20000

Bookmakers had high hopes for Louisville entering the 2025-26 season, but the Cardinals have largely underperformed to the tune of a dismal 3-6 record against Top 25 teams.

Their inability to hang with the best programs in the country doesn't bode well for their chances of playing in April.

Past March Madness winners

(Opening odds courtesy Sports Odds History)

YearChampionOpening oddsRunner-Up2025 Florida+8000 Houston2024 Connecticut+1100 Purdue2023 Connecticut+1600 San Diego State2022 Kansas+2000 North Carolina2021 Baylor+800 Gonzaga2020No tournament (COVID-19)N/AN/A2019 Virginia+1800 Texas Tech2018 Villanova+1200 Michigan2017 North Carolina+2400 Gonzaga2016 Villanova+2000 North Carolina2015 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.

Embrace the madness

Visit our best March Madness betting sites today to wager on this year's men's basketball tournament.

You're very own "One Shining Moment" opportunity awaits!

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