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The 2026 edition of March Madness is behind us, as the Michigan Wolverines cut down the nets at the expense of the UConn Huskies.
National Championship odds for 2027 are already on the board, with Duke and Michigan spearheading the frontrunners.
Meanwhile, a new March Madness expansion format has added a new wrinkle to the latest college basketball odds.
March Madness odds
Team
Duke Blue Devils
+700
Michigan Wolverines
+700
Florida Gators
+750
Connecticut Huskies
+1200
Michigan State Spartans
+1600
Illinois Fighting Illini
+1600
Arizona Wildcats
+1800
Kansas Jayhawks
+1800
Arkansas Razorbacks
+1800
Houston Cougars
+2000
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New 76-Team Format
Starting next year, the field will expand from 68 to 76 teams for both the men's and women's tournaments.
The First Four is gone and set to be replaced by a 12-game “Opening Round” featuring 24 programs (12 lowest automatic qualifiers and 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams). The winners from those games will advance to the Round of 64, which will remain unchanged.
Automatic bids drop from 56 to 52, meaning four fewer teams get in right off the bat. Meanwhile, at‑large bids increase from 37 to 45, giving eight more bubble teams a path in.
March Madness favorites
Duke (+700)
The Duke Blue Devils are expected to lose reigning Naismith College Player of the Year Award winner Cameron Boozer to the NBA Draft, but coach Jon Scheyer knows how to retool.
Duke already has commitments from three of the Top 15 incoming freshmen, including No. 3 Cameron Williams.
Michigan (+700)
Dusty May took full advantage of the transfer portal a year ago to forge a fantastic Michigan Wolverines team.
He'll likely be just as busy again this offseason, although the expected returns of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney will cushion the blow of potentially losing Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, and/or Yaxel Lendeborg.
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March Madness odds over time
Take a look back at Michigan's path to glory during the 2025-26 season.
Popular March Madness markets
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March Madness picks
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Women's March Madness odds
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March Madness Final Four odds
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March Madness MVP odds
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March Madness betting sites
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March Madness betting promos
2027 March Madness opening odds
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Duke +750
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Michigan +1000
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Florida +1200
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Arizona +1400
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Michigan State +1400
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UConn +1600
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Houston +1600
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Kansas +1600
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Arkansas +1800
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Illinois +2000
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Texas Tech +2000
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North Carolina +2200
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Alabama +3000
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BYU +3500
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Gonzaga +3500
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Iowa State +3500
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Kentucky +3500
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St. John's +3500
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Purdue +4000
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Missouri +5000
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TCU +5000
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Tennessee +5000
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Vanderbilt +5000
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Virginia +5000
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Iowa +6000
Past March Madness winners
(Opening odds courtesy Sports Odds History)
Year
Champion
Opening odds
Runner-Up
2026
Michigan
+2500
Connecticut
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.
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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