Arizona Wildcats, Michigan Wolverines & Duke Blue Devils are favorites to win 2026 NCAA Tournament as March Madness tips off

The 2026 NCAA Tournament tips off this week and the No. 1 seeds Duke Blue Devils, Arizona Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines are favorites to cut down the nets in the coming weeks, while the Florida Gators are attempting to repeat as national champions.

Check out a preview of March Madness including odds to reach the Final Four and win the national title, potential Cinderella candidates, and top players from each region as the NCAA Tournament officially gets underway on Thursday and concludes on April 6!

Odds according to FanDuel.

2026 NCAA Tournament odds

1. Arizona Wildcats (+370)

2. Michigan Wolverines (+390)

3. Duke Blue Devils (+400)

4. Florida Gators (+750)

5. Houston Cougars (+1100)

6. Iowa State Cyclones (+1400)

7. Illinois Fighting Illini (+2000)

8. Purdue Boilermakers (+2500)

9. UConn Huskies (+3500)

10. Michigan State Spartans (+4500)

11. Arkansas Razorbacks (+5000)

12. Gonzaga Bulldogs (+5000)

13. St. John’s Red Storm (+7000)

14. Virginia Cavaliers (+7500)

15. Vanderbilt Commodores (+8000)

16. Kansas Jayhawks (+10000)

The East Region is loaded with historically great teams and future NBA stars as No. 1 Duke is the favorite to reach the Final Four led by ACC Player of the Year Cameron Boozer, but the No. 2 UConn Huskies and No. 3 Michigan State Spartans can't be overlooked.

East Region odds

1. Duke Blue Devils (-125)

2. UConn Huskies (+500)

3. Michigan State Spartans (+790)

4. St. John’s Red Storm (+1000)

5. Kansas Jayhawks (+1500)

East Region top players

— Cameron Boozer (Duke forward)

— Darryn Peterson (Kansas guard)

— Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's forward)

— Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State guard)

— Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn center)

The West Region is very intriguing as No. 1 Arizona is expected to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001, while the No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks and No. 6 BYU Cougars are powered by future NBA lottery picks Darius Acuff Jr. and A.J. Dybantsa.

West Region odds

1. Arizona Wildcats (-125)

2. Purdue Boilermakers (+400)

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs (+750)

4. Arkansas Razorbacks (+950)

5. Wisconsin Badgers (+1700)

West Region top players

— A.J. Dybantsa (BYU forward)

— Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas guard)

— Braden Smith (Purdue guard)

— Jaden Bradley (Arizona guard)

— Graham Ike (Gonzaga center)

The Midwest Region is a bit more top-heavy as No. 1 Michigan is projected to reach the Final Four behind one of the nation's best front courts, beating the No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones or No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers on the way to securing a spot in the national semifinals.

Midwest Region odds

1. Michigan Wolverines (-125)

2. Iowa State Cyclones (+290)

3. Virginia Cavaliers (+1100)

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (+1500)

5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (+2700)

Midwest Region top players

— Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan forward)

— Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State forward)

— Christian Anderson (Texas Tech guard)

— Labaron Philon (Alabama guard)

— Thijs De Ridder (Virginia forward)

The South Region is considered the most open bracket as Florida shoots for back to back titles, but the No. 2 Houston Cougars and No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini are legitimate contenders as well — led by star freshman guards Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler.

South Region odds

1. Florida Gators (+160)

2. Houston Cougars (+230)

3. Illinois Fighting Illini (+380)

4. Vanderbilt Commodores (+1200)

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (+1900)

South Region top players

— Kingston Flemings (Houston guard)

— Keaton Wagler (Illinois guard)

— Thomas Haugh (Florida forward)

— Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt guard)

— Henri Veesaar (North Carolina center)

There are several Cinderella candidates including the No. 10 Missouri Tigers and No. 11 Texas Longhorns, along with the No. 11 Miami Redhawks and No. 12 Akron Zips as the MAC had multiple teams land in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.

Potential Cinderella candidates

— Missouri Tigers (No. 10 seed)

— UCF Knights (No. 10 seed)

— Miami Redhawks (No. 11 seed)

— South Florida Bulls (No. 11 seed)

— Texas Longhorns (No. 11 seed)

— VCU Rams (No. 11 seed)

— Akron Zips (No. 12 seed)

— High Point Panthers (No. 12 seed)

— McNeese Cowboys (No. 12 seed)

— Troy Trojans (No. 13 seed)

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