Men’s College Basketball Tournament Odds
The Men’s College Basketball Tournament is one of the single largest sporting events in the world. It regularly draws record numbers of sports bettors, often coming in second only to the Super Bowl.
When March arrives, bettors flock to legal sportsbooks in search of favorable odds. Our comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about College Basketball odds, including common bets, how to read odds, and more.
Where To Bet on NCAA Basketball Odds in 2026
How can you find the best sports betting apps for the tournament and claim the top College Basketball tournament betting promos?
It depends on what sportsbooks offer college basketball futures in your state and if there are any restrictions on college betting.
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The online odds vary, sometimes wildly, and fluctuate regularly. This puts those who have done their homework in the best position to capitalize on bracket predictions. Incentives are aplenty, too.
College Basketball Line Movement: Why Do Betting Lines Move?
Basketball game betting lines and championship futures can move for several reasons. One or both teams could have critical players ruled out. However, the primary reason why a line will move is that a significant amount of money has been placed on one side of the bet. In such a situation, should that side of the bet win, the house loses. To protect themselves, sportsbooks will adjust the NCAAB odds to encourage betting on the other side of the line.
Unexpected line movements can happen when a lot of money is placed on one side of a bet by a small number of big bettors (sharps).
The same principle applies to future odds. However, during the tournament, odds will move because fewer teams are alive, and each remaining team has a better chance of winning simply because they are still playing.
What Is Implied Probability?
Implied probability is the likelihood of a particular outcome based on the odds. For example, DraftKings can list a runner-up team at +3000 odds to win the NCAAM Championship. Those odds would translate to a 3.23% implied probability of that team winning.
You can use our implied probability calculator to determine the likelihood of your wager succeeding.
Types of College Basketball Tournament Odds
Odds are available in many shapes, sizes, and formats. If you’re already familiar with sports betting odds, these won’t come as much of a surprise. See our college basketball odds page for more.
Moneylines
Moneyline bets are the simplest odds available. Bet on a team to win. If they do, you get a payout commensurate with the odds at the time of your bet. Moneyline odds take into account team skill, recent developments, records, and more.
Moneyline Example
- Purdue +150
- UConn -200
These odds tell us that UConn is favored to win the game while Purdue is the underdog.
Point Spreads
Point spreads give an advantage to the underdog team and a handicap to the favored squad in the form of added or subtracted points. When a team covers the spread, they’ve either overcome the disadvantage or lost by a thinner margin than the sportsbook initially set. Here is an example.
Point Spread Example
- Purdue +6.5 (-110)
- UConn -6.5 (-110)
In this example, UConn is favored to win the matchup by around six points. The -6.5 means the Huskies will cover the spread if they win by at least seven. A final score of UConn 72, Purdue 61 means UConn covers because they win by 11 points, which is greater than the line of -6.5.
On the other hand, Purdue can either win straight-up or lose by fewer than seven points to cover the spread. A final score of UConn 72, Purdue 69 would mean bets on Purdue’s point spread are successful.
Totals
In totals betting, your wager hinges on the combined total points scored by both teams rather than picking a winner correctly. These bets are also called Over/Unders. Looking at an example is the best way to grasp total wagers.
Totals Example
- UConn vs. Purdue
- Over 144.5 (-110)
- Under 144.5 (-110)
The ending score is the only thing that matters here, and it doesn’t matter who scores which points. In a final score of UConn 78, Purdue 77, the “Over” is successful because the total is 155, well beyond the line of 144.5. Conversely, a final score of Purdue 71, UConn 70 would result in the “Under” winning because the total is 141.
Futures
Futures bets are popular year-round. They involve picking a winner for a long-term outcome in the tournament. For example, you might bet on your favorite team to make the Sweet Sixteen or win it all. Because these outcomes are incredibly hard to predict, futures bets have high potential payouts along with their high risk.
Futures Example
To win the tournament:
- Duke: +1000
- Kansas: +1000
- UConn: +1100
- Alabama: +1300
- Houston: +1600
- UNC: +2000
The list includes many other teams. A $100 bet on Duke to win it all would bring a $1,000 return.
Parlays
Parlays combine multiple bets into a single wager. Each individual bet is called a “leg,” and your parlay only wins if all the legs are successful. Let’s combine a few bets and see how the odds look.
Parlay Example
- Illinois moneyline +180
- Michigan State -1 (-108)
- Iowa vs. Iowa State Over 138.5 (-110)
- Total odds: +929
The combined payout of the parlay is significantly higher than each constituent bet. But if even one leg loses, the whole parlay is a bust. A $100 bet would bring a $929 profit.
Sportsbooks also allow parlays to be built from bets on a single game. These are called same-game parlays.
Props
Prop bets focus on outcomes that aren’t necessarily related to a win or loss. Examples of prop bets can include:
- Player to score three or more three-pointers
- Will there be overtime? Yes or no
- Player to log Over/Under 4.5 assists
Props on specific players are becoming rarer as many states prohibit them on the collegiate level, but game props are still widely offered on contests.
Live Betting
Sportsbooks allow in-play or live betting. As the name implies, these bets are placed on games as they’re in progress. Live betting can be particularly beneficial because odds can shift as the game goes on. You might see a high-paying moneyline bet on a team that’s trailing. It could be worth a bet if that team has a history of making comebacks for the win.
Odds change quickly while live betting, so you need to act fast.
Line Shopping
Line shopping is the practice of searching across numerous sportsbooks to find a more advantageous line or odds for a given bet. Take the following examples from two different sportsbooks:
FanDuel odds on Michigan vs. Michigan State
- Michigan State -6 (-108)
- Michigan +6 (-112)
DraftKings odds on Michigan vs. Michigan State
- Michigan State -5.5 (-110)
- Michigan +5.5 (-110)
These are very small differences that can make a big impact over time. FanDuel has a better payout on the Michigan State point spread, but Michigan State has to win by 7 or more for that bet to hit. DraftKings, meanwhile, requires a 6-point margin but pays slightly less.
Find the best odds and lines for your particular bet to maximize your profit potential in the long run.
Tournament History and Betting Tips
The following table contains the odds (via SportsOddsHistory.com) for the last 14 NCAAM Championship winners, along with who the favorites were in the preseason and before Round 1 of the Tournament:
| Year | NCAAM Champion | Odds (Preseason/Prior Rd 1) | Favorite (Preseason) | Odds | Favorite (Prior Rd 1) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Connecticut (37-3) | +2000 | Kansas | +1000 | Connecticut | +400 |
| 2023 | Connecticut (31-8) | +8000/+1600 | Gonzaga/North Carolina | +900/+900 | Houston | +500 |
| 2022 | Kansas (34-6) | +1400/+900 | Gonzago | +600 | Gonzaga | +300 |
| 2021 | Baylor (28-2) | +800/+500 | Baylor/Gonzaga | +800 | Gonzaga | +200 |
| 2020 | Canceled (Covid-19) | |||||
| 2019 | Virginia (35-3) | +1350/+675 | Duke | +450 | Duke | +255 |
| 2018 | Villanova (36-4) | +2700/+570 | Duke | +525 | Villanova | +575 |
| 2017 | North Carolina (33-7) | +1900/+535 | Duke | +335 | North Carolina | +535 |
| 2016 | Villanova (35-5) | +2500/+1500 | Kentucky | +850 | Kansas | +485 |
| 2015 | Duke (35-4) | +900/+1000 | Kentucky | +275 | Kentucky | +110 |
| 2014 | Connecticut (32-8) | +6500/+9500 | Kentucky | +400 | Florida | +550 |
| 2013 | Louisville (35-5) | +700/+450 | Indiana | +500 | Louisville | +450 |
| 2012 | Kentucky (38-2) | +550/+185 | North Carolina | +350 | Kentucky | +185 |
| 2011 | Connecticut (32-9) | +4000/+2500 | Duke | +500 | Duke/Kansas | +400 |
| 2010 | Duke (35-5) | +1200/+650 | Kansas/Kentucky | +500 | Kansas | +175 |
Here are a few trends that could be helpful for bettors as they decide on who to wager on:
- No team seeded from No. 9 to 16 has ever made the championship game.
- No. 1 seeds have a 25% chance of making the Finals and a 16% chance of winning.
- No. 2 seeds have a 20.8% chance of making the Finals and a 9% chance of winning.
- No. 3 seeds have an 11.8% chance of making the Finals and a 7.6% chance of winning.
- The highest seed to win is No. 8 (Villanova in 1985).
Restrictions On College Sports
While the tournament is extremely popular, some states have had concerns over the integrity of the game and athletes when it comes to sports betting. As a result, some states have imposed restrictions on betting on college sports:
- New Jersey sports betting: Betting is prohibited on New Jersey college teams or college sports events held in New Jersey.
- Illinois sports betting: Betting is prohibited on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities; prop betting and in-play prop betting are also banned.
- Colorado sports betting: Betting on games involving teams from Colorado is legal, but bets on player performance are not (player prop bets). Sorry, Buffalo fans– no college bowl props the next time CU makes a bowl game.
- Tennessee: Betting on games involving teams from Tennessee is legal, but bets on player performance (player prop bets) and live prop betting are not. That means no College Bowl live betting on the Volunteers.
- Virginia sports betting: Betting is prohibited on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities; no prop bets or in-play betting.
- New Hampshire: Betting on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities is prohibited.
- New York sports betting: Betting is prohibited on collegiate sports events held in-state and games/events involving teams from New York.
- Oregon sports betting: Betting on college sports via the state-run app is prohibited, but you can bet on them at a tribal casino that offers sports betting.
- Rhode Island: Betting is prohibited on college teams from Rhode Island and in-state events.
- Washington, DC, sports betting: Betting is prohibited on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities.
- Arizona sports betting: No prop bets allowed, player or team.
- Connecticut: Betting is prohibited on games involving in-state colleges and universities.
- Illinois: Player prop bets on players from in-state teams are banned.
- Iowa: No player props on players from in-state teams.
March Madness Odds FAQ
Yes. DraftKings is a top sportsbook that offers a wide variety of odds before and during the season.
Yes. FanDuel’s odds team consistently offers live odds during games. It’s a great sportsbook for in-game betting enthusiasts.
A $100 bet on odds of +110 would pay $110 in profit if successful. The total payout would be $210, representing your initial wager return plus the winnings.
Odds of -110 mean that outcome is about 50% likely to happen. While that would normally require odds of +100, sportsbooks offer -110 to include their vig and guarantee a profit. A $110 bet on these odds would pay $100 in profits.
Over/Under is also known as totals betting. In these wagers, you pick “Over” or “Under” based on how many points you think both teams will combine for in the game.
You can download and create accounts for multiple online sportsbooks. Compare and contrast the odds to find the most advantageous lines or payouts.
This comes down to personal preference. Totals betting is certainly popular among bettors because some fans don’t prefer a particular team.
FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are our top recommended betting apps, though many other great options exist.
