The final piece of confetti has not yet fallen on Florida's National Championship winning season, but here we are, talking about the 2026 March Madness odds.
While Duke may be losing a trio of key pieces to the NBA, they are realoading in a big way, and lead the chasing pack on the college basketball odds board.
This year's runner-up, Houston, may have plenty of returning pieces next season which means their odds could be shortening quicker than you can shake a stick at.
Join me as I break down the way to early 2026 March Madness odds.
2026 March Madness odds
The very early March Madness odds are out and it's the Duke Blue Devils leading the pack at +900. The beaten finalist Houston Cougars sit close behind at +1200, with Connecticut (+1600), Purdue (+1600), BYU (+1800), and Lousiville (+1800) all rounding out the teams below 20/1.
| Teams |  |
|---|---|
 Duke Blue Devils |
+900 |
 Houston Cougars |
+1200 |
 UConn Huskies |
+1600 |
 Purdue Boilermakers |
+1600 |
 BYU Cougars |
+1800 |
 Louisville Cardinals |
+1800 |
 Arkansas Razorbacks |
+2000 |
 Kentucky Wildcats |
+2000 |
 Kansas Jayhawks |
+2000 |
 Auburn Tigers |
+2000 |
 St. John's Red Storm |
+2000 |
 Alabama Crimson Tide |
+2200 |
 Florida Gators |
+2200 |
 Michigan State Spartans |
+2500 |
 Texas Tech Red Raiders |
+2500 |
 Arizona Wildcats |
+2800 |
 Michigan Wolverines |
+2800 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on 4/7
2026 March Madness favorites
Duke Blue Devils
When you're the Duke Blue Devils, there's no such thing as a "rebuild"—only a reload. After a heartbreaking Final Four loss in the final seconds and the expected departure of much of their current core, Duke is still the betting favorite to win next year’s National Championship.
All signs point to Cooper Flagg being a one-and-done, with Kon Knueppel and Khama Maluach also projected as potential lottery picks.
But don’t expect a drop-off. The Blue Devils are restocking fast, with several five-star talents already lined up to showcase their skills in front of the Cameron Crazies.
Headlining the next wave are the Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden, giving Jon Scheyer a loaded roster once again. Duke’s spot at the top of the way-too-early odds board? Fully earned.
Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars will enter the 2025–26 season looking to finish the job this time around—and with much of their core returning, their odds could shorten quickly.
Losing L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts will sting, but the Kelvin Sampson blueprint isn’t going anywhere. Emanuel Sharp, Terrance Arceneaux, and Joseph Tugler are ready to carry the torch.
Add in a key transfer or two, and Houston could be primed for another deep March run. Don't be surprised if they’re back in the spotlight come tournament time.
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals may not be in the national title conversation just yet, but 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point.
With the No. 1 transfer portal class on the way, the Cardinals suddenly have the firepower to shake up the ACC—and maybe even knock off heavyweights like Duke and North Carolina.
No one's saying to hammer their futures line just yet but make no mistake: the pieces are falling into place. If this roster gels early, Louisville could go from afterthought to serious threat.
