March Madness 2026 Betting Options and Online Trends

Filling out a March Madness bracket now feels as outdated as using a flip phone at a tech expo. By 2026, the NCAA tournament will focus more on perfectly timed wagers than on perfect picks. Analysts project $3.3 billion** in legal bets on this year’s tournament, with total betting likely far exceeding that figure.

Oddsmakers say bettors aren’t just backing favorites, they’re chasing the chaos. Underdog wagering, particularly in the early rounds, has become a kind of financial sport within the sport. The long-standing intrigue of Cinderella teams has turned into a calculated gamble, with bettors targeting underdogs on moneylines and futures for higher payouts.

Today, it seems the modern bettor is less interested in being right 63 times and more interested in being right just often enough. And as one oddsmaker recently noted in coverage of tournament trends, College Basketball betting now extends far “beyond brackets,” with bettors often exploring online point spreads, props, and live in-game odds.

College Basketball Futures

For bettors willing to think long-term, online March Madness sportsbooks that offer futures have become a centerpiece of the wagering environment. These bets, placed on outcomes such as a team winning the national championship, reaching the Final Four, or capturing a specific region, are often wagered on for the chance of big payouts.

Unlike single-game wagers, futures bets reward timing as much as insight. Odds fluctuate dramatically throughout the tournament, meaning a well-timed wager on a mid-tier contender before a breakout performance can yield outsized returns.

Below are some futures currently offered at Bovada’s sportsbook for the 2026 tournament.

2026 NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Tournament – National Champion*

Michigan (#1) +360
Duke (#1) +375
Arizona (#1) +400
Florida (#1) +850^
Houston (#2) +1100
Iowa State (#2) +1800
Purdue (#2) +2000
Illinois (#3) +2200
Connecticut (#2) +3000
Gonzaga (#3) +4500
Michigan State (#3) +5500

^2025 March Madness champion

2026 NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Tournament – To Make the Elite 8*

Michigan (#1) -300
Arizona (#1) -250
Duke (#1) -250
Florida (#1) -165
Houston (#2) -110
Iowa State (#2) -110
Purdue (#2) +105
Connecticut (#2) +140
Illinois (#3) +140
Gonzaga (#3) +200
Michigan State (#3) +210
Virginia (#3) +310

Game Lines & Live Betting

Futures require patience, but game lines offer immediate results. Point spreads, totals, and moneylines provide many betting options with each matchup.

Point spread betting remains the most common entry point. Totals betting, the over/under on combined points, has also surged in popularity. Then there’s the moneylines, where simplicity reigns: pick the winner, no spread attached. This is where upset bettors thrive, backing underdogs outright in hopes of capitalizing on inflated odds.

Live betting (also called in-game wagering) adds yet another layer. As games unfold, odds shift possession by possession, allowing bettors to react to momentum swings, foul trouble, or unexpected performances. In a tournament known for dramatic comebacks, in-game wagering has turned every second half into a new market entirely.

Below are the current game lines for several of the first competitions held March 18-20th.

TCU (#9) vs. Ohio State (#8)*