2026 NCAA Tournament Online Betting
The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament has reached its final stage in Indianapolis after an Elite Eight weekend that featured a mix of historic dominance and one of the most dramatic comebacks in tournament history. The Final Four field consists of Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Illinois. This lineup represents a significant victory for the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences while leaving the SEC and ACC without any remaining teams heading into the final weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The tournament recap is highlighted by the Big Ten's resurgence, which sent both Michigan and Illinois to the national semifinals. Michigan reached this point by winning its regional final in a blowout over Tennessee behind twenty-seven points from Yaxel Lendeborg. Illinois ended a twenty-one-year Final Four drought by defeating Iowa.
Perhaps the most stunning moment of the tournament occurred when number two seed UConn overcame a nineteen-point deficit against top-seeded Duke. Braylon Mullins hit a thirty-five-foot three-pointer with less than a second remaining to secure a win and keep the Huskies' hopes of a title defense alive.
The upcoming preview centers on two high-stakes matchups scheduled for Saturday, April 4. The first game features UConn taking on Illinois in a battle of elite offensive programs. UConn enters as a slight favorite due to its recent championship pedigree, while Illinois relies on a veteran roster that has finally broken through the second weekend.
The second semifinal is a clash between the number one seeds, Arizona and Michigan. Arizona is making its first Final Four appearance since 2001 and will have to contend with a Michigan squad that has looked like the most complete team in the field during the first four rounds.
Both semifinal games will be broadcast on TBS, TNT, and truTV, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game on Monday, April 6. The primary storyline to watch is whether the Big Ten can finally end its national title drought or if UConn can become the first team to win three consecutive championships in the modern era.
The 2026 tournament has reinforced a clear shift toward the dominance of established power programs over the traditional Cinderella stories that often define March.
For the second consecutive season, every top four seed in the bracket successfully reached the second round, a feat that had never occurred in back-to-back years since the tournament field expanded in 1985. This trend continued deep into the later rounds as the Final Four field was ultimately claimed by two number one seeds and a number two seed, leaving only three seed Illinois as the lowest-ranked team remaining.
The 2026 tournament saw fewer upsets because elite programs have effectively insulated themselves against early exits through a combination of roster age and financial resources.
The transfer portal has transformed the high-major landscape into a veteran-dominated environment where top seeds like Michigan and Arizona no longer rely on inconsistent freshmen.
By recruiting proven starters from smaller schools, these "power teams" now match or exceed the experience levels that once gave mid-majors a competitive edge in March.
College Basketball Betting Lines
Saturday, April 4 (Final Four)
(3) Illinois vs. (2) UConn, 6:09 PM | TBS/TNT/truTV
Spread: Illinois -2
Total: 140
Money Line: Illinois -135, UConn +115
(1) Michigan vs. (1) Arizona, 8:49 PM | TBS/TNT/truTV
Spread: Michigan -2
Total: 157
Money Line: Michigan -126, Arizona +106
2026 NCAA Tournament Dates
First Four: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18
First Round: Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20
Second Round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27
Elite 8: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29
Final Four: Saturday, April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
NCAA Championship Game: Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
2026 NCAA Basketball Women's Tournament
The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament field is set, with UConn entering as the undefeated top overall seed after a dominant regular season. Following their 2025 title win, the Huskies are the heavy favorites to repeat, led by national player of the year frontrunner Sarah Strong and a healthy Azzi Fudd. Joining them on the top line are UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina, marking the first time in tournament history that the previous year’s Final Four teams have all returned as number one seeds the following season.
The bracket features two primary regional sites in Fort Worth and Sacramento, where the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held before the road leads to the Final Four in Phoenix. While the top seeds are formidable, Vanderbilt has emerged as a major threat after securing a No. 2 seed, its highest in nearly two decades. On the defensive end, Notre Dame remains a dangerous out due to the elite two-way play of Hannah Hidalgo, who leads the country in steals and transition scoring.
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2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday, March 17 (First Four)
(16) Howard 86 vs. (16) UMBC 83
(11) Texas 68 vs. (11) NC State 66
Wednesday, March 18 (First Four)
(16) Prairie View A&M 67 vs. (16) Lehigh 55
(11) Miami (OH) 89 vs. (11) SMU 79
Thursday, March 19 (First Round/Round of 64)
(9) TCU 66 vs. (8) Ohio State 64
(4) Nebraska 76 vs. (13) Troy 47
(6) Louisville 83 vs. (11) South Florida 79
(12) High Point 83 vs. (5) Wisconsin 82
(1) Duke 71 vs. (16) Siena 65
(5) Vanderbilt 78 vs. (12) McNeese 68
(3) Michigan State 92 vs. (14) North Dakota State 67
(4) Arkansas 97 vs. (13) Hawai'i 78
(11) VCU 82 vs. (6) North Carolina 78 (OT)
(1) Michigan 101 vs. (16) Howard 80
(11) Texas 79 vs. (6) BYU 71
(10) Texas A&M 63 vs. (7) Saint Mary's 50
(3) Illinois 105 vs. (14) Pennsylvania 70
(9) Saint Louis 102 vs. (8) Georgia 77
(3) Gonzaga 73 vs. (14) Kennesaw State 64
(2) Houston 78 vs. (15) Idaho 47
Friday, March 20 (First Round/Round of 64)
(7) Kentucky 89 vs. (10) Santa Clara 84 (OT)
(5) Texas Tech 91 vs. (12) Akron 71
(1) Arizona 92 vs. (16) Long Island University 58
(3) Virginia 82 vs. (14) Wright State 73
(2) Iowa State 108 vs. (15) Tennessee State 74
(4) Alabama 90 vs. (13) Hofstra 70
(9) Utah State 86 vs. (8) Villanova76
(6) Tennessee 78 vs. (11) Miami (Ohio) 56
(9) Iowa 67 vs. (8) Clemson 61
(5) St. John's 79 vs. (12) Northern Iowa 53
(2) Purdue 104 vs. (15) Queens University 71
(7) UCLA 75 vs. (10) UCF 71
(1) Florida 114 vs. (16) Prairie View A&M 55
(4) Kansas 68 vs. (13) California Baptist 60
(7) Miami Fla 80 vs. (10) Missouri 66
(2) UConn 82 vs. (15) Furman 71
Saturday, March 21 (Second Round)
(1) Michigan 95 vs. (9) Saint Louis 72
(3) Michigan State 77 vs. (6) Louisville 69
(1) Duke 81 vs. (9) TCU 58
(2) Houston 88 vs. (10) Texas A&M 57
(11) Texas 74 vs. (3) Gonzaga 68
(3) Illinois 76 vs. (11) VCU 55
(4) Nebraska 74 vs. (5) Vanderbilt 72
(4) Arkansas 94 vs. (12) High Point 88
Sunday, March 22 (Second Round)
(2) Purdue 79 vs. (7) Miami (Fla.) 69
(2) Iowa State 82 vs. (7) Kentucky 63
(5) St. John's 67 vs. (4) Kansas 65
(6) Tennessee 79 vs. (3) Virginia 72
(9) Iowa 73 vs. (1) Florida 72
(1) Arizona 78 vs. (9) Utah State 66
(2) UConn 73 vs. (7) UCLA 57
(4) Alabama 90 vs. (5) Texas Tech 65
Thursday, March 26 (Sweet 16)
(2) Purdue 79 vs. (11) Texas 77
(9) Iowa 77 vs. (4) Nebraska 71
(1) Arizona 109 vs. (4) Arkansas 88
(3) Illinois 65 vs. (2) Houston 55
Friday, March 27 (Sweet 16)
(1) Duke 80 vs. (5) St. John's 75
(1) Michigan 90 vs. (4) Alabama 77
(2) UConn 67 vs. (3) Michigan State 63
(6) Tennessee 76 vs. (2) Iowa State 62
Saturday, March 28 (Elite Eight)
(1) Arizona 79 vs. (2) Purdue 64
(3) Illinois 71 vs. (9) Iowa 59
Sunday, March 29 (Elite Eight)
(1) Michigan 95 vs. (6) Tennessee 62
(2) UConn 73 vs. (1) Duke 72
Saturday, April 4 (Final Four)
(3) Illinois vs. (2) UConn, 6:09 PM | TBS/TNT/truTV
(1) Michigan vs. (1) Arizona, 8:49 PM | TBS/TNT/truTV
Monday, April 6 (National Championship Game)
Winner of Illinois/UConn vs. Winner of Michigan/Arizona — 8:30 PM ET | TBS/TNT/truTV
NCAA Tournament History
The NCAA Tournament began in 1939, growing in size and stature over the years. The first tournament consisted of eight teams, and the format remained unchanged until 1951, when the field was doubled to 16. The number of participating schools doubled again to 32 in 1975 and reached 64 in 1985.
Now, there are slots for 68 of the best D-I college basketball squads in America. There are 32 spaces reserved for automatic qualifiers – teams that win their end-of-the-season conference tournament. The selection committee picks the other 36 teams as at-large entrants based on their overall record, RPI, net rating, and other factors.
We may see another big change coming to March Madness in the very near future. The NCAA Transformation Committee recommended expanding the number of teams in the NCAA Tournament to accommodate the growing number of Division I teams in the country. There are now more than 350 Division I college basketball teams, and the committee wants to guarantee that at least a quarter of those programs can potentially make the NCAA Tournament. That could mean an expansion to a 96-team March Madness in the future.
National Championship Game Winners (2000)
| YEARS |
WINNER |
RUNNER-UP |
LOCATION |
| 2025 |
Florida |
Houston |
Alamodome |
| 2024 |
Connecticut |
Purdue |
State Farm Stadium |
| 2023 |
Connecticut |
San Diego State |
NRG Stadium |
| 2022 |
Kansas |
North Carolina |
Caesars Superdome |
| 2021 |
Baylor |
Gonzaga |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2020 |
Event Canceled |
| 2019 |
Virginia |
Texas Tech |
U.S. Bank Stadium |
| 2018 |
Villanova |
Michigan |
Alamodome |
| 2017 |
North Carolina |
Gonzaga |
University of Phoenix Stadium |
| 2016 |
Villanova |
North Carolina |
NRG Stadium |
| 2015 |
Duke |
Wisconsin |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2014 |
Connecticut |
Kentucky |
AT&T Stadium |
| 2013 |
Louisville |
Michigan |
Georgia Dome |
| 2012 |
Kentucky |
Kansas |
Mercedes-Benz Superdome |
| 2011 |
Connecticut |
Butler |
Reliant Stadium |
| 2010 |
Duke |
Butler |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2009 |
North Carolina |
Michigan State |
Ford Field |
| 2008 |
Kansas |
Memphis |
Alamodome |
| 2007 |
Florida |
Ohio State |
Georgia Dome |
| 2006 |
Florida |
UCLA |
RCA Dome |
| 2005 |
North Carolina |
Illinois |
Edward Jones Dome |
| 2004 |
Connecticut |
Georgia Tech |
Alamodome |
| 2003 |
Syracuse |
Kansas |
Louisiana Superdome |
| 2002 |
Maryland |
Indiana |
Georgia Dome |
| 2001 |
Duke |
Arizona |
Metrodome |
| 2000 |
Michigan State |
Florida |
RCA Dome |
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