- Michigan (+310) has the best odds to win March Madness, followed by Arizona (+350) and Duke (+400).
- Arkansas is an eight point underdog against Arizona despite winning five straight games, including the SEC championship.
- Houston is a three point favorite over Illinois in Houston on Thursday night.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – With the Sweet 16 set, here’s a look at which remaining teams have the best odds to win the national championship and a pair of matchups between top four seeds on Thursday.
2026 March Madness National Champion Odds
- #1 Michigan +310
- #1 Arizona +350
- #1 Duke +400
- #2 Houston +700
- #2 Purdue +1400
- #3 Illinois +1500
The three remaining top seeded teams sit atop the odds to take home the national championship at college basketball betting sites after Florida was eliminated by Iowa in the Round of 32.
Michigan has looked as dominant as anyone in the field, taking home 20+ point wins in each of their first two games. Arizona survived a late scare from Utah State in the Round of 32, but has looked like a true contender as well.
Duke has had more questions surrounding them, hence dropping to the third best odds, beating #16 seed Siena by just six points and leading TCU by just four at halftime before pulling away for a 23 point win.
Houston won each of their first two games by exactly 31 points, but their level of competition is certainly a question mark, drawing Idaho and Texas A&M.
Purdue pulled out an impressive win over a tough Miami team on Sunday and is rolling after defeating Michigan in the conference championship. Illinois grinded out a 21 point win over VCU in the Round of 32 and has continued to show why they are one of the top offensive teams in the country.
#4 Arkansas vs #1 Arizona Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | +8.0 (-105) | +300 | O 167.0 (-110) |
| Arizona | -8.0 (-115) | -400 | U 167.0 (-110) |
Two of the hottest teams in the country meet in the West Region on Thursday as Arkansas takes on Arizona, who comes in as an eight point favorite.
Bettors should lean towards Arkansas to cover the eight point spread, having won their last five straight games and 13 of their last 16 overall.
The Razorbacks’ defense has been suspect all year long and allowed 88 points to High Point in their second round win, but they can score with anyone in the country, posting 94+ points in each of their first two tournament games.
Arizona defeated Utah State by 12 on Sunday, but Arkansas has a better offense and defense than the Aggies along with one of the best guards in the country in Darius Acuff.
#3 Illinois vs #2 Houston Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | +3.0 (-115) | +130 | O 140.0 (-110) |
| Houston | -3.0 (-105) | -150 | U 140.0 (-110) |
Sports betting sites list Houston as a three point favorite over Illinois in their Sweet 16 matchup on Sunday.
The best bet here is for Illinois to win outright at +130, despite this game being played in Houston.
The Illini have had the second most efficient offense in the country this season to go along with the third best offensive rebounding rate, as well as ranking top 25 in the country in defensive efficiency.
Though Houston is elite defensively, Illinois has the fourth lowest turnover rate in the country and has a serviceable enough defense to outlast the Cougars.
