Breaking Down the Top 15 National Championship Odds After Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday always creates the same anticipation for college basketball fans and bettors. The brackets finally appear, the matchups are set, and suddenly the conversation shifts from speculation to possibilities. With the field of 68 officially announced, sportsbooks have already adjusted their numbers for which teams have the best shot to win the national championship in Indianapolis.

At the top of the board sits Duke, which isn’t surprising to anyone who has followed the season. The Blue Devils earned the No. 1 overall seed and opened the tournament as the betting favorite at +330. Duke has been one of the most complete teams in the country all season, combining a strong defense with an offense that rarely hurts itself. Even with a challenging bracket, oddsmakers still see the Blue Devils as the team most likely to cut down the nets.

Right behind them is Michigan at +350. The Wolverines have been near the top of the odds board for months, and their balanced roster gives them a legitimate chance to make a deep run. Michigan’s offense has been one of the most efficient in the country, and in a tournament where games often swing on a few possessions, that kind of scoring ability matters.

Arizona checks in close behind at +400. Like the other No. 1 seeds, the Wildcats have spent most of the year proving they belong among the national contenders. The Wildcats’ depth and ability to score from multiple spots on the floor make them a dangerous team in a single-elimination tournament.

Florida sits fourth on the odds list at +700. The defending national champions didn’t dominate the season quite the way they did during last year’s title run, but experience matters in March. Teams that know what it takes to survive the pressure of tournament games often find ways to stay alive deep into the bracket.

Houston rounds out the top five at +1000. The Cougars have built their reputation on defense and discipline, and those traits usually work well during March Madness. Houston was close to a championship run last season, and sportsbooks clearly believe they remain a major threat.

Beyond the favorites, several teams sit in the next tier of contenders. Illinois enters the tournament at +1900 after finishing the season strong, while Iowa State is listed at +2200 and has quietly built a résumé capable of supporting a deep run.

Purdue appears further down the board at +3500, followed by Michigan State +4000. Both programs have enough talent to make noise if they catch momentum during the first weekend.

UConn is another team drawing attention at +1700, although landing in Duke’s region will likely push those odds a bit longer. Gonzaga, a familiar name during March Madness, sits at +5500.

Kansas checks in at +5000 despite an inconsistent season, while Arkansas and St. John’s both sit +5000 as well after strong conference tournament performances. Wisconsin rounds out the top 15 at +7000.

Here’s how the top 15 championship odds currently look at BetUS.com:

 Duke +330
Michigan +350
Arizona +400
Florida +700
Houston +1000
UConn +1700
Illinois +1900
Iowa State +2200
Purdue +3500
Michigan State +4000
Kansas +5000
Arkansas +5000
St. John’s +5000
Gonzaga +5500
Wisconsin +7000

Of course, if March Madness has taught us anything over the years, it’s that the odds board rarely tells the entire story. Upsets happen, brackets implode, and teams that barely make the tournament sometimes find themselves playing into the second weekend.

But heading into the 2026 tournament, these 15 programs sit at the top of the market, and one of them will eventually be the last team standing in Indianapolis.

See Also:

Where to Play NCAA Tournament Brackets Online in 2026