March Madness College Basketball Favorites: Purdue Tops at Odds; Potential Wagers to Consider?
The 2026 March Madness is shaping up to be an exciting tournament, with many top college basketball teams vying for the coveted title. Here's a rundown of some of the key contenders and their odds, based on the latest projections.
Arkansas could return almost 60% of its minutes from last season, a promising sign for the Razorbacks. Top-10 recruits Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas will upgrade Arkansas' backcourt, adding depth and talent to their roster. However, their offensive prowess is a concern, as they ranked 15th in the Big Ten for transition points per game last season.
Tennessee Volunteers, on the other hand, have a solid defensive philosophy under Rick Barnes, typically giving them a high floor. Yet, there are concerns about their offense this season, with a lack of a primary scorer unless five-star forward Nate Ament quickly ascends at the collegiate level.
UCLA Bruins, led by preseason national player of the year front-runner Braden Smith, are looking to improve their interior defense with the addition of Xavier Booker (Michigan State). Skyy Clark, Tyler Bilodeau, and Jamar Brown (UMKC) of UCLA all hit at least 40% on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, providing a potent offensive threat.
Purdue Boilermakers, with Braden Smith on their team, have seen their odds to win the 2026 March Madness decrease from 1900 to 900. They've also added high-impact graduate transfers Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State) and Liam Murphy (North Florida) to their roster.
St. John's Red Storm, with odds of 2000, have a strong defensive team, but their offense may be a concern. Among their top-10 protected rotation players, not one had a double-digit assist rate. Last season, they graded in the sixth percentile in catch-and-shoot efficiency on a points-per-possession (PPP) basis.
Other notable teams with odds ranging from 2000 to 15000 include BYU, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Texas Tech, Arizona, St. John's, Alabama, Auburn, Iowa State, Michigan, Arkansas, Florida, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Tennessee, UCLA, North Carolina, Creighton, Indiana, Illinois, Oregon, Wisconsin, Baylor, LSU, Iowa, Ohio State, Texas, Villanova, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, USC, Virginia, Clemson, Kansas State, Marquette, SMU, Washington, Xavier, and Duke, who have odds of 1200.
Houston, with their dynamic roster, also has odds of 1200. Illinois, despite concerns about their offense, has added key players like Andrej Stojakovic (California) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas) for the 2025-26 season, improving their prospects for the 2026 March Madness.
These rankings are early projections made shortly after the 2025 NCAA tournament ended and can still change with player additions and other factors. The rankings reflect the likely team strength and expected performance heading into the 2025-26 season, which influence 2026 March Madness odds.
[1] Torvik, E. (n.d.). Preseason rankings for the 2025-26 season. Retrieved from https://www.torviksports.com/collegebasketball/rankings [2] Social media discussions. (n.d.). Impact of players on the 2026 Torvik projections. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/TorvikSports/status/1585970206032624640
- Sports betting enthusiasts are keeping a close eye on the 2026 March Madness, with many turning their attention to the Purdue Boilermakers, whose odds have significantly dropped from 1900 to 900, indicating improved chances of winning, given Braden Smith's presence and the addition of Oscar Cluff and Liam Murphy.
- The UCLA Bruins, led by Braden Smith's preseason national player of the year front-runner status, have secured potential offensive threats in Skyy Clark, Tyler Bilodeau, and Jamar Brown, all proficient catch-and-shoot three-point shooters, strengthening their contention in sports betting odds.
- Despite Arkansas' promising return of minutes from last season and the addition of top recruits Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, their sports betting odds have yet to rise significantly, due in part to concerns about their offensive prowess, which ranked 15th in the Big Ten for transition points per game last season.
