March Madness 2026 odds, picks: Bracket picks, opening betting lines, expert predictions for first-round NCAA tournament games

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March Madness is finally here and the 2026 NCAA men's tournament bracket has been revealed.

Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida are the four No. 1 seeds, with Duke securing the top overall seed. Michigan is the betting favorite to cut down the nets with +325 odds at BetMGM, with Duke (+333) and Arizona (+425) right behind it.

The clock is already ticking for you to fill out your bracket and join our Bracket Mayhem game, and the odds for every first-round March Madness games are already up at sportsbooks and moving, as bettors place their early wagers. If you need any tips on bracket strategy, we also have you covered.

[Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K]

Below you'll find the odds for every first-round game at BetMGM, including the First Four games on Tuesday and Wednesday, sorted by region.

This file will be updated as odds come in.

First Four


Tuesday

No. 16 UMBC (-1.5) vs. No. 16 Howard

No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State (-1.5)

Wednesday

No. 16 Prairie View A&M vs. No. 16 Lehigh (-2.5)

No. 11 Miami (OH) vs. No. 11 SMU (-8.5)

East region


No. 1 Duke (-27.5) vs. No. 16 Siena

No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5) vs. No. 9 TCU

No. 5 St. John's (-9.5) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa

No. 4 Kansas (-13.5) vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist

No. 6 Louisville (-6.5) vs. No. 11 South Florida

No. 3 Michigan State (-15.5) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State

No. 7 UCLA (-6.5) vs. No. 10 UCF

No. 2 UConn (-20.5) vs. No. 15 Furman

Midwest region


No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC/No. 16 Howard

No. 8 Georgia (-1.5) vs. No. 9 Sant Louis

No. 5 Texas Tech (-8.5) vs. No. 12 Akron

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (OH)/No. 11 SMU

No. 3 Virginia (-17.5) vs. No. 14 Wright State

No. 7 Kentucky (-2.5) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara

No. 2 Iowa State (-23.5) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State


South region


No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/No. 16 Lehigh

No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa (-1.5)

No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese

No. 4 Nebraska (-13.5) vs. No. 13 Troy

No. 6 North Carolina (-2.5) vs. No. 11 VCU

No. 3 Illinois (-22.5) vs. No. 14 Penn

No. 7 Saint Mary's (-3.5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M

No. 2 Houston (-23.5) vs. No. 15 Idaho

West region


No. 1 Arizona (-29.5) vs. No. 16 LIU

No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State (-1.5)

No. 5 Wisconsin (-12.5) vs. No. 12 High Point

No. 4 Arkansas (15.5) vs. No. 13 Hawai'i

No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas/No. 11 NC State

No. 3 Gonzaga (-18.5) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State

No. 7 Miami (FL) vs. No. 10 Missouri

No. 2 Purdue (-23.5) vs. No. 15 Queens

First-round predictions​


Here's how Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab thinks the opening games of the 2026 NCAA tournament will play out.

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