🏀 NCAA TOURNAMENT 2026

March Madness Betting Guide

68 teams. Single elimination. The most exciting tournament in sports. Get the best odds, picks, and exclusive promos for every round.

Selection Sunday Countdown

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Days
--
Hours
--
Mins
--
Secs

Mar 15

Selection Sunday

Mar 19

First Round

Apr 4

Final Four

Apr 6

Championship

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📅 Tournament Schedule

1

First Four

March 17-184 games

Play-in games to determine the final four spots in the 64-team bracket.

2

First Round

March 19-2032 games

The tournament tips off with 32 games across two days. Historically the best days for upsets.

3

Second Round

March 21-2216 games

Sweet 16 is on the line. This is where Cinderella stories are born.

4

Sweet 16

March 26-278 games

Regional semifinals. The field narrows to 16 of the best teams in the country.

5

Elite Eight

March 28-294 games

Regional finals. Win here and you're headed to the Final Four.

6

Final Four

April 42 games

National semifinals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

7

Championship

April 61 game

The national championship game. One team cuts down the nets.

📍 Final Four & Championship

Lucas Oil StadiumIndianapolis, IN

🧠 March Madness Betting Tips

Proven strategies to sharpen your tournament bets

🎯

12 vs 5 Seed Upsets

A 12-seed beats a 5-seed roughly 35% of the time. Always consider the 12-5 upset in your bracket and bets.

📊

First Round Unders

Tournament games tend to go under in the first round as teams play tighter defense in the single-elimination format.

🔥

Conference Tournament Form

Teams that played well in their conference tournament often carry momentum. Look for hot teams, not just high seeds.

📋

Avoid All Chalk Brackets

A perfect bracket has never been filled. At least one 1 or 2 seed loses before the Final Four most years.

💰

Live Betting Value

March Madness is full of runs. If a favorite falls behind early, live betting can offer great value on comebacks.

🏀

Mid-Major Sleepers

Mid-major conference champions (like Gonzaga, Saint Mary's) are often undervalued by the public. Look for value.

📖 How to Bet on March Madness

A beginner-friendly guide to the most popular bet types

Point Spread

Bet on the margin of victory. The favorite must win by more than the spread.

💡 Duke -6.5 means Duke must win by 7+ points.

Moneyline

Simply pick the winner. Higher payouts for underdogs.

💡 +450 underdog pays $450 on a $100 bet if they win.

Over/Under (Totals)

Bet on whether the combined score will be over or under a set number.

💡 Over 142.5 means you need 143+ combined points.

Futures

Bet on who will win the national championship before the tournament starts.

💡 Kansas +800 to win it all pays $800 on a $100 bet.

Parlays

Combine multiple bets for bigger payouts. All legs must hit.

💡 3-team parlay at +600 odds for bigger upside.

Player Props

Bet on individual player performances — points, rebounds, assists.

💡 Player X over 22.5 points in the Sweet 16.

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