The selections have been made and the bracket set as we get ready to start the Madness that is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. As expected the four No. 1 seeds are Duke, Arizona, Michigan and defending national champion Florida.
Duke ended the regular season as the No. 1 ranked team in the country then won the ACC tournament title to extend its winning streak to 11 games. The Blue Devils enter the Dance at 32-2 overall and with likely national Player of the Year Cameron Boozer and they earned the No. 1 overall seed.
Michigan in the Midwest Region and Florida in the South Region will await the winner of a First Four matchup to determine their first round opponent. Duke and Arizona are overwhelming favorites over Siena and Long Island respectively in their opener. Since the field expanded in 1985, No. 1 seeds are 158-2.
It took until 2018 before a 16-seed triumphed in the NCAA Tournament with UMBC shocking Virginia 74-54 as a 20.5-point dog on the March Madness betting line. It happened for the second and last time five years later when Fairleigh Dickinson upset Purdue 63-58 as a 23.5-point underdog.
March Madness Preview
First Four – Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Texas vs. North Carolina State (-1.5, 160.5) – West Region
UMBC (-2.5, 141.5) vs. Howard – Midwest Region
First Four – Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Miami (OH) vs. SMU (-9.5, 164.5) – Midwest Region
Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh (-2.5, 146.5) – South Region
First Round – Thursday, March 19, 2026
16 UMBC/16 Howard vs. 1 Michigan (N/A) – Midwest Region
16 Siena vs. 1 Duke (-27.5, 136.5) – East Region
15 Idaho vs. 2 Houston (-23.5, 135.5) – South Region
14 Pennsylvania vs. 3 Illinois (-23.5, 148.5) – South Region
14 Kennesaw State vs. 3 Gonzaga (-19.5, 157.5) – West Region
14 North Dakota State vs. 3 Michigan State (-16.5, 143.5) – East Region
13 Troy vs. 4 Nebraska (-13.5, 136.5) – South Region
13 Hawai'i vs. 4 Arkansas (-15.5, 159.5) – West Region
12 McNeese vs. 5 Vanderbilt (-12.5, 150.5) – South Region
12 High Point vs. 5 Wisconsin (-10.5, 164.5) – West Region
11 VCU vs. 6 North Carolina (-2.5, 154.5) – South Region
11 Texas/11 NC State vs. 6 BYU (N/A) – West Region
11 South Florida vs. 6 Louisville (-6.5, 163.5) – East Region
10 Texas AM vs. 7 Saint Mary's (-2.5, 147.5) – South Region
9 Saint Louis vs. 8 Georgia (-2.5, 170.5) – Midwest Region
9 TCU vs. 8 Ohio State (-2.5, 146.5) – East Region
First Round – Friday, March 20, 2026
16 Long Island University vs. 1 Arizona (-30.5, 151.5) – West Region
16 PVAM/16 Lehigh vs. 1 Florida (N/A) – South Region
15 Tennessee State vs. 2 Iowa State (-24.5, 148.5) – Midwest Region
15 Queens University vs. 2 Purdue (-24.5, 163.5) – West Region
15 Furman vs. 2 UConn (-20.5, 137.5) – East Region
14 Wright State vs. 3 Virginia – Midwest Region
13 Hofstra vs. 4 Alabama (-13.5, 161.5) – Midwest Region
13 Cal Baptist vs. 4 Kansas (-14.5, 136.5) – East Region
12 Akron vs. 5 Texas Tech (-8.5, 157.5) – Midwest Region
12 Northern Iowa vs. 5 St. John's (-11.5, 131.5) – East Region
11 Miami (OH)/11 SMU vs. Tennessee (N/A) – Midwest Region
10 Santa Clara vs. 7 Kentucky (-4.5, 160.5) – Midwest Region
10 Missouri vs. 7 Miami (-1.5, 148.5) – West Region
10 UCF vs. 7 UCLA (-6.5, 154.5) – East Region
9 Utah State (-2.5, 147.5) vs. 8 Villanova – West Region
9 Iowa (-1.5, 130.5) vs. 8 Clemson – South Region
March Madness Betting Tips
If you plan on wagering during March Madness there are a few tips to consider before throwing down that could potentially help the bankroll.
- The only double-digit seed with a winning percentage about .500 in the Round of 64 is No. 11. With North Carolina dealing with a significant injury to Caleb Wilson, backing No. 11 VCU in their first round matchup could be a money maker.
- The other 11-seed to watch is the winner of the Texas/NC State First Four game. Momentum from a win could carry over into the game against struggling BYU.
- No. 1 seeds are nearly perfect but they cover the spread a little of 52 percent of the time. Facing massive spreads we see underdogs rise to the occasion. LIU is getting 30.5 points in their opening tilt against Arizona.
