Published on: March 16, 2026, at 10:03 AM.

Updated on: March 16, 2026, at 10:03 AM.

• March Madness NCAA Division I basketball tournament brackets have been finalized and will commence this week
• First Four play-in matchups kick off tomorrow
• Sportsbooks are anticipating record-breaking engagement this season

After a long winter, the excitement for bettors is now realized with the arrival of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments. Sportsbook operators are gearing up for unprecedented engagement this year.

First Four Tomorrow

The brackets for the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments feature 68 teams and 67 games apiece, setting the stage for a thrilling month of basketball drama. The American Gaming Association (AGA) forecasts that approximately $3.3 billion will be wagered through legal sportsbooks by American bettors, with additional market volume anticipated.

The action begins tomorrow with the men’s First Four matchups (featuring Texas vs. NC State in the West, Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU in the Midwest, UMBC vs. Howard in the Midwest, and Prairie View vs. Lehigh in the South), while the women’s tournament kicks off Wednesday (with matchups including Nebraska vs. Richmond, Virginia vs. Arizona State, Missouri State vs. SF Austin, and Southern U. vs. Samford).

According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Duke Blue Devils (+295) are favored to win the championship on April 6 in Indianapolis, followed closely by Michigan (+350), Arizona (+425), and Florida (+650). As for the women’s bracket, defending champion Connecticut (-280) is the favorite, with UCLA (+500) and Texas (+700) trailing. The women’s championship game is scheduled for April 5 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

Record Engagement Anticipated

“This year’s tournament is expected to follow a chalky trend, resembling the previous season,” observed Patrick Berbert, College Basketball Trader at Caesars Sportsbook. “The NIL era has notably increased the disparity between elite and lesser programs.”

“From a wagering perspective, we’re poised for record engagement once again. College basketball has delivered a thrilling season, reflected in television ratings, which were reported to be the highest ever for a regular season.”

“We expect high wagering activity for matchups like SMU/Miami (OH), Utah State/Villanova, High Point/Wisconsin, and the winner of NC State/Texas vs BYU in the first round,” Berbert added.

Top Men’s Betting Favorites

The No. 1 Duke squad will face No. 16 Siena on Thursday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, while No. 1 Michigan will also begin their journey on the same day against an opponent yet to be determined at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. On Friday, No. 1 Arizona will go against No. 16 Long Island University at Viejas Arena in San Diego, and No. 1 Florida will face an opponent to be determined at Benchmark International Arena.

“Duke is currently the title favorite at +295,” stated Berbert. “Though they have recently dealt with injuries, returning Patrick Ngbonga should provide a significant boost as they enter the tournament. Michigan has slightly cooled off and the injury to player LJ Cason could impact them.

“Florida encountered challenges during non-conference play but found their momentum during SEC action, boasting a roster filled with seasoned players who will prove to be challenging to contend with. Arizona appears to be the most seasoned team, given their competitive schedule and consistent performance throughout the season. All four teams have earned their positions among the top in the betting odds.”

Women’s Betting Favorites

On the women’s side, No. 1 Texas will start their tournament on Friday against a to-be-determined team at the Moody Center in Austin, while No. 1 South Carolina will begin their campaign on Saturday against a yet-to-be-determined opponent at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC. Also on Saturday, No. 1 UConn will face No. 16 UTSA at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT, and No. 1 UCLA will play against No. 16 California Baptist at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

“UConn has exhibited incredible dominance, winning 29 consecutive games—many by double-digit margins,” Berbert remarked. “This remarkable streak has led to their current title odds of -280. Sarah Strong is emerging as a frontrunner for the Wooden Award, while Azzi Fudd continues to shine as one of the top players in the nation.”

“In our analysis, UCLA may pose the biggest threat, but it is difficult to foresee any team successfully challenging UConn if they maintain their current level of performance.”

Cinderella Teams to Watch

South Florida, under the guidance of coach Bryan Hodgson, is a team to keep an eye on in the men’s tournament as they play an aggressive style and shoot a high volume of threes. Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio) are also generating buzz as potential Cinderella teams in the men’s bracket.

As reported by BetMGM, the most-bet matchups include SMU vs. Miami (OH), NC State vs. Texas, Howard vs. MD Baltimore, Northern Iowa vs. St. Johns, and High Point vs. Wisconsin.

According to theScore Bet, the largest opening spreads include Arizona -29.5 (against LIU), Duke -28.5 (against Siena), Purdue -23.5 (versus Queens University), Iowa State -23.5 (versus Tennessee State), Houston -21.5 (against Idaho), and Illinois -21.5 (versus Penn).