The 2026 edition of March Madness is still nearly two months away, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take the time to assess which NCAA men’s basketball teams will be in the hunt to win the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship. Last year, that team was the Florida Gators, who defeated the Houston Cougars by a score of 65-63. The win gave Florida its first championship since it won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Florida and Houston are once again in the hunt to win the championship in 2026, but they are not among the top three betting favorites at this point in the NCAA basketball season.
Below, we look at the betting odds, picks, and predictions to win the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
| To Win 2026 NCAA Basketball Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | +425 | +400 | +425 |
| Arizona | +500 | +550 | +500 |
| Duke | +1100 | +1300 | +1000 |
| Houston | +1100 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Connecticut | +1100 | +950 | +1000 |
| Florida | +1400 | +1400 | +1600 |
| Purdue | +1600 | +1600 | +1500 |
| Illinois | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Iowa State | +2000 | +1500 | +1400 |
| Gonzaga | +2200 | +2200 | +2000 |
| BYU | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Michigan State | +2800 | +2800 | +3000 |
| Alabama | +3300 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Kansas | +3300 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Texas Tech | +3300 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Nebraska | +3300 | +3300 | +3000 |
| Vanderbilt | +3300 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Arkansas | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Louisville | +5000 | +5000 | +5500 |
| St. John's | +5000 | +5000 | +6000 |
| Virginia | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Auburn | +8000 | +8000 | +15000 |
| Kentucky | +8000 | +8000 | +7000 |
| North Carolina | +8000 | +8000 | +7500 |
The Michigan Wolverines are the No. 3 ranked team in the latest AP Poll with an overall record of 16-1. The team is the No. 2 club in the Big Ten with a conference record of 8-1. The Wolverines’ only loss this year was a 91-88 loss to Wisconsin at home on January 10. Michigan is 4-0 since that setback, and is coming off a 74-62 home win over Ohio State. The team’s next game is on Tuesday when they play the No. 7 ranked Nebraska.
The Wolverines are the top-scoring team in the Big Ten, averaging 91.7 points per game, and rank first in the conference in field goal percentage at 51.3 percent. Yaxel Lendeborg leads the team in scoring (14.4 points per game) and rebounds (7.2), while Elliot Cadeau is the team leader in assists with 5.2.
Michigan has a tough schedule this week, as they face Nebraska on Tuesday and No. 10 ranked Michigan State on Friday. Those games will either solidify the Wolverines’ spot as the betting favorite to win the title or see them slip in the betting odds. The team meets Purdue (No. 4) and Duke (No. 5) in late February.
The Arizona Wildcats are one of three unbeaten D1 men’s basketball teams, and they are the No. 1 ranked team in the nation with a 20-0 overall record and a 7-0 mark in the Big 12. The Wildcats have not stayed perfect because of an easy schedule, having wins against ranked teams in Florida, UCLA, Connecticut, Auburn, and Alabama. However, Arizona’s past 11 wins have come against unranked opponents. That stretch ends on Monday night when they face No. 13 ranked BYU on the road. Arizona also has upcoming matchups against Kansas, Texas Tech, Houston, and Iowa State before the end of the year.
The last team to go undefeated and win the NCAA title was the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers under Bob Knight. The team, led by player of the year Scott May, finished that year with a 32-0 mark.
The Wildcats’ best start to an NCAA basketball season came in 2013-14 when they started 21-0. Arizona made it to the elite eight that year, losing to Wisconsin 64-63 in overtime.
Koa Peat leads Arizona in scoring (14.7), while Tobe Awaka is the team leader in rebounds (9.8). Jaden Bradley is tops on the club in assists (4.5) and steals (1.9).
Last year, the Houston Cougars reached the NCAA men’s final, only to fall to the Florida Gators by a score of 65-63. With this season’s March Madness approaching, the Cougars are in the mix to win their first title, having also finished as runner-up in 1983 and 1984.
The Cougars are currently in third place in the Big 12 with an overall record of 17-2 and a 5-1 conference mark. Houston’s 16-game road winning streak ended on Saturday when they fell 90-86 to Texas Tech. The team’s other loss of the year came in November when Tennessee downed them 76-73.
Houston has a February 21 matchup against Arizona to look forward to. They also play BYU, Iowa State, and Kansas down the stretch.
The Cougars have been the No. 1 seed in three straight years and have put together four years in a row of 32 or more wins. They also brought back three starters from last year’s squad.
Kingston Flemings leads the team in points (17.0), assists (5.4), and steals. Chris Cenac Jr. is the team leader in rebounds (7.6).
The Houston Cougars might not have the best record, but they have experience and are playing some of the best team basketball this season. The betting pick is that Houston will win the 2026 NCAA basketball championship.
Prior to making any bets on your NCAA Basketball picks, you definitely should be checking out the latest NCAA Basketball Vegas odds. You can also look at the latest Vegas College Basketball National Championship odds. You should also be taking advantage of these Vegas betting site bonuses to make the most of your NCAA Basketball betting.
