Selection Sunday: Opening Betting Odds For 2026 NCAA Tournament First Round

After Selection Sunday, America will spend the next couple of days arguing about snubs and filling out brackets. The 2026 NCAA Tournament field is set, and sportsbooks immediately opened up the betting action. With Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and reigning national champion Florida grabbing the No. 1 seeds, March Madness already has its headliners.

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But before the real chaos hits, the Big Dance tips off with the First Four Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17-18. Whether you're hunting for a double-digit Cinderella underdog or backing the favorites to cover massive spreads, the sharpest value exists right now. That said, here are the 2026 NCAA Tournament's opening lines for the First Four and every first-round game. 

2026 NCAA Tournament Opening Odds

Courtesy of DraftKings as of Sunday, March 15th at 6:50 p.m. ET

‘First Four’

For the 16-seed to play 1-seed Michigan in the Midwest Region: 

• Moneyline: UMBC (-120) | Howard (+100)
• Spread: UMBC -1.5 (+100) | Howard +1.5 (-120)
• Total — 142.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

For the 11-seed to play 6-seed BYU West Region: 

• Moneyline: NC State (-120) | Texas (+100)
• Spread: NC State -1.5 (+100) | Texas +1.5 (-120)
• Total — 164.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

For the 11-seed to play 6-seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region:  

• Moneyline: SMU (-325) | Miami, Ohio (+260)
• Spread: SMU -7.5 (-105) | Miami, Ohio +7.5 (-115)
• Total — 167.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

For the 16-seed to play 1-seed Florida the South Region: 

• Moneyline: Lehigh (-120) | Prairie View A&M (+100)
• Spread: Lehigh -1.5 (+100) | Prairie View A&M +1.5 (-120)
• Total — 148.5 — Over (-105) | Under (-115)

East Region

#1 Duke vs. #16 Siena

• Moneyline: Duke (-20000) | Siena (+3500)
• Spread: Duke -27.5 (-110) | Siena +27.5 (-110)
• Total — 136.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

The Duke Blue Devils are the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. (Photo credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

#8 Ohio State vs. #9 TCU

• Moneyline: Ohio State (-218) | TCU (+180)
• Spread: Ohio State -3.5 (-110) | TCU +3.5 (-110)
• Total — 147.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#5 St. John's vs. #12 Northern Iowa

• Moneyline: St. John's (-425) | Northern Iowa (+330)
• Spread: St. John's -9.5 (-110) | Northern Iowa +9.5 (-110)
• Total — 130.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#4 Kansas vs. #13 Cal Baptist

• Moneyline: Kansas (-535) | Cal Baptist (+400)
• Spread: Kansas -12.5 (-110) | Cal Baptist +12.5 (-110)
• Total — 134.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#6 Louisville vs. #11 South Florida

• Moneyline: Louisville (-345) | South Florida (+275)
• Spread: Louisville -7.5 (-110) | South Florida +7.5 (-110)
• Total — 163.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#3 Michigan State vs. #14 North Dakota St

• Moneyline: Michigan State (-1600) | North Dakota St (+950)
• Spread: Michigan State -15.5 (-110) | North Dakota St +15.5 (-110)
• Total — 143.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#7 UCLA vs. #10 UCF

• Moneyline: UCLA (-278) | UCF (+225)
• Spread: UCLA -6.5 (-105) | UCF +6.5 (-115)
• Total — 154.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#2 UConn vs. #15 Furman

• Moneyline: UConn (-8000) | Furman (+2200)
• Spread: UConn -18.5 (-110) | Furman +18.5 (-110)
• Total — 136.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

West Region

#1 Arizona vs. #16 LIU

• Moneyline: Arizona (-100000) | LIU (+5000)
• Spread: Arizona -29.5 (-110) | LIU +29.5 (-110)
• Total — 150.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Utah State 

• Moneyline: Utah State (-135) | Villanova (+114)
• Spread: Utah State -1.5 (-112) | Villanova +1.5 (-108)
• Total — 147.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 High Point

• Moneyline: Wisconsin (-950) | High Point (+625)
• Spread: Wisconsin -12.5 (-105) | High Point +12.5 (-115)
• Total — 166.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#4 Arkansas vs. #13 Hawaii

• Moneyline: Arkansas (-2400) | Hawaii (+1200)
• Spread: Arkansas -15.5 (-110) | Hawaii +15.5 (-110)
• Total — 161.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#3 Gonzaga vs. #14 Kennesaw State

• Moneyline: Gonzaga (-8000) | Kennesaw State (+2200)
• Spread: Gonzaga -18.5 (-110) | Kennesaw State +18.5 (-110)
• Total — 157.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#7 Miami vs. #10 Missouri

• Moneyline: Miami (-155) | Missouri (+130)
• Spread: Miami -2.5 (-110) | Missouri +2.5 (-110)
• Total — 150.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#2 Purdue vs. #15 Queens

• Moneyline: Purdue (-8000) | Queens (+2200)
• Spread: Purdue -23.5 (-110) | Queens +23.5 (-110)
• Total — 165.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

Midwest Region

#8 Georgia vs.# 9 Saint Louis 

• Moneyline: Georgia (-148) | Saint Louis (+124)
• Spread: Georgia -1.5 (-120) | Saint Louis +1.5 (+100)
• Total — 171.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#5 Texas Tech vs. #12 Akron

• Moneyline: Texas Tech (-410) | Akron (+320)
• Spread: Texas Tech -8.5 (-110) | Akron +8.5 (-110)
• Total — 155.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#4 Alabama vs. #13 Hofstra

• Moneyline: Alabama (-675) | Hofstra (+490)
• Spread: Alabama -12.5 (-110) | Hofstra +12.5 (-110)
• Total — 162.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#3 Virginia vs. #14 Wright State

• Moneyline: Virginia (-3200) | Wright State (+1400)
• Spread: Virginia -17.5 (-110) | Wright State +17.5 (-110)
• Total — 144.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#7 Kentucky vs. #10 Santa Clara 

• Moneyline: Kentucky (-162) | Santa Clara (+136)
• Spread: Kentucky -2.5 (-115) | Santa Clara +2.5 (-105)
• Total — 161.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#2 Iowa State vs. #15 Tennessee State

• Moneyline: Iowa State (-6500) | Tennessee State (+2000)
• Spread: Iowa State -23.5 (-110) | Tennessee State +23.5 (-110)
• Total — 148.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

South Region

#8 Clemson vs. #9 Iowa

• Moneyline: Iowa (-142) | Clemson (+120)
• Spread: Iowa  -1.5 (-115) | Clemson +1.5 (-105)
• Total — 130.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#5 Vanderbilt vs. #12 McNeese 

• Moneyline: Vanderbilt (-550) | McNeese (+410)
• Spread: Vanderbilt -10.5 (-102) | McNeese +10.5 (-118)
• Total — 150.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#4 Nebraska vs. #13 Troy

• Moneyline: Nebraska (-1450) | Troy (+850)
• Spread: Nebraska -13.5 (-110) | Troy +13.5 (-110)
• Total — 134.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#6 North Carolina vs. #11 VCU

• Moneyline: North Carolina (-142) | VCU (+120)
• Spread: North Carolina -2.5 (-108) | VCU +2.5 (-112)
• Total — 155.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#3 Illinois vs. #14 Penn

• Moneyline: Illinois (-20000) | Penn (+3500)
• Spread: Illinois -21.5 (-110) | Penn +21.5 (-110)
• Total — 149.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

#7 Saint Mary's vs. #15 Texas A&M 

• Moneyline: Saint Mary's (-175) | Texas A&M (+145)
• Spread: Saint Mary's -2.5 (-120) | Texas A&M +2.5 (+100)
• Total — 148.5 — Over (-108) | Under (-112)

#2 Houston vs. #15 Idaho

• Moneyline: Houston (-10000) | Idaho (+3000)
• Spread: Houston -21.5 (-110) | Idaho +21.5 (-110)
• Total — 133.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

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