Opening odds for the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament

Mar 16, 2026 - 00:30
Opening odds for the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 29: A general view of the March Madness logo during the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game the Duke Blue Devils and the Alabama Crimson Tide on March 29, 2025 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

March Madness is upon us for the 2025-26 college basketball season! The NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection committee has finalized the bracket and CBS is unveiling every matchup in the First Four and the first round. We’ve provided the full list of matchups below and added in opening odds as FanDuel Sportsbook made them available.

We’ll see considerable early movement, so we’re getting the lines in as quickly as possible. Many of the lines you’ll see listed below will change by the time you read this article, but this will help you get a handle on the line movement.

The tournament opens with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18. The first round then kicks off on Thursday, March 19. The national champion will be crowned on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

First Four matchups

#11 NC State vs. #11 Texas

Point spread: Texas -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#16 UMBC vs. #16 Howard

Point spread: UMBC -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#11 SMU vs. #11 Miami (OH)

Point spread: SMU -7.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#16 Prairie View A&M vs. #16 Lehigh

Point spread: Lehigh -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

South region

#1 Florida vs. #16 Prairie View A&M or Lehigh

Point spread: TBD
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#8 Clemson vs. #9 Iowa

Point spread: Iowa -2.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#5 Vanderbilt vs. #12 McNeese

Point spread: Vanderbilt -10.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#4 Nebraska vs. #13 Troy

Point spread: Nebraska -13.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#6 North Carolina vs. #11 VCU

Point spread: Norht Carolina -2.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#3 Illinois vs. #14 Penn

Point spread: Illinois -22.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#7 Saint Mary’s vs. #10 Texas A&M

Point spread: Saint Mary’s -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#2 Houston vs. #15 Idaho

Point spread: Houston -22.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

East region

#1 Duke vs. #16 Siena

Point spread: Duke -27.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#8 Ohio State vs. #9 TCU

Point spread: OSU -2.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#5 St. John’s vs. #12 Northern Iowa

Point spread: St. John’s -10.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#4 Kansas vs. #13 Cal Baptist

Point spread: Kansas -14.5
Total: 136.5
Moneyline: Kansas -1100, Cal Baptist +680

#6 Louisville vs. #11 South Florida

Point spread: Louisville -6.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#3 Michigan State vs. #14 North Dakota State

Point spread: MSU -16.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#7 UCLA vs. #10 UCF

Point spread: UCLA -5.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#2 UConn vs. #15 Furman

Point spread: UConn -19.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

Midwest region

#1 Michigan vs. #16 UMBC or Howard

Point spread: TBD
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#8 Georgia vs. #9 Saint Louis

Point spread: Georgia -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#5 Texas Tech vs. #12 Akron

Point spread: Texas Tech -8.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#4 Alabama vs. #13 Hofstra

Point spread: Alabama -12.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#6 Tennessee vs. #11 Miami (OH) or SMU

Point spread: TBD
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#3 Virginia vs. #14 Wright State

Point spread: Virginia -17.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#7 Kentucky vs. #10 Santa Clara

Point spread: Kentucky -3.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#2 Iowa State vs. #15 Tennessee State

Point spread: Iowa State -24.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

West region

#1 Arizona vs. #16 LIU

Point spread: Arizona -29.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Utah State

Point spread: Utah State -1.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 High Point

Point spread: Wisconsin -11.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#4 Arkansas vs. #13 Hawai’i

Point spread: Arkasas -15.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#6 BYU vs. #11 Texas or NC State

Point spread: TBD
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#3 Gonzaga vs. #14 Kennesaw State

Point spread: Gonzaga -18.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#7 Miami (FL) vs. #10 Missouri

Point spread: Miami -2.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

#2 Purdue vs. #15 Queens

Point spread: Purdue -22.5
Total: TBD
Moneyline: TBD

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