Final Four predictions for March Madness: Teams with the best odds to reach Indianapolis in 2026

All year long, the top three college basketball teams have been considered better than the rest of the field.

Duke, Arizona and Michigan were three no-doubt No. 1 seeds throughout the season, so it's no surprise that those teams are the three biggest favorites entering March. The three powers have a combined seven losses this year, so it will be tough to take them down.

While that means those teams will be popular picks in March, it also lends to other teams receiving better odds than maybe they were initially projected. It takes just a few losses to really blow up a region, and this year's field offers some interesting betting options down the regions.

For those looking for some value bets for teams to make the final four, DraftKings has several favorable odds for teams that could make deep runs. Here's a look at the odds of each team to make the Final Four in 2026.

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Final Four predictions for March Madness

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

East Region odds, best bets

To know surprise, Duke has the best odds of any team in the field to make the Final Four, despite the Blue Devils being in a tough region. Not only does Duke have negative odds in the East region, but no other team in the region also has odds better than +550.

Therefore, there should be some interesting betting shots to take in the East, considering the number of big-name coaches throughout. UConn and Michigan State have solid odds considering their seeds, but Kansas could be the real value at +1300 if Darryn Peterson steals the show in March.

DraftKings loves St. John's, whose +900 odds are the highest of any team seeded fourth or higher. The Red Storm recently won the Big East tournament and are led by a true coaching veteran in Rick Pitino.

If there is one team that can bust this region, it's UCLA at +1900. The Bruins just beat Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament, have an experienced coach and a bona fide No. 1 scorer in Tyler Bilodeau. It certainly helps that head coach Mick Cronin once led UCLA in a surprise run to the final four, but the Bruins will have to travel to the East Coast for four games to pull it off.

MORE REGION PREVIEWS: East | West | Midwest | South

West Region odds, best bets

Arizona's dominance all year shows in Final Four odds, as the Wildcats are -120 favorites to make Indianapolis. However, the rest of the region is fairly straightforward from a betting standpoint, as Purdue and Gonzaga both have respectable odds as well.

Arkansas and Wisconsin are set to potentially play in the round of 32, and the winner of that matchup has the best chance to make an interesting Final Four run. The Razorbacks' odds are +1100, while the Badgers are at +1500, both of which present favorable odds compared to the three top seeds in the region, who are all +500 or better.

A potential long-shot final four pick here is BYU, which could be interesting despite losing Richie Saunders for the season. Similar to Kansas and Peterson, the Cougars will need to rely on A.J. Dybantsa to carry them, but the potential No. 1 pick is certainly capable of having a magical March.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)

Midwest Region odds, best bets

Michigan is a -130 favorite to make the Final Four, making the Wolverines the third No. 1 seed with negative final four odds in the tournament. Additionally, Iowa State has the best odds of any No. 2 seed in the tournament, which has an impact down the rest of the region.

The most interesting odds in the South are Alabama, who have the sixth-best odds to make the Final Four despite being a No. 4 seed. That shows that the Crimson Tide could be on upset alert in the first round, but Alabama also has the talent and coaching to make a deep run, as it did a few years ago.

One team that stands out is Saint Louis, whose +17000 odds are notably higher than the rest of the top-10 seeds in the region. The Billikens may not have big-game experience, but they are led by a true No. 1 option in Robbie Avila.

As for a long shot, Santa Clara has an explosive offense that could make for some fun upsets. The Broncos have taken care of business throughout the year and are a tough matchup for two defensive-minded teams at the bottom of the bracket in Iowa State and Virginia.

MORE UPSET PICKS: 10 seeds | 11 seeds | 12 seeds | 13 seeds

South Region odds, best bets

According to the odds, the South Region is the most up for grabs of the four, as Florida is the only No. 1 seed with plus odds to make Indianapolis. 

The most notable takeaway from these Final Four odds is North Carolina +6000, which is largely due to Caleb Wilson's injury. Iowa and St. Mary's both have better odds than the Tar Heels, which shows where North Carolina is entering the tournament.

The best odds for this region looks like Nebraska or Vanderbilt, as one of those two teams are likely to make the Sweet 16. Both the Cornhuskers and Commodores were surprises this year and have a chance to make a deep run in March, but they may have to go through each other first.

For a long shot, VCU is no stranger to a magical run as a No. 11 seed, and the Rams can do it again this year. VCU gets a depleted North Carolina in the first round, but its biggest challenge could be taking down Houston in Houston during the Sweet 16.