Ranking NCAA Tournament’s Top 32 Teams by Championship Odds
The men’s NCAA Tournament field shrank from 68 teams to 32 after two days of dramatic action. Several upsets and momentum swings reshaped odds and narratives heading into the second round.
Memorable moments and surprises
Miami (Ohio) won its First Four matchup over SMU for its first Quad 1 victory. The game featured a viral sideline moment when Miami’s men’s swim team distracted a Mustang free-throw shooter while wearing Speedos.
Lower seeds continued to make noise. No. 12 High Point knocked off No. 5 Wisconsin. No. 11 VCU earned an overtime win against No. 6 North Carolina. Kentucky needed Otega Oweh’s long, game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime and escape an upset.
Team performances to watch
All 1- through 4-seeds advanced from their opening games. That stability kept many top lines intact despite the bracket’s chaos.
Arkansas displayed a potent offense against Hawai’i. Darius Acuff Jr. led the way with 24 points. The SEC Tournament champions look dangerous for a deeper run.
Odds and market movement
Betting markets adjusted after the early results. Odds cited below come from BetMGM as of 11 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
Top favorites
- Arizona: +325
- Michigan: +375
- Duke: +425 (slid after a near-upset from 16-seed Siena)
- Florida: +700
Contenders
- Purdue: +2,500
- Arkansas: +4,000
- Kansas: +5,000
- Gonzaga: +5,500
- Michigan State: +5,000
- UConn: +2,200
- Illinois: +2,000
- St. John’s: +5,000
- Virginia: +8,000
- Vanderbilt: +6,600
Dark horses
- Texas Tech: +12,500
- Kentucky: +12,500
- Nebraska: +10,000
- Tennessee: +10,000
- Louisville: +10,000
- Alabama: +10,000
Cinderellas
- VCU: +75,000
- High Point: +50,000
- Texas A&M: +50,000
- Saint Louis: +35,000
- TCU: +35,000
- Utah State: +35,000
- Texas: +35,000
- Miami (Fla): +25,000
- Iowa: +25,000
- UCLA: +17,500
What this means for the bracket
Market shifts altered the pecking order among the Top 32 Teams. Championship Odds moved after the First Four and opening-round upsets. Bettors now weigh recent momentum against original seedings.
Arizona now leads odds, followed by Michigan and Duke. Many mid-range teams entered the conversation as viable dark horses.
Remaining schedule
The tournament advances quickly. The second round runs March 21–22. The Sweet 16 takes place March 26–27, and the Elite Eight follows March 28–29.
The Final Four will occur Saturday, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The national title game is set for Monday, April 6, at the same site.
Filmogaz.com will continue tracking the NCAA Tournament, Top 32 Teams, and evolving Championship Odds as the field narrows.
