The March Madness schedule is packed with action, with few stretches that aren’t filled with exciting matchups. Each year, the tournament delivers some of the most compelling games of the NCAA basketball season — especially when unexpected underdogs make deep runs. For fans of college hoops and wagering alike, the championship brings an abundance of betting options and storylines to follow.

We're still a few months away from the 2026 March Madness, due to tip off on March 17, but this article will tell you everything we know so far!

Online Websites Taking March Madness Bets

Wondering where to place your March Madness wagers? Our top 5 tried-and-tested offshore sportsbooks can be seen in the table below. Look no further for the best March Madness betting odds.

2026 Tournament Schedule

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, features a 68-team field that is revealed each year on Selection Sunday—scheduled for March 15, 2026. The tournament begins with the First Four play-in games before moving into the Round of 64, Round of 32, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and ultimately the National Championship Game. Each round follows a single-elimination format, meaning every game is win-or-go-home. While higher-seeded teams often advance early, upsets are a hallmark of March Madness—two No. 16 seeds (UMBC in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023) have even defeated No. 1 seeds. The full 68-team lineup for the 2026 tournament will be finalized on Selection Sunday.

March Madness Schedule

Here's the full schedule for 2026:

  • Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15
  • First Four: March 17-18
  • First round: March 19-20
  • Second round: March 21-22
  • Sweet 16: March 26-27
  • Elite Eight: March 28-29
  • Final Four: April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
  • NCAA championship game: April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Regular season NCAAB online wagering leads to March Madness

As with any sport, the more often you bet on games during the regular season, the easier making picks becomes in the post-season. The same can be said for NCAAB wagering and March Madness. By placing wagers on regular season games bettors can become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the teams involved. This is especially true when it comes to NCAA Conference Championship games.

For most sports bettors, once you place wagers in the regular season, placing bets in the post-season becomes second nature. Not that you will bet on every single March Madness game, but if you did, your knowledge of the teams involved would be very helpful to the picks you make. It is best to gain experience prior to the tournament when it comes to betting so you are not throwing your money down the drain.

March Madness 2026 Teams

The 68 teams for the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament have not yet been selected. The official field will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026, when the NCAA Selection Committee reveals the full bracket. Teams qualify either by winning their conference tournaments (earning automatic bids) or through at-large selections, which are determined based on season performance, strength of schedule, and overall rankings. Once the field is set, the committee assigns seeds from No. 1 to No. 16 in each of the four regions, balancing the bracket to ensure competitive matchups.