The stage is set. March Madness has commenced.
For the next three weeks, the sporting world’s eyes will be firmly fixated on college basketball, as 128 college basketball teams — 64 men’s and 64 women’s — vie for a national championship.
For the men, all roads lead to San Antonio, a city with plenty of familiarity hosting the Final Four. The women, meanwhile, are trying to get to the Southeast. Tampa, Florida hosts the Final Four at Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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While March Madness has always been a wildly popular tournament, the chaos implicit in it has made it an absolute hotbed for sports betting. Few tournaments boast as many upsets as the NCAA Tournament, and that makes every victory all the sweeter (and every loss more bitter).
While any team can make a run, fortune smiles upon some more than others. Here’s a look at the favorites on both the men’s and women’s sides as Nos. 1-64 try to make it to April 6 for the women and April 7 for the men.
(All odds courtesy of BetMGM)
Men’s March Madness favorites 2025
Naturally, the No. 1 seeds are the favorites. No. 2 overall seed Duke and consensus No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft Cooper Flagg lead the way at +325, tied with Florida, whereas No. 1 overall seed Auburn is third in odds at +400. Houston is the ‘longshot’ No. 1 seed at +600.
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament, everyone who sits at better odds than +2500.
T1. Duke (+325)
T1. Florida (+325)
3. Auburn (+400)
4. Houston (+600)
5. Alabama (+1600)
6. Tennessee (+1800)
T7. Michigan State (+2500)
T7. St. John’s (+2500)
Women’s March Madness favorites 2025
It’s a similar story on the women’s side for the most part, although No. 2 seed UConn has eked its way into the favorites conversation behind superstar Paige Bueckers. Even so, South Carolina stands as a slight favorite at +220, with UConn trailing at +240. No. 1 overall seed UCLA is at +525, while JuJu Watkins and USC are tied with Texas at +700. Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame round out the favorites at +900 before a steep drop-off.
Here are the women’s squads who sit above +2500 to win the tournament.
1. South Carolina (+220)
2. UConn (+240)
3. UCLA (+525)
T4. Texas (+700)
T4. USC (+700)
6. Notre Dame (+900)
Men’s March Madness longshots 2025
If you’ve made it this far, you hate chalk.
So you don’t think it’s going to be the best player in the country in Flagg or possibly the most impressive coaches in the country in Tom Izzo (Michigan State) or Rick Pitino (St. John’s). Which team is going to obliterate brackets this year? Here’s a look at who oddsmakers are giving a shot. Could it be Bill Self and Kansas, in the midst of a down season? Or John Calipari in his first season with Arkansas? Maybe Dan Hurley and UConn right the ship in time to make a third consecutive run.
Here is who oddsmakers think are longshots to win the NCAA Tournament this season.
T9. Iowa State (+3500)
T9. Texas Tech (+3500)
T11. Kentucky (+5000)
T11. Arizona (+5000)
T11. Gonzaga (+5000)
T11. Wisconsin (+5000)
T11. Maryland (+5000)
16. Clemson (+6000)
T17. BYU (+6600)
T17. Texas A&M (+6600)
T19. Kansas (+8000)
T19. UConn (+8000)
T19. Purdue (+8000)
T19. Illinois (+8000)
T19. Michigan (+8000)
T19. Missouri (+8000)
T25. Marquette (+12500)
T25. Saint Mary’s (+12500)
T25. UCLA (+12500)
T25. Ole Miss (+12500)
T25. Louisville (+12500)
T30. Creighton (+15000)
T30. Oregon (+15000)
T32. North Carolina (+20000)
T32. Baylor (+20000)
T32. Mississippi State (+20000)
35. VCU (+25000)
T36. Arkansas (+30000)
T36. New Mexico (+30000)
T36. Vanderbilt (+30000)
T36. Memphis (+30000)
40. Georgia (+35000)
T41. Utah State (+50000)
T41. Oklahoma (+50000)
T41. Colorado State (+50000)
T41. Drake (+50000)
T41. UC San Diego (+50000)
T46. Grand Canyon (+100000)
T46. McNeese (+100000)
T46. Yale (+100000)
T46. Liberty (+100000)
T46. Troy (+100000)
T46. Wofford (+100000)
T46. Robert Morris (+100000)
T46. UNC Wilmington (+100000)
T46. High Point (+100000)
T46. Lipscomb (+100000)
T46. Omaha (+100000)
T46. Montana (+100000)
T46. Bryant (+100000)
T46. Akron (+100000)
T60. SIU Edwardsville (+200000)
T60. Mount St. Mary’s (+200000)
T60. Norfolk State (+200000)
T60. Alabama State (+200000)
Women’s March Madness longshots 2025
Taking women’s longshots is a bit of a different beast. Eleven of the past 12 national champions have been No. 1 seeds.
However, if betting the underdog does tickle anyone’s fancy, there are few intriguing options. Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers sit at +5000, while Ohio State — which was overshadowed by newcomers UCLA and USC in the Big Ten this season — sits at +15000. Here’s a full list of the longshot odds for the women’s side.
7. NC State (+3500)
T8. LSU (+5000)
T8. Duke (+5000)
T8. TCU (+5000)
T11. Kansas State (+15000)
T11. Tennessee (+15000)
T11. Kentucky (+15000)
T11. Ohio State (+15000)
T15. North Carolina (+20000)
T15. Baylor (+20000)
T15. Oklahoma (+20000)
T15. Ole Miss (+20000)
T15. Michigan State (+20000)
T15. Maryland (+20000)
T15. Iowa (+20000)
T22. Iowa State (+25000)
T22. West Virginia (+25000)
T22. Louisville (+25000)
T22. Florida State (+25000)
T22. Alabama (+25000)
T22. Michigan (+25000)
T22. Vanderbilt (+25000)
29. Utah (+30000)
T30. Nebraska (+50000)
T30. Creighton (+50000)
T30. Indiana (+50000)
T30. Georgia Tech (+50000)
T30. Cal (+50000)
T30. South Dakota State (+50000)
T30. Oregon (+50000)
T30. Washington U (+50000)
T30. Oklahoma State (+50000)
T30. Grand Canyon (+50000)
T40. Oregon State (+100000)
T40. Mississippi State (+100000)
T40. Arkansas State (+100000)
T40. Florida Gulf Coast (+100000)
T40. Wisconsin Green Bay (+100000)
T40. Ball State (+100000)
T40. Fairfield (+100000)
T40. Tennessee Tech (+100000)
T40. UNC Greensboro (+100000)
T40. High Point (+100000)
T40. Montana State (+100000)
T40. South Florida (+100000)
T40. San Diego State (+100000)
T40. Stephen F. Austin (+100000)
T40. Vermont (+100000)
T40. Southern (+100000)
T40. Lehigh (+100000)
T40. Murray State (+100000)