NCAA Tournament Predictions - Final Four & Championships
2026 NCAA College Basketball Expert Picks, Tournament Predictions & Bracketology
Once again, March Madness has delivered an endless amount of entertainment for college basketball fans. The 2026 NCAA Tournament has included upsets, buzzer-beaters, compelling storylines, emerging stars, and two exceptional weeks of basketball. Of the original 68 teams to make the tournament, the field is down to the Final Four.
When it comes to betting on the Final Four or any other part of the college basketball season, Stake Sportsbook is among the top platforms. That being said, with hundreds of college basketball teams and an almost endless parade of regular-season games before March Madness, there is a lot of information to absorb to be a proficient college basketball bettor. Needless to say, it requires a betting guide that shares the basics of what you need to know before you start to bet on college basketball at Stake.
2026 College Basketball Schedule & Overview
The 2025-26 college basketball regular season began on November 3, 2025. Teams usually play 12-15 regular-season games outside of their conference and then 16-20 conference games. During the first part of March, all 31 conferences host their own basketball tournament with the winning team earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a 68-team single-elimination tournament that decides the national champion. Here is a breakdown of the stages of the tournament.
March 15 - Last day of conference tournaments and Selection Sunday
March 17-18 - First Four games
March 19-20 - Round of 64
March 21-22 - Round of 32
March 27-28 - Sweet 16
March 29-30 - Elite Eight
April 4 - Final Four
April 6 - National Championship Game
2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions & Top Picks
The beauty of the NCAA Tournament is that anything can happen. That was the case again in 2026, with teams like High Point and VCU pulling off major upsets. Texas, an 11-seed, made a run to the Sweet 16, while Iowa shocked everybody by reaching the Elite Eight, including an upset over defending champion Florida. Those results all go to show just how difficult it can be to predict how March Madness will unfold.
After the four No. 1 seeds all reached the Final Four last season, that has not been the case this year. Only 2 of the No. 1 seeds have reached the Final Four this season. This year’s tournament was defined by the success of the Big Ten. Of the 8 Big Ten teams in the field, 6 reached the Sweet 16, 4 reached the Elite Eight, and 2 are playing in the Final Four.
Final Four Predictions
The Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini make up half of the Final Four. Both are Big Ten schools that won all four of their tournament games by double figures. They will be joined by the Arizona Wildcats, who were equally dominant on their way to the Final Four. The final team is the UConn Huskies, winners of 2 of the last 3 national championships. The Huskies had to survive multiple close games in the tournament, including an epic comeback win over Duke in the Elite Eight. All 4 times have proven themselves during the regular season and the NCAA Tournament, and there is a strong case for any of them taking home the title on April 6.
NCAA March Madness Championship Pick
While the Final Four is truly anybody’s to win, Michigan is our pick to win it all. The Wolverines were an impressive 35-3 during the regular season and 19-1 inside the Big Ten, which has proven itself to be the nation’s top conference. Michigan is capable of dominating at both ends of the court and can win games playing a variety of styles, making them the most likely team to capture the 2026 national championship.
Basketball Betting Tips, Odds & Preview
Betting on college basketball - whether it’s during the regular season or the NCAA Tournament - isn't always easy. But thanks to our guides, including our basketball betting guide and general online sports betting guide, you'll be well equipped to make informed decisions. It also helps to pay close attention to betting odds and search for any betting trends before making any college basketball picks. You may also want to have a specific system in mind, such as the Kelly Criterion Strategy, to serve as a guide when making picks. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Choose the games you bet on carefully. There are countless college basketball matchups, and it’s best if you choose games in which you’re familiar with both teams. Try to focus on one or two specific conferences during the season so that you become more familiar with specific teams.
Home-court matters in college basketball. An average team is far more likely to pull off an upset over a better team if they are playing at home.
Keep an eye out for injuries. The fortunes of an entire team can change if they are missing one of their best players. Before betting on a game, check if either side has a notable injury.
Bet with your head and not your heart. Having a rooting interest in a game can cloud your judgment, making it hard to be objective, which often leads to making poor bets.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Basketball
There are several ways to bet on college basketball games throughout the season and during March Madness. Here are some of the most popular bet types for March Madness and the college basketball season:
Point Spread - Spread betting helps to guarantee fair odds on both sides. This means that the favoured team has to win by a certain margin. Otherwise, the underdog can win the bet despite losing the game.
Moneyline - There is no college basketball spread when betting on the moneyline, which takes the spread out of the equation, so that all that matters is the winner of the game. However, the payout for betting on a favourite is smaller than the payout for betting on an underdog.
Totals Bet - Rather than bet on winners and losers, you can also bet on the total points scored in a game. Every game will have an over/under with bets made on whether the total points will be higher or lower than that number.
Prop Bets - There is a wide variety of prop bets for every game. There can be player props regarding how many points, rebounds, or assists a specific player will have. There are also game props on which team will lead at halftime or whether the game will go into overtime.
Futures - This is a long-term, outright bet that often relates to which team will win the national championship or be the champion of a specific conference.
Parlay - With a parlay bet, you can combine several bets into one larger bet. This increases the payout more than several individual bets, although if just one bet in the parlay loses, the entire parlay loses.
Live Stream Basketball Free on Stake & Live Betting Options
We make it easy to watch live basketball games on the Stake platform. There is no extra fee or subscription to do this. As long as you are logged in to your verified Stake account, you’ll be able to live stream all available games! Not only does this make it easier to track your bets, but by watching the game, you’ll be well-positioned to examine your cash-out options or make live bets on that game based on how the game unfolds.
Best Basketball Betting Promotions & VIP Benefits
In our quest to be among the top sportsbooks, Stake always tries to offer bonuses and promotions. We also have a VIP club that helps our most loyal customers collect extra benefits and rewards. This can include a rakeback bonus and a reload bonus when you deposit funds into your account. At certain levels, VIP members also have access to a dedicated VIP host.
Of course, even if you’re not a VIP member, Stake is committed to providing a first-class experience, which is why we put great emphasis on customer support to make sure all of your questions are answered. We encourage you to practise safe gambling habits, because betting on college basketball - or any sport - should be fun. Therefore, we offer several resources, including our Stake Smart guide.
