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Ah, March Madness — the greatest time of the year for college sports fans.

There’s no better feeling than printing out a fresh NCAA Tournament bracket and sizing it up with a futile sense of hope in your heart. Every pick is right until the first game tips off, so there’s nothing quite like the anticipation leading up to the first round on Thursday.

You know you won’t be able to pick a perfect bracket, but you can still win your bracket pool by nailing the national champion. To help your process, let’s check out the betting favorites to win March Madness and which team has the best odds to win it all in 2023.

Surprisingly, it’s not Alabama, the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.

Who is favored to win March Madness 2023?

Marcus Sasser drives against Jaden Bradley.
Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser drives against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Jaden Bradley | Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament seemed to be up for grabs heading into conference tournament week. Houston and Kansas were in the conversation for most of the season, but both teams got rolled in their conference championship games to leave a sour taste in the selection committee’s mouth.

Alabama, though, cruised through the SEC Tournament and dominated Texas A&M in the championship game to make a timely statement. The selection committee awarded the Crimson Tide with the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

However, Alabama isn’t the betting favorite to win the national championship.

That title still belongs to Houston, which is +500 ($100 bet would win $500) to win it all (FanDuel). Alabama is right behind Houston at +800, while Kansas, Purdue, and UCLA round out the top five at +1200 each.

Houston earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region after a 31-4 season. The Cougars lost, 75-65, to Memphis in the AAC championship game, but they were playing without leading scorer Marcus Sasser. If Sasser is able to return from his recent injury to play in March Madness, Houston will be the team to beat in the NCAA Tournament.

March Madness odds

Check out the full list of national championship odds below:

  • Houston +500
  • Alabama +800
  • Kansas +1200
  • Purdue +1200
  • UCLA +1200
  • Gonzaga +1500
  • Marquette +1500
  • Arizona +1500
  • Texas +2000
  • Tennessee +2500
  • Baylor +2500
  • UConn +2500
  • Duke +3000
  • Kentucky +3500
  • Creighton +3500
  • TCU +4000
  • St. Marys +4500
  • Texas A&M +4500
  • Indiana +5000
  • Xavier +5000
  • Michigan State +6000
  • Virginia +6500
  • Iowa State +6500
  • Miami +7500
  • Kansas State +7500
  • Arkansas +7500
  • Maryland +10000
  • San Diego State +10000
  • Iowa +10000
  • West Virginia +10000
  • Illinois +10000
  • Memphis +10000
  • Providence +13000
  • Florida Atlantic +13000
  • USC +15000
  • Auburn +15000
  • Penn State +15000
  • NC State +20000
  • Northwestern +20000
  • Utah State +20000
  • Mississippi State +35000
  • Missouri +35000
  • Boise State +35000
  • Pittsburgh +45000
  • VCU +45000
  • Arizona State +45000
  • Drake +45000
  • Iona +50000
  • Vermont +50000
  • Nevada +50000
  • Colgate +50000
  • Oral Roberts +50000
  • Charleston +50000
  • Kent State +50000
  • Furman +50000
  • Fairleigh Dickinson +50000
  • SE Missouri State +50000
  • UNC Ashville +50000
  • Kennesaw State +50000
  • Louisiana +50000
  • Northern Kentucky +50000
  • Texas A&M-CC +50000
  • Montana State +50000
  • Howard +50000
  • Texas Southern +50000
  • UC Santa Barbara +50000
  • Grand Canyon +50000
  • Princeton +50000
Best in NCAA
Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.