March Madness National Champions: Michigan Wolverines
For the second time ever and the first time since 1989 the Michigan Wolverines are National Champions in College Basketball.
In 1989, Michigan entered the tournament at 12-1 odds and beat Seton Hall.
In 2026, Michigan entered the tournament at +350 and beat UConn.
…and one of the biggest storylines comes to an end. The Big Ten is on top of the basketball world for the first time since 2000. This was the conference's biggest title drought in tournament history. The second-biggest was between 1960-1976 and ended with Indiana's perfect season.
The Big Ten is now on top in football (Indiana), women's hockey (Wisconsin), women's basketball (UCLA) and men's basketball (Michigan) … and Michigan and Wisconsin are in the Frozen Four this week.
Hail To The Victors
Back On Top
Favorites win when it matters…
In the Sweet 16 or later, favs of 5+ pts are now 17-0 SU in the last two NCAA Tournaments, best stretch in tourney history.
Michigan (-6.5) wins, but doesn't cover tonight. They are just the 3rd team in the last 30 seasons to win the title but not cover the spread joining: 2022 Kansas and 2010 Duke.
Beating The Best
The Michigan List
Michigan's recipe was unique, but familiar.
Michigan ranked seventh since 1979 in average win margin entering the title game (+21.6 PPG), they won the Elite Eight and Final Four by a combined 51 points — the highest of any title game team ever — and was a 6.5-point favorite in the Title Game.
Only one other team in the past 45 years entered the title game in the top 10 in average win margin, with a combined Elite Eight and Final Four margin of 40-plus points, and as a 6-point-or-greater favorite: 2023 UConn, which won the championship — a good list to join for the Wolverines.
So Close
Just a Half Point
Michigan closed -6.5 and won by 6 in the Title Game. The last Title Game to fall within a half point of the closing spread?
Back On Top
Big Ten Titles
This season, Big Ten favorites went 15-3 SU and 11-7 ATS facing non-Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament. Over the last three tournaments, Big Ten favorites are 35-6 SU and 29-12 ATS in the tournament.
The Big Ten is now 1-13 ATS in the National Championship game over the last 40 years, with 2000 Sparty the only cover.
Holding Up
At The Half…
Michigan led at the half vs. UConn and beat then to win the title. Wolverines have won 23 straight road/neutral games outright after leading at the half and has won 17 consecutive games outright when leading at the half in general.
Favorites Reign
Recent History
Michigan was a 6+ point favorite against UConn.
Overall, favorites in the National Championship game are 43-13 straight up and 33-23 against the spread dating back to 1970. Even recently, the favorite has had an edge. They've won five in a row outright, going 8-1 SU in their last nine National Championship games since 2017. The only favorite to lose in that span? Gonzaga -4.5 vs. Baylor in 2021. Even going back to 2000, the favorite in the title game is 20-6 SU and 17-9 ATS.
Favorites of at least 3 points in the National Championship game are 15-2 SU and 12-5 ATS dating back to 2000, including 23-6 SU and 17-12 ATS since 1985.
Bad History
Cover Hell
Michigan wins the title with a 19-21 ATS record this season, the 5th-worst mark for any team in the last 30 years.
Tough To Beat
Good Energy
Michigan as a program rarely gets upset in the NCAA Tournament. As a favorite of 7 pts or more in the seeding era, Michigan is 24-1 SU. Tonight they closed as 6.5-point favorites. They are 27-3 SU as a favorite of 6+ points in the tournament.
As a favorite of 6+ pts overall, Dusty May is 34-1 SU and 27-8 ATS vs. non-conference opponents as a head coach with Michigan and FAU.
Favorites Run
Recent History
In this year's NCAA Tournament, favorites are 36-31 ATS. Over the last three years in the dance, favorites are 112-89 ATS (56%), above .500 ATS each of the three seasons for favorites.
This is the first time since 2007-09 where favorites were above .500 ATS in three straight tournaments.
Favorites of 6 points or more are 69-40 ATS (63%) over the last three tournaments — absolutely dominant in all three tournaments, going 23-15 ATS this year, 22-12 ATS last year and 24-13 ATS in 2023-24.
Top-2 Hold
Michigan and Arizona
Based on odds entering the Final Four, history said Michigan or Arizona would win it all. Top-two title odds favorites entering the Final Four have now won it all in 21 of the past 22 tournaments (2014 UConn was the only team in that span to win outside the top two entering the Final Four).
Down To Earth
In the Bet Labs database, which dates back to 2005, the public (51% of spread tickets or more) is 31-31-1 ATS in the Final Four and National Championship game — dead even. In this year's tournament, the public is 31-32 ATS, almost dead even as well.
Tonight, UConn closed with 70% of the spread tickets as a 6.5-point underdog against Michigan and closed in the final seconds by a half point.
When looking at the biggest public sides in just the Final Four and National Title game, they are 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in the Final Four.
Biggest Public Sides in Final Four Since 2005
| Team | Matchup (ET) | Year/Result |
|---|---|---|
 | UConn (+6.5) vs. Michigan | 2026, Title Game UCONN (70%) | Michigan, 69-63 |
 | UNC (-2.5) vs. Kansas | 2008, Final Four UNC (70%) | Kansas, 84-66 |
 | Memphis (-1.5) vs. Kansas | 2008, Title Game Memphis (65%) | Kansas, 75-68 |
 | Duke (-4.5) vs. Houston | 2025, Final Four Duke (64%) | Houston, 70-67 |
 | LSU (-1.5) vs. UCLA | 2006, Final Four LSU (63%) | UCLA, 59-45 |
Early Unders
Tight Title
A good reminder for next year. The first half under has cashed in five straight Title Games and is 8-3 to first half under since 2015 in the Title Game.
In this year's NCAA Tournament, first half overs actually went 40-27, the 2nd-best mark over the last 15 seasons — so definitely a different Title Game.
2026-27 College Basketball National Championship Odds
The Michigan Wolverines are National Champions in 2025-26 as they defeat the UConn Huskies in the title game.
Here are the best odds to win the National Championship at DraftKings Sportsbook for the 2026-27 season, with the Duke Blue Devils sitting as the betting favorite at the top of the odds board.
Duke hasn't entered a season with under 10-1 odds to win it all since 2018-19, at the time the 6th consecutive season opening under that threshold for the Blue Devils, and also the last time they entered the season as the favorites to win it all.
Teams with relatively high odds can win the title entering the season if looking back at history, even after Michigan won it all this year at 16-1. Since UConn won it all in 2014, six teams at 20-1 or longer entering the regular season have gone on to win it all in 12 seasons, with 2014 UConn at 65-1, 2023 UConn at 80-1 and 2025 Florida at 60-1.
Some superlatives you'll notice in the odds:
+ Kentucky is 35-1, tied for their highest odds since 2000.
+ The Michigan odds ride has been a downward trend. 80-1 in 2023, 60-1 in 2024, 16-1 in 2025, 12-1 now in 2026.
+ A true resurgence for Arizona this year. Now sitting at 15-1 to win it all, their lowest odds since 2017-18.
