Missouri Tigers Underdogs in NCAA Tournament Opener

Tigers open as 1.5-point underdogs against Miami Hurricanes

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:36pm

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The full NCAA Tournament bracket has been released, and the Missouri Tigers have been slotted as a 10 seed, set to face off against the 7-seed Miami Hurricanes on Friday. The opening odds at FanDuel's Sportsbook have the Tigers as 1.5-point underdogs, with an over-under set at 150.5 points.

Why it matters

The Tigers' underdog status comes despite the team playing in a familiar environment, with the game being held in the St. Louis pod. A win for Missouri would set up a matchup against the winner of Purdue and Queens (NC), with the Boilermakers listed as an early 23.5-point favorite.

The details

The Tigers-Hurricanes game will tip off as one of the last games on Friday, at 8:55 pm central time, and will be broadcast on TBS. KenPom.com has updated its predictions, listing Miami as a 3-point favorite with a final score of 77-74.

  • The full NCAA Tournament bracket was released on March 15, 2026.
  • The Missouri Tigers vs. Miami Hurricanes game will be played on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Missouri Tigers

The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team, representing the University of Missouri, earned a 10 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team, representing the University of Miami, earned a 7 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Purdue Boilermakers

The Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team, representing Purdue University, is listed as a 23.5-point favorite in their first-round matchup against Queens (NC).

Queens (NC)

The Queens (NC) men's basketball team, representing Queens University of Charlotte, is set to face the Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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What’s next

The winner of the Missouri Tigers vs. Miami Hurricanes game will take on the winner of the Purdue Boilermakers vs. Queens (NC) matchup in the next round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The Missouri Tigers enter the NCAA Tournament as underdogs against the Miami Hurricanes, but the team's familiarity with the St. Louis environment could give them an advantage in the opening-round matchup.