March Madness Betting Results: Favorites Dominate First Round

Favored teams win 21 of 35 games against the spread in opening rounds of NCAA tournament

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:41pm

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The 2026 NCAA tournament is underway, and the first round saw a mix of favorites covering the spread and some surprising upsets. Overall, favored teams won 21 of the 35 games against the spread, with the public cashing in on underdogs like Miami (Ohio) and High Point. There were no major surprises, as all 16 games on Friday were won by the favorites. The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting one, with more potential upsets on the horizon as the field narrows.

Why it matters

The opening rounds of the NCAA tournament are always filled with drama and surprises, and this year's edition is no different. Bettors are closely watching the action, looking for opportunities to cash in on upsets or dominant performances by the favorites. This data provides insights into how the tournament is unfolding from a betting perspective, which can help inform strategies for the remainder of March Madness.

The details

In the first round, favored teams went 21-14 against the spread, with the overs going 19-16. Some of the notable results include Miami (Ohio) upsetting SMU as a 7.5-point underdog, and High Point nearly taking down Wisconsin as a 10.5-point dog. On the other hand, top seeds like Arizona, Purdue, and Florida all covered the spread in their opening-round wins.

  • The 2026 NCAA tournament began on March 17th.
  • The First Four games were played on March 19th.
  • The first round of the tournament took place on March 20th and 21st.

The players

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks

The No. 11 seed that upset SMU in the First Four, winning 89-79 as a 7.5-point underdog.

High Point Panthers

The No. 12 seed that nearly took down No. 5 Wisconsin, losing 83-82 but covering the 10.5-point spread.

Arizona Wildcats

The No. 1 seed that won 92-58 over No. 16 LIU Brooklyn, covering the 30.5-point spread.

Purdue Boilermakers

The No. 2 seed that routed No. 15 Queens 104-61, covering the 25.5-point spread.

Florida Gators

The No. 1 seed that dominated No. 16 Prairie View A&M 114-55, covering the 35.5-point spread.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been due for a round of chalk in the tournament. The favorites really took care of business in the first round.”

— Ben Fawkes, Sports betting analyst

“It was a good day for the public, with a few underdogs cashing in. But the top seeds showed why they're the top seeds, dominating their opening-round matchups.”

— Anonymous, Oddsmaker

What’s next

The second round of the NCAA tournament will take place on March 23rd and 24th, with the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games following on March 26th-27th.

The takeaway

The first round of the 2026 NCAA tournament saw the favorites assert their dominance, with 21 of the 35 games going to the chalk. While there were a few notable upsets, the top seeds in the field showed why they earned their high seeding, setting the stage for an exciting second weekend of March Madness action.