Penn Quakers Top List of Best March Madness ATS Teams in 2026

Miami (OH), Arkansas also among top overachievers against the spread this season

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:26pm

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As the 2026 NCAA tournament tips off, data shows the Penn Quakers have been the best team against the spread (ATS) this season, covering the number in 20 of their 28 games. Other top ATS teams include Prairie View, Hofstra, Miami (OH), and Arkansas, while UConn, Alabama, Purdue, Hawai'i, and Missouri have struggled to cover spreads.

Why it matters

Knowing which teams have been the best and worst ATS performers can provide valuable insights for sports bettors looking to gain an edge during March Madness. Teams that have consistently covered spreads, like Penn and Miami (OH), could be wise picks, while fading the worst ATS teams may also prove profitable.

The details

The Penn Quakers, coming off an Ivy League championship win over Yale, have been the most profitable team for bettors this season, going 20-8 ATS. Other top ATS teams include Prairie View (21-9 ATS), Hofstra (21-11 ATS), Miami (OH) (19-10 ATS), and Arkansas (22-12 ATS). On the flip side, UConn (13-21 ATS), Alabama (13-18 ATS), Purdue (15-20 ATS), Hawai'i (13-17 ATS), and Missouri (14-18 ATS) have struggled to cover spreads this year.

  • The 2026 NCAA tournament's First Four tips off on Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio.

The players

T.J. Power

The star player for the Penn Quakers, who scored 44 points in the Ivy League Championship game to lead his team to victory.

Cam Boozer

The superstar player for overall No. 1 seed Duke, who is one of the favorites to lead his team to the national championship.

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What they’re saying

“Surprisingly, the Penn Quakers — coming off of an unbelievable 44-point performance by T.J. Power to win the Ivy League Championship 88-84 in overtime over Yale — have been the college basketball team cashing the most wagers for bettors this season.”

— Ben Fawkes, Author

What’s next

As the NCAA tournament unfolds, bettors will be closely monitoring how the top and bottom ATS teams from the regular season perform under the bright lights of March Madness.

The takeaway

This data shows that betting on consistent ATS overachievers like Penn, Miami (OH), and Arkansas could provide an edge for March Madness bettors, while fading the worst ATS teams may also prove profitable. However, anything can happen in the unpredictable NCAA tournament, so bettors should still do their due diligence before placing wagers.