2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions and Picks

Originally posted on College Football News | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 2:56 AM ET

After all of the debates, thrills, and speculation, it's here - the 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and below is every game time, region, and matchup, along with the picks and links to the game previews.

As always, we keep track and update as we go along, so for all of the CFN March Madness content - and yes, we will keep up with the college football fun, too - here it is.

2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule, Bracket Predictions and Picks

Results So Far
Straight Up: (last year 52-15)
Against the Spread: (last year 41-26)
Point Total: (last year 46-21)
_{Scroll down for the game-by-game results}

NCAA Tournament First Four

Tuesday, March 17, 2026
_{Consensus Betting Lines a combination of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel}

Howard (16) vs UMBC (16)

Midwest Region
6:40 pm ET | truTV
UD Arena, Dayton OH
Line: UMBC -2.5, o/u: 140.5

Texas (11) vs NC State (11)

West Region
9:15 pm ET | truTV
UD Arena, Dayton OH
Line: Texas -1.5, o/u: 159.5

Wednesday, March 18, 2026
_{Consensus Betting Lines a combination of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel}

Lehigh (16) vs Pairie View A&M (16)

South Region
6:40 pm ET | truTV
UD Arena, Dayton OH
Line: Lehigh -2.5, o/u: 143.5

Miami University (11) vs SMU (11)

Midwest Region
9:15 pm ET | truTV
UD Arena, Dayton OH
Line: SMU -7.5, o/u: 163.5

Meet the NCAA Tournament Seeds
No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6
No. 7 | No. 8 | No. 9 | No. 10 | No. 11
No. 12 | No. 13 | No. 14 | No. 15 | No. 16

NCAA Tournament First Round: Thursday

Thursday, March 19, 2026
_{Consensus Betting Lines a combination of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel}

Ohio State (8) vs TCU (9)

East Region
12:15 ET | CBS
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Line: Ohio State -2.5, o/u: 146.5

Nebraska (4) vs Troy (13)

South Region
12:40 ET | truTV
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Line: Nebraska -13.5, o/u: 137.5

Louisville (6) vs USF (11)

East Region
1:30 ET | TNT
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Line: Louisville -5.5, o/u: 165.5

Wisconsin (5) vs High Point (12)

West Region
1:50 ET | TBS
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Line: Wisconsin -9.5, o/u: 164.5

Duke (1) vs Siena (16)

East Region
2:50 ET | CBS
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Line: Duke -29.5, o/u: 135.5

Vanderbilt (5) vs McNeese (12)

South Region
3:15 ET | truTV
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Line: Vanderbilt -11.5, o/u: 150.5

Michigan State (3) vs North Dakota State (14)

East Region
4:05 ET | TNT
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Line: Michigan State -16.5, o/u: 143.5

Arkansas (4) vs Hawaii (13)

West Region
4:25 ET | TBS
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Line: Arkansas -15.5, o/u: 160.5

North Carolina (6) vs VCU (11)

South Region
6:50 ET | TNT
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Line: North Carolina -2.5, o/u: 153.5

Michigan (1) vs Howard/UMBC (16)

Midwest Region
7:10 ET | CBS
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Line: TBA, o/u: TBA

BYU (6) vs Texas/NC State (11)

West Region
7:25 ET | truTV
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Line: TBA, o/u: TBA

Saint Mary’s (7) vs Texas A&M (10)

South Region
7:35 ET | truTV
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Line: Saint Mary’s -2.5, o/u: 147.5

Illinois (3) vs Penn (14)

South Region
9:25 ET | TNT
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Line: Illinois -24.5, o/u: 149.5

Georgia (8) vs Saint Louis (9)

Midwest Region
9:45 ET | CBS
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Line: Georgia -2.5, o/u: 170.5

Gonzaga (3) vs Kennesaw State (13)

West Region
10:00 ET | TBS
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Line: Gonzaga -19.5, o/u: 157.5

Houston (2) vs Idaho (15)

South Region
10:10 ET | truTV
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Line: Houston -23.5, o/u: 135.5

NCAA Tournament First Round: Friday

Friday, March 20
_{Consensus Betting Lines a combination of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel}

Kentucky (7) vs Santa Clara (10)

Midwest Region
12:15 ET | CBS
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Line: Kentucky -4.5, o/u: 160.5

Texas Tech (5) vs Akron (12)

Midwest Region
12:40 ET | truTV
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Line: Texas Tech -7.5, o/u: 156.5

Arizona (1) vs Long Island University (16)

West Region
1:35 ET | TNT
Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Line: Arizona -31.5, o/u: 152.5

Virginia (3) vs Wright State (14)

Midwest Region
1:50 ET | TBS
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Line: Virginia -18.5, o/u: 145.5

Iowa State (2) vs Tennessee State (15)

Midwest Region
2:50 ET | CBS
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Line: Iowa State -25.5, o/u: 148.5

Alabama (4) vs Hostra (13)

Midwest Region
3:15 ET | truTV
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Line: Alabama -13.5, o/u: 161.5

Villanova (8) vs Utah State (9)

West Region
4:10 ET | TNT
Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Line: Utah State -2.5, o/u: 147.5

Tennessee (6) vs SMU/Miami University (11)

Midwest Region
4:25 ET | TBS
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Line: TBD, o/u: TBD

Clemson (8) vs Iowa (9)

South Region
6:50 ET | TNT
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Line: Iowa -2.5, o/u: 130.5

St. John’s (5) vs Northern Iowa (12)

East Region
7:10 ET | CBS
Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Line: St. John’s -11.5, o/u: 132.5

UCLA (7) vs UCF (10)

East Region
7:25 ET | TBS
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Line: UCLA -6.5, o/u: 152.5

Purdue (2) vs Queens University (15)

West Region
7:35 ET | truTV
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Line: Purdue -24.5, o/u: 163.5

Florida (1) vs Lehigh/Prairie View A&M (16)

South Region
9:25 ET | TNT
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Line: TBD, o/u: TBD

Kansas (4) vs California Baptist (13)

East Region
9:45 ET | CBS
Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Line: Kansas -14.5, o/u: 136.5

UConn (2) vs Furman (15)

West Region
10:00 ET | TBS
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Line: UConn -20.5, o/u: 136.5

Miami (7) vs Missouri (10)

West Region
10:10 ET | truTV
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Line: Miami -2.5, o/u: 147.5

Meet the NCAA Tournament Seeds
No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6
No. 7 | No. 8 | No. 9 | No. 10 | No. 11
No. 12 | No. 13 | No. 14 | No. 15 | No. 16