Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile, right, blocks a shot by Vanderbilt forward Jalen Washington, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. Associated Press

Let the madness begin.

March Madness arrived Sunday evening when the NCAA released its 68-team tournament bracket, sending hundreds of thousands of fans scrambling to study college basketball before filling out their brackets before first-round games begin Thursday.

Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida are the favorites. Miami (Ohio) made it. Indiana, Oklahoma and Auburn didn't.

Here are the betting odds, how to watch and more about this year’s tournament:

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Michigan (plus-325) is a slight favorite to win the national championship over Duke (plus-333) despite the Wolverines' 80-72 loss to Purdue in Sunday's Big Ten tourney title game.

Michigan and Duke are followed by Arizona (plus-425), defending champion Florida (plus-600) and last year's national runner-up, Houston (plus-1,000). UConn, which won back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, is fifth at plus-1,800.

Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida earned the No. 1 seeds in the four respective regions.

Food for thought: Michigan State in 2000 was the last Big Ten team to win the national championship, which was played that year in Indianapolis, the site of this year’s Final Four. But remember: Three of Duke’s five national championships (1991, 2010 and 2015) were won in Indianapolis while Arizona captured its only national title in Indy in 1997. Florida also won the first of back-to-back national championships in 2006 — in Indy.

No. 2 seed Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13), Friday, West Region. The Big Ten tourney champs and No. 1 team in the AP preseason poll faces a first-time NCAA tourney entrant and has a history of early departures against smaller-school teams. Purdue guard Braden Smith needs two assists to break Bobby Hurley’s Division I career record (1,076).

No. 5 seed Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4), Thursday, West Region. Showtime! The Big South tourney champs are tied for the third-highest scoring average in Division I (90.0 points). Wisconsin isn’t far behind at 83.5 points (30th). The fact it’s a five-12 matchup could be a fun upset pick.

No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) (31-1) vs. No. 11 SMU (20-13), Wednesday, First Four. Some bracketologists thought the Mustangs didn’t belong while others thought the lack of schedule strength and quality wins should leave Miami out. Instead, both teams now have a chance to prove they belong.

No. 7 Miami (Florida) (25-8) vs. 10 Missouri (20-12), Friday, West Region. The Hurricanes got a tough draw against a lower seeded foe that will play just about 90 minutes away from its campus. Sure, Missouri has lost three straight. But a home-like crowd could make this an upset special.

Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired and here is the schedule. Games will be telecast either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms, including Paramount+. TBS will broadcast the Final Four and national title game this year. The NCAA will also stream games via its March Madness Live option.

After this week's First Four games, first- and second-round games will be played Thursday and Saturday in Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Portland, Oregon and Oklahoma City. Games played Friday and Sunday will be in Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis and Tampa, Florida.

Sweet 16 games will be played March 26-29 in Houston (South), Washington (East), Chicago (Midwest) and San Jose, California (West).

The Final Four is Saturday, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the title game the night of Monday, April 6, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.