March Madness officially begins tonight in Dayton, Ohio. With two 16-seed battles and two high-major 11-seed matchups, the First Four offers some of the most competitive “pick ’em” betting opportunities of the entire tournament.
Whether you are looking for a last-minute bracket edge or placing a wager on opening night, here is the complete betting breakdown for Tuesday and Wednesday’s First Four matchups.
2026 First Four Betting Guide: Odds and More
Tuesday, March 17 – Opening Night Odds
The first game of the First Four sees UMBC vs Howard tonight. All of the games are being shown on truTV for these opening matchups.
(16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard
- Time: 6:40 PM ET (truTV)
- Spread: UMBC -1.5
- Moneyline: UMBC -125 | Howard +105
- Total (O/U): 140.5
- The Angle: UMBC enters the tournament on a 12-game winning streak and has been a cover machine, going 19-2 against the spread (ATS) when favored this season. Howard relies on a strong defense but struggles with turnovers (ranking 341st nationally), which could be the difference against a disciplined Retrievers squad.
(11) Texas vs. (11) NC State
- Time: 9:15 PM ET (truTV)
- Spread: NC State -1.5
- Moneyline: NC State -115 | Texas -105
- Total (O/U): 158.5
- The Angle: This is a “stoppable force vs. movable object” matchup. Both teams struggled down the stretch, but NC State’s ability to hit the three (top 100 nationally) matches up well against a Texas defense that ranks 299th in opponent three-point percentage. Expect a high-scoring affair; the Over is a popular look here.
Wednesday, March 18 – Round 1 Finale
(16) Prairie View A&M vs. (16) Lehigh
- Time: 6:40 PM ET (truTV)
- Spread: Lehigh -3.5
- Moneyline: Lehigh -166 | Prairie View +140
- Total (O/U): 142.5
- The Angle: Lehigh is the superior shooting team (91st in effective FG%) compared to a Prairie View team that ranks near the bottom of Division I in scoring efficiency. However, Prairie View has a stingy defense that has seen the Under cash in eight of their last nine games.
(11) Miami (Ohio) vs. (11) SMU
- Time: 9:15 PM ET (truTV)
- Spread: SMU -7.5
- Moneyline: SMU -298 | Miami (OH) +240
- Total (O/U): 164.5
- The Angle: The most lopsided spread of the First Four. Despite Miami (OH) having only one loss all season, they open as heavy underdogs against an SMU team that survived a brutal ACC schedule. Miami is 4-0 ATS as an underdog this year, making the +7.5 a tempting “dog” play.
📥 Lock In Your Bracket Before the Deadline
The First Four results count! Make sure your full 64-team picks are ready before the main tournament begins Thursday morning.
Download the Official 2026 Men’s Bracket Bundle (PDF)
First Four Betting FAQ
- Does the First Four count for my bracket? Most official pools (ESPN, CBS) include these games, but many office pools start with the Round of 64 on Thursday. Check your specific rules!
- Where can I watch these games? All First Four games are exclusive to truTV.
- Who is the biggest favorite? SMU (-7.5) is currently the largest favorite of the four opening games.
