March Madness Prop Betting Guide 2026: Best Player & Team Props

Betting on March Madness has become so much more than filling out a bracket, thanks to the growth of online sports betting in the US.

It’s now well beyond picking the champion, and even picking game results, as March Madness prop betting has exploded on top-rated sports betting apps. Whether you’re betting on individual player props – where available, of course – or team props, your betting options during the NCAA Tournament are plentiful.

March Madness Player Props: Target Stat Stuffers

Individual stars will shine during the NCAA Tournament, and identifying those players, and the stats they often rack up, can make for successful prop betting.

These high-usage players who star for the nation’s most efficient teams are great targets if you’re looking for player props.

Here are some big names to look for when betting on March Madness in 2026, and what parts of the stat sheet they’re stuffing:

• Cameron Boozer, Duke: The freshman phenom is the focal point of Duke’s offense, and his size and athleticism make him a tremendous rebounder. He was averaging nearly 23 points and more than 10 rebounds per game as March approached, and he’s come up biggest in some of the Blue Devils biggest games. Look for Points + Rebounds props for Boozer, as one is sure to offset the other, even if he’s having a rare off night.
• Braden Smith, Purdue: As the leader of one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, Smith has established himself as one of the nation’s premier point guards. He’s averaged nearly nine per game in the regular season and racked up double digit assists in more than a dozen games. Smith could pay out handsomely for bettors on his assist props, especially if the Boilermakers are playing a high-pressure team, as his press-breaking ability will give his teammates plenty of open looks.
• Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan: The Wolverines are one of the country’s deepest and most balanced teams, but Lendeborg is the star, and the guy they lean on in their biggest games. He had 21 points and seven rebounds against Duke, 26 and 12 against Michigan State, and 20 and 11 against Gonzaga. If Michigan advances beyond the opening weekend, look for Lendeborg double-double odds, which could be well priced, as his averages are closer to 14 and seven.

Pro Tip: When looking for player props, try to find over/under or two-way lines to avoid paying a “yes-only” premium on the vig. Milestones are great for SGPs, but  for single bets the two-way lines are where to look.

Best Team Props for March Madness

March Madness is the best time to dive deeper into team and game props at your favorite online sportsbook.

In my live betting on March Madness guide, I zeroed in on some opportunities to target team totals. But for pregame props, here are few to take look at.

• First Team to 10 Points: This is a good place to target teams that are elite starters, and in 2026 Michigan and Arizona both fit that bill. Their odds may not be too friendly, though. Finding an underdog in that same profile, or a favorite prone to slow starts could be a profitable lane. Using defensive efficiency metrics can also be a great way to research this prop, or any Race to X prop. Highly efficient defenses are likely to give their opponents issues early on, even if they’re going to be figured out later in the game.
• Total 3-Pointers Made: Between Bart Torvik and Ken Pomeroy, you can easily find college basketball teams that excel behind the 3-point line. You can also find the ones that take the most 3-pointers. If you’ve been paying attention to the Nate Oats era at Alabama, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn the Tide are tops in the country at the latter. Louisville, Illinois and Nebraska are three other top 20 teams that take more 3s than 2s in a game. You can also see which defenses give up the most attempts and best percentages. Teams that run heavy zone schemes often find themselves near the top, at least in terms of attempts.

Tournament-Long “Futures” Props

The typical March Madness futures bets include picking the champion or picking a team to reach the Final Four. But you can find prop-like futures, as well.

• Most Outstanding Player (MOP) futures: One thing to know before making this bet, is that it’s MOP of the Final Four, so your bet should be on a player from a team you think can win it all, or at least is going to play twice on the final weekend of the season. You’re going to find pretty favorable odds on players for this award right up until the Final Four, so don’t feel like you need to make it early.
• Seed-Based Props: You can bet on the cumulative total of seeds in the Final Four, meaning you add up everyone’s seed to get your number. For instance, if all four No. 1 seeds make it, the number would be four. The market will look something like “Will the sum be Over/Under 12.5.” These bets have so many variables to consider, but if you’re running several simulations or have multiple bracket outcomes you feel good about it, you find a number that works for you.
• Bracket Buster Props: Picking this year’s Cinderella is a ton of fun, but it’s also rather difficult. You can cast a wider net, however, with bets like “Will a 12 defeat a 5” or “Will a 13 defeat a 4.” The 12-over-5 upset is incredibly common, having happened in 33 of 39 tournaments. That’s nearly 85% of the time, meaning if it comes in at longer than -550, the implied probability of the bet would be better than the odds.

Compliance & Strategy: Where Can You Bet College Props?

There are some general factors to consider when making your March Madness prop bets, including whether you can even make them where you are.

Legal States for College Prop Betting

Here are the states where there are restrictions on college sports betting:

• Arizona: No college props
• Colorado: No college props
• Illinois: No betting on Illinois collegiate teams or any college player props
• Florida: No college props
• Indiana: No college player props
• Iowa: No betting on Iowa collegiate teams
• Louisiana: No college props
• Massachusetts: No betting on Massachusetts collegiate teams
• New Hampshire: No betting on NH collegiate teams
• New Jersey: No betting on NJ collegiate teams
• Ohio: No college player props
• Tennessee: No college props
• Vermont: No betting on collegiate events that take place in Vermont
• Virginia: No betting on Virginia collegiate teams or college props
• Washington, D.C.: No betting on DC collegiate teams or collegiate events in DC

If you live in Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia or Wyoming, you can bet on college props using an online sportsbook.

In states like Texas, California and Georgia, where sports betting is not legal, you can make picks surrounding player stats on DFS apps, or use prediction markets to trade contracts on event outcomes.

Monitor Usage Rate

Torvik and KenPom are good places to see a player’s usage rate when you’re looking to make prop bets, but general statistics are going to do a pretty good job of showing you the way for the stars of the game.

But what if there’s an injury? What if a player like Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, who has missed much of the season, is out again? Those usage rates are a great way to see who will be the next guy that could take up the scoring mantle.

Line Shop for Best Odds

Sportsbooks are typically not far off from one another when it comes to spreads, moneylines and totals. It’s still worth it to line shop in those situations to get the best price, of course, but props are where it can make the biggest difference.

It’s harder to simulate individual outcomes within a game, so odds can vary quite a bit. By having multiple sports betting apps, you can search for the best odds on AJ Dybantsa’s points or Jeremy Fears’ assists.

With college props, you also run into market scarcity at times.

So, look to Caesars Sportsbook Fire Bets or the prop menus at FanDuel or DraftKings to find the markets and prices you’re looking for.