Duke Is March Madness' Biggest Favorite, But History Says That's Not Always a Good Thing

Duke enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the odds-on favorite to win it all, with the Blue Devils sitting at +300 at most major sportsbooks. It goes without saying that the program is no stranger to these standings, but beyond the bracket, the history is a little more complex.

This bout with March Madness is the tenth time Duke has entered the tournament as the pre-tournament favorite, tying North Carolina for the most such appearances since 1979. The pre-tournament...