March Madness MVP Predictions: Knecht, Newton, Reeves to Shine in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Dalton Knecht has odds of +2500, Tristen Newton is at +1200, and Antonio Reeves has odds of +8000, making them strong contenders for MVP honors in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Our predictions for March Madness MVP are based on analyzing the top March Madness MVP odds.
Typically, the recipient of the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament award is a member of the championship-winning team. However, Hakeem Olajuwon was the last player to win this honor without being on the winning team, achieving this feat in 1983.
Therefore, the first step in reducing the list of candidates is to eliminate players from teams with low chances of winning the national title. Following that, the attention turns to pinpointing the player who is most likely to shine during crucial moments.
Here are our top March Madness MVP predictions for 2026, to go along with our best picks for the tournament. We have listed the odds from our preferred March Madness betting sites, and our confidence in each pick is rated on a 1-to-5-star scale.
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player picks
- Dalton Knecht (+2500 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
- Tristen Newton (+1200 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
- Antonio Reeves (+8000 via bet365) ⭐⭐
This content is not meant for MAAffiliate Disclosure: Underscoreg Review may earn advertising commissions from visits to a sportsbook.
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee ⭐⭐⭐
Top odds: +2500 on bet365
The Tennessee Volunteers have the most favorable path to the Final Four among the two seeds. With the Purdue Boilermakers’ history of March struggles and the absence of Kevin McCullar Jr. for the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament, the Volunteers are well-positioned to win their region.
Dalton Knecht is the standout player on the Volunteers team, with the potential to win tournament MVP. Unlike teams like UConn Huskies and Houston Cougars who have multiple players in contention, Knecht is the sole player with a chance to win it for his team. With an impressive average of 21.1 points per game, Knecht will be the key player if the Volunteers emerge victorious and claim the national title.
As of now, the Volunteers are ranked sixth in terms of odds to win the tournament across all major sportsbooks.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Tristen Newton, UConn ⭐⭐⭐
Top odds: +1200 at bet365
Tristen Newton played a key role in the Huskies’ championship victory last season, but it was his teammate Adama Sanogo who was named MVP. If the Huskies win again, Newton is the frontrunner for the MVP award.
Newton is the team leader in points per game (15.2) and assists per game (6.0), and ranks second in rebounds per game (7.0). Despite having shorter odds, Donovan Clingan, if the Huskies are to win the title, it will be Newton who contributes the most offensively to the team.
Clingan might have a chance of winning the award if he boosts his stats in the opening game against the Stetson Hatters. But given the tough competition in the East Region, he may not have many chances to stand out in subsequent games. If the top teams in the tournament emerge victorious, Newton is likely to be named MVP.
Antonio Reeves, Kentucky ⭐⭐
The highest odds are +8000 available at bet365.
The Kentucky Wildcats received a favorable draw in the South Region. Should they progress to the Elite Eight, they are likely to face a challenging opponent, potentially Houston’s formidable defense. However, this would still be a winnable game for the Wildcats.
While five Wildcats players are scoring in double figures, Antonio Reeves stands out with an average of 20.0 points per game. If Kentucky wants to make it to the Final Four and win the championship, they will need improved offensive performance. This means Reeves will have to elevate his game and lead the team to victory.
Reeves may be considered a long shot at +8000 to win MVP, but with Kentucky consistently ranked in the top 10 at every major sportsbook for winning the national title, he becomes a more enticing choice.
North Carolina sportsbook offers
Editor’s note: Now that North Carolina sports betting is live, be sure to explore our top North Carolina sports betting apps and the best promotions from North Carolina sportsbooks! Must be 21+ and located in North Carolina. Don’t miss out on these exclusive pre-launch deals!
FanDuel offers a $250 bonus for a $5 bet, Caesars offers a $250 bonus for a $10 bet, bet365 offers a $200 bonus for a $5 bet, DraftKings offers a $250 bonus for a $5 bet, and BetMGM offers a $150 bonus for a $5 bet.
You must be 21 or older to place bets. If you have a gambling problem, please call 877-718-5543 or text “morethanagamenc” to 53342.
March Madness betting odds pages
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
You must be 21 or older to participate in gambling activities. If you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Please note that bonuses are not valid in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Live Betting Sites | Best Underscoreg Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
