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For some, March marks the start of spring, but for hoops fans across the United States, this month is all about March Madness. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament features 68 teams and if you’re rooting for one of them, you’re likely wondering how to watch March Madness live for free to see Purdue vs. NC State and UConn vs. Alabama in the Final Four.
The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, commonly referred to as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament that crowns the men’s college basketball national champion for the Division I level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament started in 1939, is played in the month of March, and features 68 teams. The 85th annual March Madness tournament kicks off on March 19 and will come to a close in a championship game on April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Last season, the UConn Huskies took the title (their fifth), while UCLA holds the most titles with 11. This year, Stetson and Grambling State will compete in the tournament for the first time ever.
This season, the Final Four kicks off on April 6 with Purdue (29-4) facing off against NC State (22-14) followed by UConn (31-3) battling it out against Alabama (21-11). The two winning teams will fight for the National Championship title on April 8.
If your team made it to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament for the 2023-24 season, keep scrolling to learn how to watch March Madness live for free and see the bracket, schedule, and more. You won’t want to miss a single tip-off, three-pointer, or buzzer-beater.
When is March Madness?
March Madness starts on March 19 and ends on April 8. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each stage of March Madness:
First Four: March 19-20First round: March 21-22Second round: March 23-24Sweet 16: March 28-29Elite Eight: March 30-31- Final Four: Saturday, April 6
- NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8
March Madness Bracket
Keep checking the NCAA’s official bracket for the most updated version and so you can print out your own copy.
How to watch March Madness live for free
March Madness airs on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. More specifically, the Final Four will air on TBS, TNT, and truTV, while the National Championship will air on CBS and TNT. CBS is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Paramount Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. TBS and TNT are available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, and Hulu+ With Live TV. TruTV is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Hulu+ With Live TV, Sling TV, and Max.
DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Paramount Plus offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $5.99 per month. While Sling TV and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, they’re cheaper per month than the other options, with Sling TV starting at $20 for your first month and Hulu+ With Live TV starting at $68.99 per month. HBO Max costs $9.99 per month for its ad-supported plan and $15.99 per month for its ad-free plan. Both plans also offer yearly subscriptions, which are currently on sale for over 40 percent off. The ad-supported plan costs $69.99 per year, the ad-free plan costs $104.99 per year, and the ultimate add-free plan costs $139.99 per year.
Best Overall Pick to Watch March Madness Live: DirecTV Stream
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch March Madness for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first two months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $84.99 per month with the first two months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $159.99 per month.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch March Madness with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for CBS and start watching March Madness
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch March Madness Live: Fubo
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch March Madness live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers offers two plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; and Elite, which costs $89.99 per month.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch March Madness with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for CBS and start watching March Madness
Best Budget Pick to Watch March Madness Live: Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is our best budget pick to watch March Madness live for free based on its price. Paramount Plus offers a seven-day free trial and two plans: Paramount Plus Essential, which costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, and Paramount Plus With Showtime, which costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. To watch March Madness live, fans will need Paramount Plus With Showtime.
As for the differences between the plans, Paramount Plus Essential includes limited ads; tens of thousands of TV shows and movies including CBS and Paramount Plus originals; NFL games on CBS; UEFA Champions League matches; and 24/7 live access to CBS News. Paramount Plus With Showtime includes everything in essential, as well as no ads; Showtime original shows and movies; 24/7 live access to your local CBS network; college football; and the ability to download and watch shows on your mobile device. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch March Madness with Paramount Plus’ free trial.
- Visit ParamountPlus.com
- Click “Get It Now”
- Select your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Start watching March Madness
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch March Madness Live: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch March Madnessbased on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch March Madness with Hulu+ Live TV.
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for CBS and start watching March Madness
March Madness Schedule
Below, find the March Madness schedule through the National Championship game. Both of the Final Four games take place in the evening on Saturday, April 6. The March Madness championship game is set for Monday, April 8.
Saturday, April 6: Final Four
Monday, April 8: National Championship
March Madness Odds
According to ESPN BET, as of April 5, NC State is o146.5 (-110) with a +9.5 spread (-115) and a total o146.5 (-110). NC State’s money line is +320. Meanwhile, Purdue is -9.5 (-110) with a -9.5 spread (-105) and a total of u146.5 (-110). UConn’s money line is -420.
ESPN Analytics has Purdue with an 89.6 percent chance of winning and NC State with a 10.4 percent chance of winning, also as of April 5.
According to ESPN BET, as of April 5, Alabama is o160.5 (-120) with a +11.5 spread (-105) and a total o160.5 (-115). Alabama’s money line is +525. Meanwhile, UConn is -11.5 (-105) with a -11.5 spread (-115) and a total of u160.5 (-105). UConn’s money line is -800.
ESPN Analytics has UConn with a 72 percent chance of winning and Alabama with a 28 percent chance of winning, also as of April 5.
March Madness Seed List
See below for the full March Madness seed list from the NCAA’s website.
1 UConn (31-3)
2 Houston (30-4)
3 Purdue (29-4)
4 North Carolina (27-7)
5 Tennessee (24-8)
6 Arizona (25-8)
7 Marquette (25-9)
8 Iowa St. (27-7)
9 Baylor (23-10)
10 Creighton (23-9)
11 Kentucky (23-9)
12 Illinois (26-8)
13 Duke (24-8)
14 Kansas (22-10)
15 Auburn (27-7)
16 Alabama (21-11)
17 BYU (23-10)
18 San Diego St. (24-10)
19 Wisconsin (22-13)
20 Saint Mary’s (CA) (26-7)
21 Gonzaga (25-7)
22 Clemson (21-11)
23 Texas Tech (23-10)
24 South Carolina (26-7)
25 Florida (24-11)
26 Washington St. (24-9)
27 Texas (20-12)
28 Dayton (24-7)
29 Nebraska (23-10)
30 Utah St. (27-6)
31 Fla. Atlantic (25-8)
32 Mississippi St. (21-13)
33 Michigan St. (19-14)
34 Texas A&M (20-14)
35 TCU (21-12)
36 Northwestern (21-11)
37 Nevada (26-7)
38 Boise St. (22-10)
39 Colorado (24-10)
40 Drake (28-6)
41 Virginia (23-10)
42 New Mexico (26-9)
43 Oregon (23-11)
44 Colorado St. (24-10)
45 NC State (22-14)
46 Duquesne (24-11)
47 Grand Canyon (29-4)
48 James Madison (31-3)
49 McNeese (30-3)
50 UAB (22-11)
51 Vermont (28-6)
52 Yale (22-9)
53 Samford (29-5)
54 Col. of Charleston (27-7)
55 Oakland (23-11)
56 Akron (24-10)
57 Morehead St. (26-8)
58 Colgate (25-9)
59 Long Beach St. (21-14)
60 Western Ky. (22-11)
61 South Dakota St. (22-12)
62 Saint Peter’s (19-13)
63 Longwood (21-13)
64 Stetson (22-12)
65 Montana St. (17-17)
66 Grambling (20-14)
67 Howard (18-16)68 Wagner (16-15)
