The Field of 64 is set! The greatest spectacle in the history of sports betting is here. Take a gander at the positions I’ve taken in hopes of adding to the bottom line. Let's look at First Round NCAA Tourney Best Bets. May all your bets come in!
The Field of 64 is set! The greatest spectacle in the history of sports betting is here with 48 hours of wall-to-wall college basketball there for the taking in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Favorites, underdogs, overs, unders, team totals, player props, team totals – they’re all being ponied up for your betting pleasure! So before you crack open the first of what’s destined to be many alcoholic beverages throughout the day, take a gander at the positions I’ve taken in hopes of adding to the bottom line. May all your bets come in! Just prey you aren’t on an underdog should the game go to overtime since that’s where they go to die – Slam Your Man!!
Providence Friars -2 vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Ed Cooley’s squad just put forth one of the best campaign’s in the history of Providence hoops, yet are only laying a bucket?! Everybody and their mother want a piece of Baylor Scheierman and the No. 13 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Trendy dog alert! The Friars are being disrespected – lay the possession with Nate Watson, Aljami Durham, and Jared Bynum!
New Mexico State Aggies vs. UConn Huskies Under 132
If looking to take in a good ‘ol fashioned rock fight, you’re going to want to tune into TNT to kick off Thursday’s evening slate with the Aggies and Huskies set to collide in Buffalo. The 12 seeds are gritty this year, and the Aggies live up to the billing. This matchup will be competitive most of the way through before the Huskies ultimately prevail. I got this one finishing in the low-120s.
Indiana Hoosiers +3 vs. St. Mary’s Gaels
Speaking of gritty No. 12 seeds, the Hoosiers have definitely turned a corner here in the late stages of the season coming up with some big wins in-season, as the B1G tourney, as well as the First Four win over Wyoming. I’ve got mad respect for what the Gaels have done this season, but Indy just has the look of a team that can bust some brackets. It’s also got a kid by name of Geronimo on the roster, and who doesn’t want to see more of him?!
Akron Zips +13.5 vs. UCLA Bruins
I’ve got mad respect for the Bruins and think they have a shot at getting back to the Final Four over the next couple weeks. That being said, the point spread is going to be a bit rich for them to overcome in this one as confident a brand of ball Akron is playing right now. In mowing through the MAC tourney, the Zips have come out victorious each of the last eight times they hit the hardwood. Xavier Castaneda and his mates are firing on too many cylinders right now to be taking a number back like this from oddsmakers.
Yale Bulldogs vs. Purdue Boilermakers -16
It feels like eons since the Boilers last took care of their wagering supporters. In actuality, it’s been 5+ weeks since Jaden Ivey and his mates covered a point spread. That all ends early Friday afternoon when they cross paths with overmatched Yale. The Bulldogs simply don’t have the means to keep PU from hanging a crooked number. Lay the chalk and watch the Boilermakers surpass their team total as well. They could go for 100+!
Chattanooga +8 vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
I got Kofi Cockburn and the Illini on upset watch here. The Mocs are no joke! The team shoots a high clip from the field (No. 44), converts from deep (No. 89) and hits its free throws (No. 76). Most importantly, it’s got a big man in the form of Silvio De Sousa that can actually defend Illinois’ behemoth in the paint. Its ability to protect possessions (No. 77) and preferred slow pace style (No. 301) will make it tough for Illinois to ever pull away and hide. Though Illinois will hit the hardwood determined after bowing out early last season when expected to go deep, I still don’t trust Brad Underwood’s squad.
Cal State Fullerton vs. Duke Blue Devils -18.5
Dating back to the regular season finale, the Dookies lost Coach K’s final game in front of the “Cameron Crazies” and then got destroyed by a Virginia Tech team it dismantled at home in the ACC tourney finals. I can’t help but think CSF will be playing the role of a sacrificial lamb on its way to the slaughter in this get-right spot for the Blue Devils. It’s gonna be raining 3’s right from the outset and the blitzkrieg won’t end until the Dookies surpass the century mark; Fullerton won’t sniff 80 regardless of how bad Duke’s defense is.
Davidson Wildcats +1 vs. Michigan State Spartans
We’ll close Friday night’s slate out with another position on a double-digit seed in the Davidson Wildcats. It wouldn’t shock me if Bob McKillop’s kids were favored by the time this one tips off. Izzo in March used to be automatic. That however hasn’t been the case for the better part of the last five seasons. Save for bowing out in the Final Four back in 2019, MSU has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in its four other appearances. It didn’t even make it out of the First Four last year, and this year’s squad is his worst of the bunch in my opinion. Davidson plays an efficient brand of ball at both ends of the court, and I expect them to force the issue all game long. Gimme the point in the Foster Loyer revenge game and “Sharpie” the Wildcats into the Sweet 16. Yeah, I said it!
Check out the latest College Basketball betting odds at top online sportsbooks.
