March Madness odds, picks, predictions for Saturday’s Spherical 1 NCAA Tournament video games

March 20, 2021

Day 2 of the NCAA match method one other scrape of 16 first-spherical video games.

A pair of No. 1 seeds are in action with Gonzaga and Michigan, nevertheless there are various fun storylines as successfully. Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing has the Hoyas abet within the NCAA Tournament, and Rick Pitino will lead Iona exact into a 2-15 matchup with Alabama. Which team will pull off the mammoth upset Saturday?

SN gives its straight up picks for those first-spherical video games:

MORE MARCH MADNESS: Spherical 1 odds | Parlays | Printable bracket

March Madness picks, predictions for Spherical 1

Colorado (-5.5) vs. Georgetown

The matchup between Georgetown freshman Dante Harris, who stepped up within the Substantial East match, and Colorado senior McKinley Wright IV, is fee observing. We savor seeing Ewing abet within the match, nevertheless the Buffaloes break that Cinderella memoir.

Rob: Colorado

Florida Suppose (-10.5) vs. UNC-Greensboro

This line has dropped a level, likely out of respect for UNC-Greensboro guard Isaiah Miller who averages 27.4 method in his last 5 video games. The Seminoles, nonetheless, shoot the 3-pointer successfully, and M.J. Walker will in the end off-scrape Miller. Florida Suppose cruises within the 2d half of.

Rob: Florida Suppose

Kansas (-10.5) vs. Jap Washington

This line has no longer moved worthy, and the COVID-19 concerns spherical the Jayhawks are warranted. Jap Washington has 5 gamers who moderate double figures. Kansas, nonetheless, has won their last four match openers by 28.5 method per game. There is cost with the Jayhawks.

Rob: Kansas

LSU (-1.5) vs. St. Bonaventure

It is miles a troublesome game to address. Freshman Cameron Thomas averages 22.6 method per game, and the Tigers are a refined address to form a high-tail into the 2d weekend. The Bonnies, nonetheless, rank fifth in Division I in scoring defense. St. Bonaventure can retain watch over the tempo with their steadiness, and that ends in an premature exit for LSU.

Rob: St. Bonaventure

Michigan (-25.5) vs. Texas Southern

Michigan will no longer gather Isaiah Livers, nevertheless the Wolverines had per week of worthy-wished leisure after a busy break-of-season-stretch. John Walker III and Jordan Gilliam blended for 31 method in Texas Southern’s first four victory, nevertheless the Tigers can gather too worthy ache with Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson within the paint.

Rob: Michigan

Creighton (-7) vs. UC-Santa Barbara

We savor this 5-12 upset too worthy. The Gauchos gather misplaced magnificent once since Jan. 1, and they’ve magnificent one loss of 5 method or more all season. Creighton is restful a heavy favourite, nevertheless we’re sticking with UC-Santa Barbara in a game certain for a form of memorable finishes. At minimum, we savor the Gauchos in opposition to the unfold.

Rob: UC-Santa Barbara

Alabama (-17) vs. Iona

The Crimson Tide is 4-2 ATS as a double-digit favourite, and they’ve been overshadowed on this game by Pitino’s return to the NCAA match. Herb Jones helps Alabama create a double-digit lead within the first half of, nevertheless the Gaels quilt that unfold and form it legit.

Rob: Alabama

USC (-6) vs. Drake

USC freshman Evan Mobley is a force interior.The 7-footer averages 16.8 method and eight.6 rebounds, and Drake will counter with Darnell Brodie, who has double-digit rebounds within the Bulldogs’ last four video games. Drake retains its high-tail going with a first-spherical shocker.

Rob: Drake

Iowa (-14.5) vs. Broad Canyon

Bryce Drew is abet within the match – this time as a head coach for an Antelopes’ team that ranks within the pinnacle 10 in Division I in scoring defense. Iowa, nonetheless, ranks sixth within the nation in scoring offense, and SN Player of the year Luka Garza starts the match off on a excessive point out.

Rob: Iowa

Connecticut (-3) vs. Maryland

Maryland has been inconsistent all season, nevertheless their guards half the basketball successfully. Four various gamers moderate in the end two assists. UConn won 5 straight video games sooner than the Substantial East match loss to Creighton. We’re sticking with the Substantial Ten team in a exact toss-up game.

Rob: Maryland

Virginia (-7.5) vs. Ohio

Virginia has COVID-19 points, too, and the Cavaliers gather a minute schedule magnificent to safe to Indianapolis. That is made Ohio a refined upset address after a hot-shooting weekend on the MAC match. Jason Preston is an all-spherical talent who averages 16.6 method and 7.2 assists per game, nevertheless he and Ben Vander Plas ought to lead an attack that hits double-digit 3-pointers for this to occur. Virginia, led by Sam Hauser and its strange defense, holds off the upset disclose.

Rob: Virginia

Oklahoma (-1) vs. Missouri

Oklahoma is one other team going through COVID-19 points. De’Vion Harmon, the Sooners’ 2d leading scorer, is out. Oklahoma restful has ample talent to employ anyway, nevertheless we savor the Tigers’ tandem of Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson to pull out the victory.

Rob: Missouri

Gonzaga (-33.5) vs. Norfolk Suppose

Gonzaga has no longer misplaced within the first spherical since 2008, and that modified into once in opposition to Steph Curry-led Davidson. That is also a monster unfold for the Bulldogs to quilt, nevertheless seek recordsdata from Gonzaga to push the tempo in opposition to the Spartans. Norfolk Suppose defends the 3-pointer successfully, on the different hand it can gather to also no longer matter here.

Rob: Gonzaga

BYU (-4) vs. UCLA

The Cougars gather three seniors who moderate double digits, and that attack is led by guard Alex Barcello. He is shooting 48.6 percent from three-point differ. UCLA is coming off a mighty victory in opposition to Michigan Suppose, nonetheless, and they’ve guards that could perhaps match up. We restful savor the Cougars in a tight one.

Rob: BYU

Texas (-9) vs. Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian will get its probability in a Lone Huge name showdown, and they are 3-1 ATS as an underdog this season. Texas has been unpredictable all season, nevertheless they’ve three guards that moderate double figures. That is a difference-maker for the Substantial 12 match champions.

Rob: Texas

Oregon (-5) vs. VCU

This is one of many harder picks, and it be one other hard matchup for the Pac-12. Can Oregon pull it off? That is no longer a guarantee radiant VCU can earn with Nah’Shon Hyland, who averages 19.5 method per game. The Ducks gather 5 upperclassmen who earn in double figures, and that journey will repay.

Rob: Oregon