Selection Sunday is done, and the bracket is set, which means it’s time to get serious about putting together your picks for the tournament. The games come thick and fast in the early rounds, so it’s always a good idea to be prepared and know where your money is going. As you expect in the opening round, we have some serious mismatches, but let’s not forget that upsets and Cinderella stories are what makes this tournament so much fun. In terms of sure winning picks for Round 1 of March Madness, taking all the #1 seeds is probably safe, as there has only ever been one #16 seed in the history of the tournament. That said, there is not a lot of value there, so let’s take a look at some that are more evenly matched to see NCAA basketball odds and if we can pick some winners.
NCAAB: Sure Winning Picks for Round 1 of March Madness 2023
#11 Pittsburgh Panthers over #11 Mississippi State Bulldogs
When: Tuesday, March 14, at 9:10 pm ET
Where: UD Arena – Dayton, OH
TV / Streaming: TruTV, March Madness Live
Before we get into the first round proper, we have the First Four business to attend to. While not really a Round 1 pick, this is a game that looks set to be a good one, albeit on the low-scoring side of things. The Bulldogs are solid on the defensive side of the court, but if they get pulled into a shootout, they are in real trouble, as they are the worst in the nation in terms of 3-point efficiency. On the flipside, you have a Panthers team that can shoot the lights out on any given night. We are getting things started with a slight underdog here, but I really like the Panthers.
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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
#6 Creighton Bluejays over #11 NC State Wolfpack
When: Friday, March 17, at 4:00 pm ET
Where: Ball Arena – Denver, CO
TV / Streaming: TNT, March Madness Live
The Bluejays are in as an early favorite for this one, with the line set at 5 ½, which I think is actually a bit of a bargain for those looking at the spread. I believe that Creighton has a shot at making a run to the Elite Eight, where they could potentially run into Alabama. Before all that, though, I like them to get the win in Round 1.
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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
#8 Memphis Tigers over #9 Florida Atlantic Owls
When: Friday, March 17, at 4:00 pm ET
Where: Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH
TV / Streaming: TNT, March Madness Live
It’s always a little tricky playing games which are so evenly matched, but it’s our job to try and pick winners. It is the Tigers who are in as a modest favorite for this one, and they are certainly much better on offense than the Owls, although that evens out a little when comparing defensive stats. Still, the Tigers can overcome that Owls D and get the win.
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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
#7 Texas A&M Aggies over #10 Penn State Nittany Lions
When: Thursday, March 16, at 9:55 pm ET
Where: Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA
TV / Streaming: TBS, March Madness Live
The Aggies seem to me like a team that plays best when the pressure is on, as we routinely saw them come up big against ranked teams this season. Yes, they lost the SEC Championship Game to Alabama over the weekend, but the Crimson Tide are coming into the tournament as a #1 seed. I think the Aggies will be too hot to handle for Penn State.
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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
#10 Boise State Broncos over #7 Northwestern Wildcats
When: Thursday, March 16, at 7:35 pm ET
Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
TV / Streaming: TruTV, March Madness Live
We started this whole thing with an underdog pick, so let’s see if we can close it out with another one. Given how the Broncos ended the season, losing 3 of their last 5 games, it would be easy to write them off, but they are going against a Northwestern team that is even colder, as they have lost 4 of 5. A close one here, I believe, but I am on the Broncos for the minor upset.
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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?
