The NCAA Tournament usually begins with a full Thursday slate. The adjusted schedule for 2021 kicks the all-Hoosier State affair off with just four games Thursday: the quartet of pre-bracket games known as the First Four. Below, we offer four parlay picks and predictions for Thursday’s First Four of March Madness.
Consider a four-team parlay as an appetizer play before the bracket feast begins. Parlay bets combine the outcome of multiple events to increase the potential payout to bettors.
March Madness First Four parlay picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:10 p.m. ET.
Leg 1: Mount St. Mary’s +1 (-115) vs. Texas Southern (5:10 p.m. ET)
The Texas Southern Tigers come out of a fast-paced Southwest Athletic Conference and haven’t had much experience against the slowdown game played by MSMU. The Mountaineers have had games against teams that force a lot of possessions, and they’ve fared well in those contests.
Look for Mount St. Mary’s rebounding and distance shooting edges to put the Mountaineers over the top.
BACK MOUNT ST. MARY’S +1 (-115).
PLAY: USA TODAY March Madness Bracket Game
Leg 2: Norfolk State +3 (-110) vs. Appalachian State (8:40 p.m. ET)
Norfolk State carries a six-game win streak into its first tournament game since 2012. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions struggle in shooting the ball inside the perimeter, but the Spartans knock down 3s at a hefty clip (36.4%) and get to the free-throw line with great frequency. The triples and singles add up: NSU was second in MEAC scoring, at 75.2 points per game.
Perimeter defense is a blind spot for Appalachian State, and the Spartans are on a solid momentum swing.
TAKE NORFOLK STATE +3 (-110).
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Leg 3: Drake -1.5 (-110) vs. Wichita State (6:27 p.m. ET)
The Drake Bulldogs went 25-4 this season, but they’ve lost three times in their last nine games. Drake is a solid team that was undone by some uncanny shooting in two of those losses.
In what figures as a low-scoring game (the Under 141.5 (-110) looks like a solid play), the Bulldogs look to have a shooting edge, especially on the inside. That inside edge includes the almighty offensive rebounding and second-chance put-back game.
BACK DRAKE -1.5 (-110).
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Leg 4: UCLA +2 (-110) vs. Michigan State (9:57 p.m. ET)
The UCLA defense has been on a slide, and that has contributed to UCLA entering this tourney on a four-game losing skid. If only the Bruins could get right against a team struggling on offense.
Enter the Michigan State Spartans stage-right. MSU ranked 13th in Big Ten scoring this winter with 69.0 points per game. By just about any shooting or ballhandling measure, the rank wouldn’t be much kinder.
The Spartans are capable of wild swings from game-to-game. UCLA is the more consistent team, and the Bruins haven’t played that bad during their skid. Getting a full two points here feels like a gift.
TAKE UCLA +2 (-110).
Parlay Payout: Bet $100 to earn a profit of $1,200.83.
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