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March Madness Elite 8 can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this 3-legger

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for the Elite 8, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

Only 8 of the initial 68 teams are still dancing as we get closer and closer to the National Championship. With the Sweet 16 now in the rearview, the Elite 8 is upon us.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a can’t-miss, Elite 8 parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The weekend slate of games showcases no team higher than a No. 2 seed after 1-seeds Alabama and Houston were upset in the Sweet 16. The games will feature a 2-seed in Texas, two 3-seeds in Kansas State and Gonzaga, a 4-seed in UConn, two 5-seeds in Miami and San Diego State, a 6-seed in Creighton and 9th-seeded FAU.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament Elite 8 parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 12:20 p.m. ET. All game times ET.

Leg 1: GONZAGA +2.5 (-112) vs. UConn — Saturday, 8:49 p.m.

While UConn had an impressive blowout against Arkansas in the Sweet 16, the Huskies’ strength of competition pales in comparison to Gonzaga’s Sweet 16 victory over UCLA.

Bulldogs F Drew Timme has been unstoppable in the tournament, averaging 28.3 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. He will be the key to the Bulldogs’ success and it is because of him that GONZAGA 2.5 (-112) is a great 1st leg of this parlay.

Gonzaga is the best shooting team in the country, ranking 1st in field-goal percentage (52.57% per NCAA.com).

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: San Diego State vs. Creighton OVER 134.5 (-108) — Sunday, 2:20 p.m.

As it stands, 134.5 points would be the lowest closing line for both San Diego State and Creighton thus far in the tournament. It would also be the 2nd lowest line in San Diego State’s last 10 games and the lowest in Creighton’s last 10.

San Diego State has scored more than 70 points in both of its last 2 games, while Creighton has scored 70 or more in each of its 3 tournament games and at least 85 in its last 2 games. Creighton ranks 22nd in the KenPom offensive efficiency rankings and is accustomed to facing high-level defenses, ranking 35th in the KenPom rankings for opposing defensive efficiency.

The Bluejays’ offense has also been hitting on all cylinders from inside with C Ryan Kalkbrenner to outside the arc with G Baylor Scheierman, both of whom had more than 20 points in Friday’s win against Princeton making Sunday’s OVER 134.5 (-108) a great 2nd leg of this parlay.

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Leg 3: TEXAS -4.5 (-102) vs. Miami — Sunday, 5:05 p.m.

As the lowest seed left still dancing, Texas took down Xavier in impressive fashion in a Sweet 16 matchup Friday. Second-seeded Texas has been on an unstoppable tear dating back to its Big 12 Championship dismantling of Kansas by 20 points. The Longhorns rank 15th in offensive efficiency and 10th in defensive efficiency according to the KenPom rankings, while Miami ranks 6th and 104th in those metrics respectively.

With the 7th-most difficult schedule according to KenPom, Texas has not backed down to competition, rather it has flourished. It is 7-0-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last 8 games and will soon be 8-0-1 after Sunday night.

Texas will take down Miami with ease to advance to the Final Four, which will complete the 3rd and final leg of this parlay.

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $62.20 (ticket pays $72.20).

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March Madness Sweet 16, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Friday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Friday’s Sweet 16, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

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The NCAA tournament has been trimmed down to 16 teams and we have a few intriguing matchups set to take place on Friday at KFC YUM! Center and T-Mobile Center.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Friday’s can’t-miss, Sweet 16 parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Three of the games that are set to take place on Friday currently have spreads of 7.5-points or higher. The only game with a lower spread than is the nightcap between No. 2 Texas against No. 3 Xavier.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:02 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: Alabama vs. San Diego State – UNDER 137.5 (-112) – 6:30 p.m. (TBS)

Many people watching the tournament would agree that Alabama appears to be the best team remaining. The Crimson Tide cruised to 21-plus-point wins over Texas A&M CC and Maryland in their 1st 2 games of the tourney, but the Aztecs are a much better group than those programs.

San Diego State prefers to slow things down on the offensive end and it’ll try to limit the number of possessions for Alabama. Even though the Crimson Tide boasts the No. 5 scoring offense in the country (82.3 PPG), both teams are top 40 in field-goal percentage allowed (Alabama 2nd, San Diego State 40th) on the defensive end.

The Aztecs have gone Under in 10 consecutive games, while the Crimson Tide are 5-1 to the Under in their last 6 games overall.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: PRINCETON +9.5 (-105) vs. Creighton – 9 p.m. (TBS)

Princeton has been the biggest cinderella of the tournament and is the lone double-digit seed remaining. After limiting No. 2 Arizona to only 55 points in the first round, 15-seed Princeton impressively converted 12 threes and free throws alike to take down No. 7 Missouri 78-63 in the 2nd round.

Creighton also looked impressive in its 85-76 victory over No. 3 Baylor in the Round of 32, where it made all 22 of its free-throw attempts. While the Bluejays attempt a lot of 3s per game (24.6 to rank 52nd), the Tigers have forced teams to shoot only 32 percent from beyond the arc (74th) this season.

Princeton has covered the spread in 6 straight games and it should be able to keep it within 10 points against Creighton on Friday night.

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Leg 3: XAVIER ML (+160) vs. Texas – 9:45 (CBS)

Fans of Texas may believe I have it out for them as I picked Penn State to beat them in the Round of 32. Penn State had the recipe to defeat Texas, but Xavier is by far the best team the Longhorns have faced in the Big Dance.

Besides shooting an efficient 38.9 percent from 3-point range (5th), the Musketeers dominate the glass with 37.8 rebounds per game (36th). Meanwhile, the Longhorns are 214th at 34.4 rebounds per game.

Despite Texas forcing 15.9 turnovers per game (19th), Xavier has the 9th-best assist/turnover ratio (1.55) this season. If they prevent the Longhorns from getting easy points off of turnovers, the Musketeers could be advancing to the Elite 8.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $86.09 (ticket pays $96.09).

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March Madness Sweet 16, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Thursday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Thursday’s Sweet 16, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

We’re going to pare down the NCAA Tournament field from 16 teams to 12 Thursday and there are some intriguing games on the schedule for Madison Square Garden in New York and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Thursday’s can’t-miss, Sweet 16 parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Unlike Friday’s slate of games, the 4 contests scheduled for Thursday are expected to be close as teams are favored by 3.5 or fewer points in 3 of the 4 games. The only game the books expect to be lopsided is the 4th-seeded Tennessee Volunteers against the 9th-seeded FAU Owls at Madison Square Garden.

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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:37 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: KANSAS STATE ML (+115) vs. Michigan State – 6:30 p.m. (TBS)

Michigan State ended the regular season with just 7 wins in the final 14 games dating back to Jan. 13, and Sparty was just 4-7 ATS in the final 11 outings. To make matters worse, MSU lost by 10 points to a bad Ohio State team in the first game of the Big Ten Conference Tournament.

The outlook heading into the NCAA Tournament was bleak, but this is a Tom Izzo-coached team, and he does what he does best — motivate. After wins and covers against USC and Marquette in the first 2 games of the Big Dance, the books have Sparty favored.

Take advantage. Kansas State has been the much more consistent team during the tournament and in the regular season. K-State has averaged 76.0 points per game (PPG) on offense while allowing 67.0 PPG in 2 wins and covers in the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats have won 6 of the past 8 games overall and have covered 6 of the past 7. Head coach Jerome Tang has really made a name for himself in this tournament, and he’ll help the purple crush the veteran Izzo and his upstart Spartans.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: UConn vs. Arkansas UNDER 139.5 (-110) – 7:15 p.m. (CBS)

The Huskies kick off the first of 2 games at T-Mobile Arena. With defending champs Baylor, Duke, Kansas and Virginia all ousted from the NCAA Tournament, and North Carolina and Villanova not in the field, UConn is the most recent national champion (2014) still alive.

Arkansas has picked up wins and covers against Illinois and Kansas, so this certainly won’t be easy for UConn, and this game really and truly could go either way.

The Huskies have wins and covers against Iona and Saint Mary’s so far, too. The one thing these teams have in common is defense — and a lot of it.

UConn has cashed the Under in 3 of 4 postseason games, and 5 of the past 6 games overall. The Huskies have allowed 70 or fewer points in 6 straight games since Feb. 11 and in 9 of their last 10 games. The Under is also 4-1 in the past 5 neutral-site games for the Huskies.

Arkansas has hit the Under in 3 in a row, allowing an average of just 67.0 PPG in the past 3 postseason games. That’s a common theme for the Hogs, too, as the Under has cashed in 5 consecutive NCAA Tournament games for Arkansas.

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Leg 3: TENNESSEE -5.5 (-112) vs. Florida Atlantic – 9 p.m. (TBS)

The Volunteers are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. This bet comes with risk though, as Tennessee is just 1-7 straight-up in 8 previous trips to the Sweet 16 round.

The good news for the Vols is that FAU might be the perfect opponent to break that ugly cycle, as the Owls are playing in their 1st-ever Sweet 16 game and its 1st-ever game played at MSG, too.

FAU has 33 wins in 36 tries this season, but it is just 1-1 straight up and ATS in 2 games against SEC teams, and it lost its only previous NCAA Tournament game against an SEC foe (Alabama in 2002).

The Owls will have to contend with the most physical team they have seen to date, and it’s not even close. The Vols rank in the top 3 in points allowed (57.8, 3rd), defensive field-goal percentage (37.2%, 3rd) and defensive 3-pointer percentage (26.4%, 1st).

The total is set at 130.5, and the Volunteers are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 games with a total of 131 or fewer points. Look for Tennessee to roll into the Elite 8, ending a dream season for FAU.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $67.69 (ticket pays $77.69).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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March Madness Sweet 16 can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this 3-legger

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for the Sweet 16, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

The Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament provides us with 8 games to bet, with 4 games scheduled for Thursday, and 4 more games Friday as we pare the field down to the Elite 8. There is still plenty of money to be made before a champion is crowned.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a can’t-miss, Sweet 16 parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Some of the traditional teams are no longer in the field, although there are still plenty of big names. We have a handful of upstart teams who might not be used to the bright lights of this all-important round. Of course, the national championship is wide-open this season, especially with some of the favorites having already fallen by the wayside.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:01 a.m. ET. All game times ET.

Leg 1: Gonzaga vs. UCLA OVER 145.5 (-110) – Thursday, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)

The Bulldogs and Bruins renew acquaintances in the NCAA Tournament. This is their 4th meeting in the Big Dance between these West Coast behemoths.

Playing the Over comes with some risk as Gonzaga has cashed the Under in 3 of its 4 postseason games. However, it’s not due to a lack of scoring as the Zags have posted 77 or more points in each of the games.

Defensively, Gonzaga had allowed 73 or fewer points in the first 3 postseason games, but TCU dropped 81 on the Bulldogs in Sunday’s second-round contest. As the competition has become greater, Gonzaga’s defense isn’t nearly as strong.

This is a Zags team which cashed the Over in each of the final 8 regular-season games.

UCLA has cashed the Over in both of its tournament games, averaging 77.0 PPG, while allowing 58.0 PPG. The total is obviously much higher against a Gonzaga team which ranked No. 1 in the nation in the regular season with 88.0 PPG, and 52.9% field-goal percentage, according to covers.com.

The Over is 5-2 in the last 7 games overall for the Bruins, and 14-5 in the last 19 games following a non-cover.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: Miami vs. Houston UNDER 138.5 (-115) – Friday, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)

Leg 3: MIAMI +7.5 (-115) vs. Houston

The Hurricanes have been impressive so far, topping Drake 63-56 in the opening round, before routing Indiana 85-69 as 1.5-point underdogs. The ACC regular-season champs have played great basketball in the last 2 months, going 11-2 straight-up (SU) and 8-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 13 games dating back to Jan. 31.

It’s become a common theme for the ‘Canes in recent seasons as they are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 NCAA Tournament games. Their also 8-3 ATS in the last 11 games against teams with a winning overall record, too.

Houston saw star G Marcus Sasser (groin) aggravate his injury in the 1st-round win against Northern Kentucky. He made a decision to play against Auburn in the 2nd round, as it was a pain tolerance thing. Sasser was apparently fine, as he scored 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including 5-for-9 from behind the arc.

Despite that solid performance by Sasser, the Cougars still shot 42% (25-for-60) overall against the Tigers. It was good enough to win by 17, though, as UH plays great defense.

The Under is 6-1 in the previous 7 NCAA Tournament games for the ‘Canes, while going 7-3 in the last 10 neutral-site games. For Houston, the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 NCAA Tournament games, while going 7-3 in the last 10 neutral-site contests, too.

As such, I like Miami plus the points AND the Under, as 2 of the 3 legs in this parlay.

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Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $56.73 (ticket pays $66.73).

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March Madness second-round, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Sunday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Sunday’s second round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

The first round is history and the second round of the NCAA Tournament is upon us. After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a Sunday can’t-miss, second-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Sunday’s slate of games includes Friday upset winners Pittsburgh, an 11 seed, and Farleigh-Dickinson, who knocked off Purdue to become just the 2nd No. 16 seed to beat a No 1.

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NCAA Tournament second-round parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:16 a.m. ET.

All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: MARQUETTE -2.5 (-108) vs. Michigan State – 5:15 p.m.

Marquette is among the hottest teams in the tournament, currently on a 10-game winning streak. With 5 players scoring in double digits on Friday, it made easy work of Vermont. The Golden Eagles’ offense is their strong suit, ranking 11th in the nation in field goal percentage (48.7%) which will propel them over the Spartans.

The Golden Eagles are 5-1 on neutral floors this season and have been moneymakers against the spread (ATS) this season with a 22-12-1 ATS record. That is what makes them a prime candidate to knock down the 1st leg of your parlay.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: FAU -13.5 (-115) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson – 7:45 p.m.

While Fairleigh Dickinson became only the 2nd 16 seed to ever topple a 1 seed, it took down a largely one-dimensional Purdue team. Unfortunatley for them, Florida Atlantic is great on both sides of the ball and able to score in a variety of ways.

The Owls rank in the top-40 in both points per game and opponenet points per game. At 32-3 on the season and 9-1 in their last 10 games, the Owls are tough to beat. They are 3-1 in their last 4 games when playing as a double-digit favorite and 22-8-1 ATS in their last 31 games following a ATS win.

While everybody loves a Cinderella story, Fairleigh Dickinson’s short-lived run will come to a screeching hault against the high-powered Owls. The Knights rank just 353 in defensive efficiency in Kenpom’s rankings while Florida Atlantic ranks 28th in offensive efficiency, making this a perfect selection for the 2nd leg of the parlay.

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Leg 3: Indiana vs. Miami UNDER 145.5 (-110) – 8:40 p.m.

The Under is 6-0 in Miami’s last 6 NCAA Tournament games and 7-2 in its last 9 neutral site games. The Under in its game against Drake on Friday hit by 26.5 points and facing a top-40 defense in opponent field goal percentage in Indiana, points will be hard to come by. The Under hit by 7.5 points in Indiana’s 1st-round victory over Kent State.

Both teams rank below 100th overall in tempo according to the Kenpom rankings. Expect the pace to slow down as both teams’ offenses have not been clicking recently. The Under is 3-1 in Miami’s last 4 games and 2-1 in Indiana’s last 3. As it stands, 145.5 would be the 2nd-highest closing line in Indiana’s last 10 games.

With a higher line, the Under will be a great pick for the final leg of this parlay.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $58.74 (ticket pays $68.74).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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March Madness second-round, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Saturday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Saturday’s second round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

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The first round has commenced, and the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Round of 32, is upon us.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a Saturday can’t-miss, second-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Saturday’s slate of games is based on who played Thursday, which gave us notable upsets like 13-seed Furman over 4th-seeded Virginia and No. 15 seed Princeton over 2nd-seeded Arizona, the No. 8 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

So, let’s dive into a parlay to bank on for this highly anticipated slate of games.

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NCAA Tournament second-round parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:47 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: MISSOURI -6.5 (-110) vs. Princeton – 6:10 p.m.

Princeton beat Arizona because the Wildcats just couldn’t shoot from deep. They were just 3-for-16 from downtown and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line.

Princeton is outside the top 100 in Kenpom’s defensive rating, and the Tigers rank 9th in adjusted offense. Missouri should be able to abuse those defensive weaknesses better than Arizona did.

Missouri’s weakness is defense, but Princeton shot just 4-for-25 from deep and had just 5 free-throw attempts against Arizona. Missouri should be able to dominate offensively and cover here.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Leg 2: Auburn vs. Houston UNDER 131.5 (-110) — 7:10 p.m.

Houston has gone Under in 4 of its past 5 games, and it has held opponents to 52 points or fewer in 3 of its last 4 those 4. The Cougars offense hasn’t been playing at an elite level since the end of the regular season either as they have yet to top 70 points in any of the 4 postseason games.

Houston’s defense ranks 2nd in points allowed (56.4 PPG). Auburn, on the other hand, is 5-4 O/U in its last 9 games. The Tigers played Tennessee twice — the Vols defense ranks 3rd, right behind the Cougars, by allowing 57.9 PPG. Against the Vols, the Tigers averaged 61.0 points per game.

Put it all together, and UNDER 131.5 (-112) should work perfectly as the 2nd leg of this parlay.

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Leg 3: ALABAMA -8.5 (-110) vs. Maryland — 9:40 p.m.

Alabama is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide rank top 20 in offensive and defensive rating per Kenpom. Alabama has covered 3 consecutive games when favored by a single-digit spread. The Tide are the better side here and should comfortably cover.

Maryland ranks outside the top 25 in both offensive and defensive ratings. The Terrapins and showed many flaws in their first-round win against West Virginia with early-game turnovers.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $59.58 (ticket pays $69.58).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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March Madness first-round, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Friday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Friday’s first round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

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It’s officially March Madness, which means everyone will be tuning into the first round of the NCAA Tournament to see how their brackets are doing. The action gets underway on Thursday, but there are 16 games taking place on Friday.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Friday’s can’t-miss, first-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports’ Men and Women’s Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $5,000 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:10 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: MICHIGAN STATE ML (-130) vs. USC – 12:15 p.m

Coach Tom Izzo is still at the helm for the Spartans and this time of year is when Michigan State creates magic. This Spartans squad converts a whopping 39.5 percent (4th in the nation) of their 3-point attempts, which will be an issue for the No. 10 Trojans.

Michigan State has also limited its opposition to 31.5 percent (53rd) of its 3-point attempts. If the Spartans are knocking down their outside shots as they did during the regular season, they should come away with the victory.

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Leg 2: VCU +4.5 (-115) vs. Saint Mary’s – 2 p.m.

We’ve seen plenty of No. 12 seeds upset the No. 5 seed over the years, and the battle between VCU and Saint Mary’s is certainly one to watch. The Rams enter Friday’s matchup on a 9-game win streak after taking down Dayton to win the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Both of these teams use stifling defense to win as they are allowing only a combined 123 points per game. That being said, VCU forces 16.47 turnovers per game (15th), so it’ll score enough points off Saint Mary’s mistakes to keep this game close.

Leg 3: MEMPHIS -1.5 (-112) vs. FAU – 9:20 p.m.

The impending bout between No. 8 Memphis and No. 9 FAU is expected to be a close one. However, the Tigers just cruised to a 75-65 win over an impressive 31-3 Houston team to win the AAC Tournament, though, it should be noted that Houston was without its leading scorer, G Marcus Sasser.

Memphis has a talented guard of their own that is led by Kendric Davis, who has recorded 20 or more points in 6 straight games. The Tigers are another team that thrives off of forcing turnovers (15.35 per game, 31st) and they went 5-2 ATS in their 7 neutral-site games this season.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $52.61 (ticket pays $62.61).

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March Madness first-round can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for the first round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

March Madness is the greatest time of year in sports. Nothing is better than watching games at work, as others pretend to work while doing the same. The only thing better? Making money while doing so.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a can’t-miss first-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The first round is always exciting with upsets combined with blowouts. But which ones can we choose to make a winning parlay? This is what we are going to answer here. Let’s find those winners.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:08 a.m. ET. All games times ET.

Leg 1: Missouri vs. Utah State OVER 155.5 (-105) – Thursday, 1:40 p.m.

Utah State averages 79.4 points per game on offense and the Missouri defense allows 74.8 PPG (310th in the nation). The Tigers allow opponents to 35.5% from 3-point range and the Aggies shooting 40%, good for 4th in the nation.

Missouri is also a capable offense averaging 80.1 points per game. Although the Tigers do not find the net as often when shooting the 3-point shot, averaging 36.2%, they also rely heavily on the shot.

This game will provide plenty of excitement and could be the highest-scoring game of the opening round. OVER 155.5 (-105) is a great way to start off the parlay.

Leg 2: CHARLESTON +5.5 (-115) vs. San Diego State – Friday, 3:10 p.m.

This is a popular upset pick in the first round. Charleston can run up and down the floor and has solid perimeter shooters while San Diego State can slow the game down with the best of them. The contrast in style will lead to a confusing game for both sides. But it will also lead to a close contest.

The Aztecs have a solid defense and the ability to shut down opponents which leads a lot of close games. With the ability of the Cougars to score, this will also help the game remain within single digits. This is a game that will not get out of hand and where 5.5 points is too much to wager.

The Aztecs may gain the 1st win for a Mountain West Conference team in the tournament since 2018, but it will not be covering the spread when it does so. Take the COUGARS +5.5 (-115) to cover for the 2nd leg of our parlay.

Leg 3: Houston vs. Northern Kentucky UNDER 122.5 (-115) – Thursday, 9:20 p.m.

Houston, with Marcus Sasser, has one of the best defenses in America. Ranking 2nd in the nation allowing only 56.5 points per game, the Cougars’ defense will be able to swallow up and spit out a Norse offense which ranks just 285th at 67.8 PPG.

Even if Sasser is held out of this game, the Houston offense will be able to control the pace and the Norse will provide no viable challenge to Houston.

The 122.5 is extremely low for any game. But with the elite Houston defense going up against an outmatched Northern Kentucky squad, there is a solid chance this game barely sniffs 100.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $58.24 (ticket pays $68.24).

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March Madness first-round, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Thursday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Thursday’s first round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

[mm-video type=video id=01gvg7bzg7svyx6k780t playlist_id=none player_id=01evcg1x9ny8tb834m image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvg7bzg7svyx6k780t/01gvg7bzg7svyx6k780t-143ef70937fb904d4d8a08617737ea08.jpg]

It is the best time of year with March Madness finally upon us and the first round on Thursday should have some exciting basketball.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a Thursday’s can’t-miss, first-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:36 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: FURMAN ML (+180) vs. Virginia – 12:40 p.m.

The Paladins have the perfect offensive scheme to bounce the No. 4 Cavaliers, and at this price, the odds will boost a parlay. Virginia was bounced from the ACC Tournament after scoring just 49 points against Duke. Its offense has been a problem all season long, and it has relied on its defensive tenacity.

Furman has the offensive firepower to give them issues. It ranks 8th in the nation at 82.1 points per game, 10th in 3-point attempts (27.3 PG) and 18th in 3-pointers made (9.4 PG). That style could be the perfect storm for an upset here, and in a parlay, it would be a huge win.

Leg 2: Charleston vs. San Diego State OVER 141.5 (-112) — 3:10 p.m.

The mid-major 3-point onslaught may continue here. Charleston ranks 9th in 3-pointers made per game (10). It went Over in 7 of its last 10 games to close out the regular season. The Cougars average 80.8 points per game to rank 14th in the nation in scoring.

While San Diego State has an aggressive defense, it averages 71.3 points per game, so it can score as well. SDSU was 7-4 O/U in non-conference games this season. Back the Over in your parlay.

Leg 3: Boise State vs. NORTHWESTERN ML (-125) — 7:35 p.m.

Northwestern is a far more tested side than Boise State. It has wins over tournament teams like No. 1-seed Purdue, 4-seed Indiana and 8-seed Iowa. It also won 3 of its last 5 Big Ten road games which is impressive.

Boise State’s non-conference schedule didn’t do it much favors, beating Texas A&M on Dec. 3. It split with SDSU, losing on the road by 20 and winning at home by 6. The Broncos also lost 3 of their last 4 road games to end the regular season. Back the more proven side in this parlay.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $85.40 (ticket pays $95.40).

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March Madness First Four can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for the First Four, with predictions and picks for the best 3-team parlay bet to make.

The NCAA Tournament field is set, and the First Four matchups for Dayton, Ohio have been announced for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14-15.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a can’t-miss First Four parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

There are some intriguing matchups set for Dayton, including a handful of Power 5 conference teams. The margin of error in the Mississippi State-Pittsburgh and Arizona State-Nevada games is supposed to be razor thin.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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First Four can’t-miss parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 8:05 a.m. ET. All game times ET and broadcast on truTV.

Leg 1: TEXAS A&M-CC -3.5 (-118) vs. SE Mo. St. – Tuesday, 6:40 p.m.

The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (23-10) won the Southland Conference regular-season title at 14-4, as well as the league’s tourney. Overall, this is a team which won 23 games, and goes to Dayton with a head full of steam. A&M-CC has won 4 straight games, while winning 12 of the past 13 games overall. More importantly, the Islanders are a solid 10-3 ATS across the aforementioned 13-game run.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (19-16) caught lightning in a bottle at the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, winning as the No. 5 seed and covering in 4 consecutive games. During the regular season, this was a team which finished a game under .500 at 15-16 — it was 10-8 in conference play.

While neither of these teams has a signature win on the season, we have to look at body of work. The Islanders have simply done a much better job, and have been more consistent. They can fill up the basket, averaging 80.4 points per game (PPG) to rank 19th nationally, according to ncaa.com. They also were decent from the free-throw line, hitting 79.0% to rank 5th overall. Defensively, the Islanders struggled, allowing 72.5 PPG (248th), but they can score with the best of them to mask that issue, at least against inferior teams.

The Redhawks can be rather potent, too, at the offensive end, going for 77.7 PPG (45th), but they’re not a great shooting team at just 43.6% (234th). Plus, SE Missouri State hits just 71.5% at the charity stripe (184th), a big Achilles’ heel, especially in potentially close games. On the defensive end, the Redhawks allow 76.0 PPG, which is near the bottom nationally at 317th, and they allow teams to rain in 3s at a 34.7% clip (245th).

Leg 2: PITTSBURGH +1.5 (-110) vs. Mississippi St. – Tuesday, 9:10 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Panthers (22-11) sat atop the ACC standings for a time, before sputtering a bit down the stretch. Still, this is a team which swept North Carolina, while scoring road wins against tournament teams NC State and Northwestern. The Panthers, who tied for 3rd in the ACC regular season at 14-6, also beat Fairleigh-Dickinson, another tourney team, while scoring home victories against Miami and Virginia. Pitt can get it done when locked in.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12) also didn’t finish up strong, which is why they’re in a First Four game. They finished 8-10 in SEC play during the regular season and were pounded by 23 points (72-49) by 2nd-ranked Alabama in an SEC quarterfinal. They were just 4-4 straight up (SU) and 3-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 8 games.

The Bulldogs have some impressive wins, mostly earlier in the season, topping fellow First Four team Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, while dropping current No. 4 Marquette in November on a neutral floor. They also managed a solid home win over TCU in a Big 12-SEC challenge matchup. Their most impressive league wins were at home was against Texas A&M and on the road at Arkansas.

The Bulldogs enter on an 0-4 ATS skid, and the Panthers are on an extended 21-7 ATS run in the past 28 games overall. Pitt has the better body of work, and in a game which the books feel will be a toss-up, it’s best to lean to the team which has been more consistent.

Leg 3: ARIZONA STATE -1.5 (-102) vs. Nevada – Wednesday, 9:10 p.m.

The Arizona State Sun Devils (22-12) made a run to the Pac-12 semifinals before bowing out to rival Arizona. They scored an impressive 77-72 quarterfinal win against USC, which likely was just enough to tip the scales in the Devils’ favor to earn this Final Four spot. Arizona State’s best win was an 89-88 upset at then No. 7 Arizona on a 3-pointer at the buzzer Feb. 25. ASU, which finished 11-9 in Pac-12 play, also had strong wins over fellow tournament teams Creighton and VCU.

The Nevada Wolf Pack (22-10) went from looking like a potential sleeper to nearly out of the tournament in a hurry. The Wolf Pack, who finished 12-6 in the Mountain West during the regular season, were ousted in the first game of the MWC tourney, losing to lowly San Jose State in overtime. It has lost 3 in a row, while also going 0-3 ATS, and this team has a lost 7 games just since Jan. 10. A win over San Diego State Jan. 31 is the only bright spot since right around the holidays.

The Sun Devils aren’t a great shooting team, hitting just 41.3% from the field (317th), and 31.1% from behind the arc (318th). Arizona State struggled with a 69.3% mark from the free-throw stripe (264th). However, defensively, it held opponents to just 39.3% from the field, ranking 9th overall in the nation. That’s not what Nevada wants to see.

The Wolf Pack had some issues on offense, going for just 72.5 PPG, which was middle of the pack in the nation at 160th. But they shoot just 44.4% from the floor (186th), and a rather middling 34.8% from behind the arc (148th). If Nevada does one thing well, it’s free-throw shooting, ranking 6th overall at 78.8%. But that alone won’t be able to help it cool off a rather hot Arizona State side.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $59.84 (ticket pays $69.84).

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