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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay in Sunday’s Elite 8 action of the NCAA Tournament.

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We’re halfway through the Elite 8 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. No. 1 seed UConn and 4th-seeded Alabama advanced to the Final Four with wins Saturday. The final half of the national semifinals will be decided with 2 games Sunday.

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

Sunday’s action kicks off from Detroit’s Little Caesars’ Arena with No. 1 seed Purdue and 2nd-seeded Tennessee facing off at 2:20 p.m. ET in the Midwest Region. The final Elite 8 contest features an ACC battle in the South Region between No. 4 seed Duke and this tournament’s Cinderella in 11th-seeded NC State at 5:05 p.m. ET. They’ll battle it out in Dallas at American Airlines Center.

Purdue is No. 3 and Tennessee is No. 6, respectively, in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. Duke is ranked 14th, while NC State is unranked.

As for Saturday’s winners, UConn is No 1; Alabama is No. 18.

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NCAA Tournament Elite 8 parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:21 a.m. ET. All game Sunday, times ET.

Leg 1: TENNESSEE +3.5 (-115) vs. Purdue — 2:20 p.m. (CBS)

Tennessee (27-8) showed off its suffocating and tenacious defense in an Elite 8 victory over No. 3 seed Creighton Friday 82-75. The Volunteers, who covered the spread as 3.5-point favorites, frustrated the sharp-shooting Bluejays, while going up-tempo in the 2nd half to try and run away with the game.

The Vols have so many different options as they can score down low or they can use the 3-ball with G Dalton Knecht. They were able to get the job done Friday despite G Santiago Vescovi sitting out due to a bout with the flu. He is expected to be ready to go Sunday, which would give the Vols a big boost.

We actually saw these teams meet already this season. They played in the Maui Invitational back on Nov. 21 with Purdue winning 71-67 to hang on for a cover as a 3-point favorite with the Over (133.5) cashing. That was months ago, though. Tennessee has improved and it is a much more physical team, too. The Vols are going to use that tenaciousness and physicality to push around the Boilermakers (32-4).

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Leg 2: NC STATE +7.5 (-120) vs. Duke – 5:05 p.m. (CBS)

Now to the ACC battle in Dallas as we’re ready for a new chapter in this Triangle rivalry.

The Wolfpack (25-14) have had an amazing run, winning 5 times in 5 days at the ACC Tournament before winning 3 in a row at the NCAA Tournament to get to their 1st Elite 8 since 1986 when the late Jim Valvano was at the helm. NC State lost that game by a 75-67 score to Kansas.

NC State has been quite the story this tourney, covering 6 in a row as an underdog, completely transforming into beast mode in the postseason after finishing the regular season rather meekly — the Pack were 9-11 in ACC play. Those late-season struggles included a 79-64 loss at PNC Arena in Raleigh against Duke, which covered as a 6-point favorite.

The Wolfpack exacted revenge in the ACC Tournament March 14, winning 74-69 as 11-point underdogs en route to an unlikely title. Look for the Pack to hang on for the cover, although the Blue Devils (27-8) are fully expected to win outright in a game for the ages.

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Leg 3: NC State vs. Duke UNDER 143.5 (-115)

The Wolfpack are making plenty of headlines for their Cinderella run as a double-digit seed, and as you might expect, it couldn’t be done without a little luck and without a little defense.

NC State has allowed 67 or fewer points in 2 of its 3 NCAA Tournament games, with the lone exception the 73 points it allowed to Oakland in a 2nd-round overtime win. The Wolfpack have cashed the Under in 2 of 3 tourney games, while yielding 69 or fewer points in 5 of the past 7 outings. The Under holds a slight 4-3 edge in the past 7 games.

The Under cashed in the ACC Tournament win over Duke, too, with 143 combined points on an O/U line of 146. In the regular-season meeting in Raleigh March 4, we had 143 combined points against an O/U line of 150.5, also an Under result.

Duke has leaned heavily into its defense in this NCAA Tournament, allowing just 51.0 PPG in 3 games, best among all 68 teams in the tourney. The Under has cashed in 4 straight postseason games, while going 7-1 in the past 8 outings. The Under is also on a 14-3 run in Duke’s past 17 games.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $54.08 (payout = $64.08).

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay for the Friday’s Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

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March Madness has lived up to expectations so far with upsets and dominant victories. There have been expected and unexpected wins with most brackets all but busted. Heading into the Sweet 16, there is sure to be more intensity with the stakes getting higher and higher.

After looking at the BetMGM 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.

Friday presents many intriguing matchups, with No. 11 seed NC State being the highest seed remaining, a rematch between 5th-seeded Gonzaga and No. 1 seed Purdue, and No. 3 seed Creighton battling No. 2 seed Tennessee. NC State faces No. 2 seed Marquette. Plus, top-seeded Houston must deal with 4th-seeded Duke as the field whittles down to the Elite 8.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:53 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: Marquette -6.5 (-110) vs. NC State – 7:09 p.m. (CBS)

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

NC State (24-14) has had one of the most impressive runs in March of any team out there. The Wolfpack battled through and won the ACC Tournament for a birth into the Big Dance and are the lowest seed (11) remaining. Unfortunately for NC State, it runs into a tough Marquette squad in the Sweet 16. The Golden Eagles (27-9) have covered in 6 of their last 7 games as favorites and have held opponents to 73 or fewer points in 4 of their last 5 outings.

All good things must come to an end, which will be the case for NC State Friday making MARQUETTE -6.5 (-110) the best way to start our parlay.

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Leg 2: Gonzaga +5.5 (-110) vs. Purdue – 7:39 p.m. (TBS/truTV)

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Purdue (31-4) has shown its strengths this tourney, mainly behind C Zach Edey, but Gonzaga (27-7) has too. The Bulldogs won both of their first 2 games by 21 or more points and have hit their stride defensively.

The Zags have held opponents to 69 or fewer points 5 of their last 6 games. They are a mature team that will be equipped to handle Edey and company both defensively and to increase the pace offensively. They have scored 86 or more points in 10 of their last 12 games.

Bank on GONZAGA +5.5 (-110) to bring home the 2nd part of our parlay.

Leg 3: Creighton +2.5 (-105) vs. Tennessee – 10:09 p.m. (TBS/truTV)

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

Creighton (25-9) is a team that has a lot of potential to not only cover Friday but to win outright. For the sake of our parlay, the spread is a safer play.

The Bluejays have not struggled in either of their first 2 games and have excelled both offensively and defensively. They are a team that can get hot quick from beyond the arc and are big on the inside. While Tennessee (26-8) is a solid team, it struggled against Texas in the 2nd round, winning 62-58, and has scored 62 or fewer points in 2 of its last 3 games.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $71.16 (payout = $61.16).

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this Sweet 16 3-team parlay in the NCAA Tournament.

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We’re on to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. We have 4 games scheduled for Thursday, and another 4 games slated for Friday as we pare down the field even further. There are not as many games as the 1st weekend, but we still have quite a few betting opportunities.

Let’s head into the weekend strong.

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

Thursday’s slate would even be can’t-miss TV if it were the regular season. We get a national championship rematch between UConn and San Diego State as well as a top-10 battle between Illinois and Iowa State. Both of these contests will be played at TD Garden in Boston.

UConn finished No. 1 in the final regular-season USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, with San Diego State checking in at No. 25. Iowa State is No. 4, and Illinois is 10th.

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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:42 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: UCONN -10.5 (-120) vs. San Diego State – Thursday, 7:39 p.m. (TBS/truTV)

The defending champs face the national runner-up from last April. The Huskies polished off the Aztecs in last year’s title game 76-59, easily covering as 6.5-point favorites with the Over (130.5) connecting.

UConn (33-3), the No. 1 seed in the East, is looking to become the 1st team since Florida in 2006 and 2007 to repeat. So far, the Huskies haven’t really encountered any speed bumps. They spanked No. 16 seed Stetson 91-52 to cover as 27.5-point spread in the 1st round, and it had little trouble with No. 9 seed Northwestern in a 75-58 win, covering as 13-point favorites. That’s an average margin of victory of 28.0 PPG, while covering both games as a double-digit favorite.

No. 5 seed San Diego State (26-10) had little trouble with 13th-seeded Yale last time out, winning 85-57 as a 5.5-point favorite. However, the Aztecs barely scraped by No. 12 seed UAB in the opening round, winning 69-65 but not covering as 6.5-point favorites.

The Aztecs could hang around a bit in the 1st half vs. the Huskies Thursday, but expect this to end similar to how the title game ended nearly a full calendar year ago.

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Leg 2: Alabama vs. North Carolina OVER 173.5 (-110) — Thursday, 9:39 p.m. (CBS)

No. 4 seed Alabama (23-11) takes on top-seeded North Carolina (29-7) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the chance to advance to Saturday’s West Region final.

Alabama rolled as a 8.5-point favorite past No. 13 seed Charleston in the 1st round by a 109-96 score, the most points scored in this NCAA Tournament so far. Then ‘Bama was shockingly held to just 72 points by 12th-seeded Grand Canyon in the 2nd round, but the Crimson Tide won by 11 and covered as 5-point favorites to advance. Alabama is No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

The Tide are the top-scoring team in the nation at 90.7 PPG, while hitting 47.8% from the field with 36.9% from behind the 3-point line. On defense, Alabama wasn’t too concerned, conceding 80.4 PPG. That led to many Over results, as the Tide boast a 25-9 O/U record, including a 4-1 O/U mark in their last 5 games. The win vs. Grand Canyon didn’t come close, though, as the 2 teams combined for 133 points against an O/U line of 172.5.

The Tar Heels, No. 5 in the Coaches Poll, have been on fire, too, blasting No. 16 seed Wagner 90-62 in the opening round, before crushing No. 9 seed Michigan State 85-69 in the 2nd round. UNC covered both games as a 25.5- and a 4-point favorite, respectively, with both games cashing Overs. The total has gone high in 4 of 5 postseason games for the Heels, and it also cashed against Duke in the final regular-season game.

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Leg 3: CREIGHTON +2.5 (-105) vs. Tennessee – Friday, 10:09 p.m. (TBS/truTV)

In the final scheduled game of the Sweet 16, the 11th-ranked Bluejays (25-9) take on the No. 6 Volunteers (26-8) in Detroit.

Third-seeded Creighton outlasted No. 11 seed Oregon 86-73 in double overtime in an epic game last Saturday night. The Bluejays went 38.5% from behind the 3-point line, jacking up triples at a dizzying pace where Creighton finished 15-for-39. The Bluejays were beat on the boards 48-43, but turned it over 2 less times (11-9) than the Ducks. The Bluejays played a clean game, too, committing just 12 personal fouls despite the 2 extra sessions.

Tennessee bowed out last season as a No. 4 seed in the Sweet 16 against FAU. This March, the Vols are a No. 2 seed. They grinded out a 62-58 win over 7th-seeded Texas in the 2nd round, failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites. Tennessee was able to survive and advance despite shooting just 33.8% (22-for-65) from the field and an awful 12.0% (3-for-25) from behind the 3-point line. If the Vols shoot like that again, they’ll ger buried by the Big East representative.

The Vols cannot be trusted, as they shoot just 44.3% from the field, and 33.9% from behind the 3-point line. Defense saved them against the Longhorns, but Tennessee will have a hard time shutting down the perimeter game of Creighton.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $58.33 (payout = $68.33).

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March Madness: Thursday’s best NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 underdog pick and prediction

Beat the Sportsbook: Here is Thursday’s best Sweet 16 underdog bet for the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

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Many brackets were busted in the opening weekend of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A total of 13 lower seeds moved on in the first 2 rounds of the tournament.

But there is still a lot of firepower still alive as all 4 top seeds and all 4 No. 2 seeds made it to the Sweet 16. We lost a couple of 3-seeds and 2 more 4-seeds, but we have just 1 double-digit seed remaining as 11th-ranked NC State has made a run.

Of the 4 games slated for Thursday, there is 1 matchup that sticks out as the best underdog play.

After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, I’ve come up with Thursday’s best Sweet 16 underdog bet to cash in on among SportbookWire’s expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Illinois is No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, while Iowa State is No. 4.

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Thursday’s NCAA Tournament underdog pick

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:04 a.m. ET.

ILLINOIS (+105) vs. Iowa State – 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV)

The No. 3 seed Fighting Illini (28-8) take on the 2nd-seeded Cyclones (29-7). Iowa State poses the 2nd-best defensive rating in the country at 92.4. But the Cyclones are going to have to be able to outscore what could be the player of the tournament thus far in Illini senior G Terrence Shannon Jr.

He has dropped 26 and 30 in the first 2 rounds, and sure, that was against double-digit seeds. He has posted 25+ points in 6 straight games and averaged 30.5 PPG in the process. He’s the best player on the floor in this game. ISU will do what it can to limit him, but it won’t be enough. If you’re able to get in on his Over 21.5 points prop (-110), I would look to do that as well.

Illinois can score at each level, and if ISU can contain Shannon, the Illini have a stretch 4 in F Marcus Domask who can score inside and out. The Illini are 7th in the country with 41.0 rebounds per game. The only team that I see keeping the Illini from the Final Four is top-seeded UConn, and unfortunately for them, they could face the Huskies in the Elite 8.

BET ILLINOIS (+105) before the line potentially falls to +100 or -110 by tip-off.

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay for Sunday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The 1st round of the NCAA Tournament ended with a flare Friday with some favorites advancing and more underdog stories being created. March Madness is in full swing as we move toward the Round of 32.

After looking at the BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a Sunday’s can’t-miss, 2nd-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Many predicted some of the 2nd-round matchups that will be played on Sunday, but some teams, like James Madison and Grand Canyon, surprised a good number of fans by advancing. Below are teams you should keep an eye out for when putting together your parlay.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

NCAA Tournament second-round parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 7:37 p.m. ET. All game times ET.

Leg 1: PURDUE -11.5 (-110) vs. Utah State – 2:40 p.m. (CBS)

No. 1 seed Purdue (30-4) dominated 16th-seeded Grambling Friday with a 28-point win (78-50), sending a message to the rest of the teams in the tournament. C Zach Edey proved to be too much to handle with 30 points and 21 rebounds. He will be the key reason the Boilermakers have another commanding victory.

Eighth-seeded Utah State (28-6) had an impressive 88-72 win over No. 9 seed TCU in the 1st round. A large reason for the victory was the Aggies’ ability to put the ball in the basket at a high rate. They shot 55.0% from the field, including 42.1% from 3, sinking 8 of 19. However, against a larger, more athletic Boilermakers team, the Aggies won’t find it as easy, making PURDUE -11.5 (-110) a solid 1st leg of this parlay.

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Leg 2: BAYLOR -4.5 (-110) vs. Clemson – 6:10 p.m. (TNT)

Third-seeded Baylor (24-10) looked like one of the best teams in the tournament in its 92-67 1st-round victory over No. 14 seed Colgate. With 4 of the 5 starters scoring in double figures and the team shooting a whopping 53.3% from beyond the arc, the Bears are a difficult team to stop when they get hot.

The Bears have hit their stride at the most ideal time in the season and present a much more difficult matchup for No. 6 seed Clemson (22-11) than New Mexico did in the Tigers’ 77-56 opening-round win.

At 4.5 points, the Baylor spread is perfect for the 2nd leg of the parlay.

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Leg 3: ALABAMA -5.5 (-115) vs. Grand Canyon – 7:10 p.m.

No. 4 seed Alabama (22-11) laying 5.5 points against 12th-seeded Grand Canyon is a steal and the icing on the cake for our parlay. While Grand Canyon (30-4) has had an impressive season, including its 1st-round upset of 5th-seeded Saint Mary’s, Alabama’s offense will simply be too much for the Gaels.

The Crimson Tide scored 109 points in their 1st-round victory over Charleston, and have scored 87 or more points in 9 of their last 10. Expect Alabama to push the pace of the game Sunday and exhausting Grand Canyon allowing the Tide to win, cover and finish the parlay out strong.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $68.14 (payout = $58.14).

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay for Saturday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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March Madness kicked off with a bang Thursday with dominant wins and Cinderella stories being born. There were expected victories and unexpected unsung heroes that displayed the magic of what March is all about.

After looking at the BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Saturday’s can’t-miss, 2nd-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

While multiple 2nd-round games Saturday feature expected favorites, there are some few predicted, including No. 14 seed Oakland facing off against 11th-seeded NC State. More madness is sure to come. Below are teams you can count on to win some money.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament second-round parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:08 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: ARIZONA -9.5 (-105) vs. Dayton – 12:45 p.m. (CBS)

Second-seeded Arizona is clearly the more dominant team in this matchup, but you cannot deny the fight No. 7 seed Dayton has in it. The Flyers’ 17-point comeback against Nevada in the 1st round is nothing short of impressive, but Nevada and Arizona are totally different programs. Dayton came out slow and was able to creep back vs. Nevada, but against a Wildcats team that is 26-8 and won the Pac-12 regular-season crown with a 15-5 showing, the Flyers will not find themselves as lucky in Round 2.

Arizona is 5-2-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last 9 games as a 9-point or more favorite and has held opponents to 67 points or fewer in 6 of its last 10 games. As demonstrated in its 85-65 opening-round win over Long Beach State, the Wildcats have an ability to create many problems for opposing offenses and imposing their will on both sides of the court.

When playing at their best, the Wildcats can match up to any other team in this tournament and are able to dominate lesser opponents like the Flyers, which is what makes this the perfect 1st leg of the parlay.

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Leg 2: NORTH CAROLINA -3.5 (-115) vs. Michigan State – 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Top-seeded North Carolina is the obvious favorite in this matchup as one of the top teams in the tournament, but laying just 3.5 points is a steal. UNC has won 9 of its last 10 games and in each of those wins, UNC has won by at least 4 points. The Tar Heels defense has been nearly unstoppable of late, allowing 67 or fewer points in 3 of its last 4 games and 71 or fewer in 7 of its last 9.

Ninth-seeded Michigan State dominated No. 8 seed Mississippi State in the 1st round with a 69-51 win, but it has lost 5 of its last 8 including 2 of its last 4. It has scored more than 69 points just 1 time in its last 5 games which will prove to be problematic against a tough UNC opponent.

Look for F Armando Bacot, who is averaging a double-double this season (14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds) to leave him footprint on this game, allowing the Tar Heels to cover and complete the 2nd leg of this parlay.

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Leg 3: ILLINOIS -10.5 (-105) vs. Duquesne – 8:40 p.m. (TNT)

No. 11 seed Duquesne vs. 3rd-seeded Illinois is an intriguing 2nd-round matchup for many reasons, but the top is the different play styles each team elicits.

Duquesne is 9-1 in its last 10 games and prefers to slow the pace which has led to it scoring 71 or fewer points in 8 of its last 10. Illinois tends to speed up the pace of the game and take down opponents by scoring in droves. It has scored 85 or more in 7 of its last 10.

It is due to this that Illinois will cover. While Duquesne showed its ability to keep up with a difficult BYU team in the 1st round behind a 71-67 win, the Dukes will not be able to find the same opportunities against a stronger Illini squad.

While the Dukes may find ways to stick in this game early, expect the Fighting Illini to overpower them en route to a dominating victory to cover the final leg of the parlay.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $71.26 (payout = $61.26).

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay for Friday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The NCAA Tournament is underway with exciting action on Thursday. We have 16 more games on Friday, as the field will be pared down 32 teams heading into the 2nd round. We’ll sift through Friday’s games to find a handful of solid parlay opportunities to get into the black.

After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Friday’s can’t-miss, 1st-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Last season, the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament had a lot of 1st-round upsets. We’ll try to avoid those pitfalls, so we can build bankroll heading into the 2nd round and beyond.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 4:08 p.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: WESTERN KENTUCKY +14.5 (-110) vs. Marquette – 2 p.m.

The Hilltoppers actually stumbled down the stretch of the regular season, losing the final 4 games, while going 1-3 against the spread (ATS). However, the ‘Toppers picked up the pace in the Conference USA Tournament, winning and covering 3 straight games. WKU comes in with a lot of confidence.

This Western Kentucky team can be dangerous offensively, too, going for 78 or more points in 6 straight outings. Defense is the team’s Achilles’ heel.

For Marquette, the biggest question for the Golden Eagles isn’t whether they’ll advance. The 2nd-seed should be able to ease by WKU. However, G Tyler Kolek enters with an oblique injury, while F Oso Ighodaro is battling a knee. Kolek is expected to play, while Ighodaro carries a questionable tag, making him a 50-50 proposition.

Kolek rolled up 15.0 PPG, 7.6 APG and 4.7 RPG while hitting 40.0% from behind the 3-point line during the regular season. He also led the team with an 88.0% mark at the free-throw line, so he absolutely needs to play, and play without any restrictions.

Ighodaro was right behind Kolek with 14.4 PPG, while leading the team with 7.2 RPG and a sparkling 60.8% field-goal percentage.

There are just too many injury questions for Marquette. This team should still have enough, even if Kolek and/or Ighodaro are on a minutes restriction. However, the spread is awfully high.

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Leg 2: Texas A&M vs. Nebraska OVER 147.5 (-105) – 6:50 p.m.

Normally we like to play sides in these parlay pieces, but it’s impossible not to love the Over in Texas A&M-Nebraska.

The Aggies roll into the Big Dance with 5 straight Over results, including all 3 games in the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss, Kentucky and Florida. The total has also gone high in 11 of the past 13 games for the Aggies since Feb. 7, including 6-1 in 7 games against NCAA Tournament teams.

For “Nebrasketball”, they’ve been rolling up big-time offensive totals all season long. Big Red cashed the Over in both appearances in the Big Ten Tournament, averaging 90.0 PPG, while allowing 82.0 PPG, which is an easy pair of Overs.

The Cornhuskers have seen the total go high in 17 of the past 22 games since Dec. 20. Surprisingly, Nebraska allowed teams to hit just 39.6% from the field, which was top-10 in the nation during the regular season. But as the season went on, the offensive production started to creep up, and the defense wasn’t as suffocating.

The Over is 8-0 in the past 8 games for Nebraska against teams in the NCAA Tournament field dating back to an Under against Creighton on Dec. 3, while going 9-1 in 10 games this season against NCAA Tournament participants.

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Leg 3: ALABAMA -9.5 (-110) vs. Charleston – 7:35 p.m.

A lot of casual fans like to pick upsets. You get those bracket nerds who haven’t watched a game all season, but they donate $5 at the office and pretend to know things. Anyway…

Charleston is a team people know from the past, and many are picking the Cougars for an upset. It ain’t happening.

The Cougars went 0-3 SU/ATS in 3 games against teams in the NCAA Tournament, losing games to Duquesne, FAU and Vermont by at least 9 points, and an average of margin of defeat of 14.3 PPG.

Alabama is battle tested, having been through the gauntlet of SEC play, and this team can get out and run with the best of them. Alabama scored 87 or more points in 8 of the past 9 games, and Charleston just doesn’t have the horses to keep up with that pace. In fact, Bama led the nation with 90.8 PPG. Charleston allowed 73.3 PPG this season, while teams hit 44.4% from the field.

The scoreboard operator at Spokane Arena better limber up, because he/she is going to be busy. Alabama could, potentially, hit triple digits, and it should be able to record the double-digit victory.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $61.11 (payout = $71.11).

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March Madness first-round can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this 4-teamer

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 4-team parlay for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Whether you prefer the original by the Bee Gees, or Dave Grohl’s reiteration called the Dee Gees, it’s March, and “you should be dancing” to the cash register.

There are several ways you can attack a parlay. You can go big and try to nail some 4-digit odds or you can try to maximize your return while minimizing your risk. What I like to do is identify one underdog I’m really feeling and put them up with some slam dunks that don’t drown out the value.

After looking at the BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a can’t-miss, 1st-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:01 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: GONZAGA (-300) vs. McNeese – Thursday, 7:25 p.m.

First up, we have that dangerous 5-12 matchup. This should be an exciting game as the 5th-seeded Zags are the 7th-best team in the country in scoring at 84.9 PPG. Twelfth-seed McNeese is 37th at 80.4 PPG. I like the Zags — who are No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll — despite the offensive threat they’re opposing because this is game will be played in Salt Lake City. That’s just a short flight from Gonzaga’s home in Spokane, Wash., and McNeese has to fly up from Louisiana. So, there should be a bit of a home-court advantage for the Zags. Gonzaga had its reality check earlier in the season when it fell out of the Top 25 for the first time in 8 years. The Zags can score in bunches and have 6 players averaging at least 8.9 PPG. They’ll get it done, though I’m not sure I’d pick them to cover as 6.5-point favorites.

Leg 2: WISCONSIN (-250) vs. James Madison – Friday, 9:40 p.m.

In another 5-12 matchup, the 5th-seeded Wisconsin Badgers take on the James Madison Dukes. The Dukes are another powerhouse offense that tied for 8th in the country with 84.4 PPG. However, I love the Badgers because they are playing inspiring ball. Once upon a time, they were ranked 6th in the nation and then lost 8 of 11 conference games. They had to fight to get in the tournament, and they had a gutsy win over Purdue in the Big Ten semis. G Chucky Hepburn hit a layup to force OT, and G Max Klesmit won it in OT — Wisconsin came up short in a 93-87 defeat to Illinois in the conference title game, but Hepburn had 20 points. He had 22 against Purdue, and he’s peaking at the right time.

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Leg 3: AUBURN (-1000) vs. Yale – Friday, 4:15 p.m.

This one is a bit chalky, but there’s a reason for it. Fourth-seeded Auburn is on a heater, winners of 6 straight and 8 of 10. They routed the Florida Gators, 86-67 to capture the SEC title. A name you should get comfortable with this weekend, F Johni Broome had 19 points, 11 boards and 3 blocks. He scored in double figures in all but 2 games this season. Thirteenth-seeded Yale has a 7-footer that serves as a stretch big, and Broome should have his way with him.

Leg 4: OREGON (-110) vs. South Carolina – Thursday, 4 p.m.

This one is the lynchpin for the entire parlay as Oregon enters as a pick ’em despite being the No. 11 seed vs. a No. 6 seed. What makes me so confident in the Ducks? One, coach Dana Altman and watching his mastery with Creighton in the Kyle Korver days, and two, F N’Faly Dante, who is averaging 17.7 points, 9.2 boards, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks over his last 10 games. South Carolina is a slow team, which tied for 344th in the nation at 63.5 PPG. That plays right into Dante’s 6-foot-11, 265-pound skill set.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $29.20 (payout = $39.20).

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

Beat the Sportsbook: Bank on this 3-team parlay for Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The NCAA Tournament field will be pared down to 64 prior to Thursday’s 1st tip in Charlotte between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans. We’ll find a handful of teams to combine for a nice parlay opportunity.

After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is Thursday’s can’t-miss, 1st-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Last season, the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament was wild. Sure, we generally have a lot of upsets, but it was crazy in 2023. Will we have that kind of a start on Thursday, too? There are a couple of teams catching some big points who might be a bit underrated by the books.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 3:50 p.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: CREIGHTON -12.5 (-110) vs. Akron – 1:30 p.m.

The Bluejays are a good bet to go to the Sweet 16, and perhaps even deeper, but 1st things 1st. Creighton must get by Akron.

The Zips should just feel fortunate to be here. In the MAC Tournament final, Kent State probably should have ousted Akron, but a Golden Flashes player lost track of the score and committed an intentional foul with seconds left in the championship game. Kent State probably should’ve won, but it didn’t.

Now, Akron faces Creighton of the Big East. Yes, the Bluejays have lost 4 times in the past 11 games, but after back-to-back losses to Butler at home and Providence on the road from Feb. 7-10, Creighton has covered in 7 of the past 9 outings, including a 19-point romp against No. 1 UConn and a 14-point win against 2nd-seeded Marquette.

The Zips rattled off 3 straight wins against Miami-Ohio, Ohio U and Kent State in the MAC tourney, but Akron went 1-1-1 against the spread (ATS). It closed out the regular season with just 3 wins in the final 8 outings, and Akron is just 2-8-1 ATS in the previous 11 contests since a 73-59 loss at James Madison Feb. 10. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Akron get boat-raced here.

Leg 2: ILLINOIS -11.5 (-115) vs. Morehead State – 3:10 p.m.

The Fighting Illini looked very good in the Big Ten Tournament, winning 3 times in 3 days against Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin to claim the trophy. The offense was humming in the final 2 games, too, with the Illini averaging 95.5 points per game (PPG), led by Terrence Shannon Jr., who was good for 34 PPG, 3 RPG and 2 APG in the tourney.

On the flip side, the Eagles of Morehead State had a nice season, winning 23 games. But Kenneth Faried isn’t coming through that door. Morehead State has a solid defense, and early on, it will give Illinois a scare. But this team is going to be undersized, and undermanned, against the likes of Shannon, Coleman Hawkins and company. This Illini team will pull away in the 2nd half. Illinois seriously has the tools to make the Final Four, and challenge for a national title.

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Leg 3: GONZAGA -6.5 (-110) vs. McNeese – 7:25 p.m.

There are a lot of people talking up the Cowboys from the Southland Conference, mainly because of their flashy 30-3 record. However, McNeese hasn’t faced a team like Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs were totally struggling in late January, and there were concerns the West Coast Conference would be a 1-bid league and Gonzaga wouldn’t be that team. But the Bulldogs pulled it together, going 9-1 straight up and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 outings, including straight-up wins over Kentucky and Saint Mary’s on the road, 2 NCAA Tournament teams.

Gonzaga averaged 85.6 PPG to rank inside the top 10 in the nation in scoring while ranking 2nd in the country with a gaudy 51.9% field-goal percentage. Defensively, the Zags give you fits, too, as teams hit just 40.2% from the field against them.

McNeese won its only Quad 1 game against VCU in the opener Nov. 6, but it was 2-2 in Q2 games, with losses against the likes of non-tournament teams Louisiana Tech and Western Carolina, and it had a Q4 loss at Southeast Louisiana. It’s amazing that you only need to lay a few buckets with Gonzaga. Take advantage.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $58.14 (payout = $68.14).

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March Madness Thursday’s best first-round upsets picks and predictions

Beat the Sportsbook: Here’s Thursday’s 3 best underdog bets for the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

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If you’re old enough to remember, you know where you were when Bryce Drew’s shot led 13th-seeded Valparaiso over 4-seed Ole Miss. Every few years, we have big-time moments like that where Cinderella finds perfectly fitting slippers.

As recently as last season, 16-seed Farleigh Dickinson busted many brackets with a win over top-seeded Purdue. It was just the 2nd time in NCAA Tournament history that a 16-seed won a game.

These upset picks are the crucial ingredient to winning parlays, and they make great profit points as standalone bets as well.

After looking at the BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here are the best 1st-round upsets for Thursday among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

NCAA Tournament best Thursday first-round upsets

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 3:04 p.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

OREGON (+100) vs. South Carolina – 4 p.m.

The Ducks won the final installment of the Pac-12 Tournament with a 75-68 W over Colorado. They’ve won 4 straight and have a tournament-tested coach with Dana Altman. In his 14 years in Eugene, he has guided the Ducks to the tournament 8 times. He took them to the Final Four in 2017, when they took North Carolina to the brink in a 77-76 loss. The major cog the Ducks have going for them is C N’Faly Dante. He’s averaging 17.7 points, 9.2 boards, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks over his last 10 games. The Gamecocks are undersized, and their top rebounder is averaging a whopping 4.8 boards per game. Dante is going to eat them up.

Potential payout: Bet $100 to profit $100 (payout = $200).

SAMFORD (+260) vs. Kansas – 10:55 p.m.

This line opened at +280 and has come down, in large part, because KU is without its leading scorer. G Kevin McCullar (knee) will miss the entire tournament, and it’s not going to be easy to replace his 18.3 PPG. Samford had a pretty good chance before that news because they’re the 5th-ranked offense in the country at 86 PPG. They play at a blistering pace, 11th in the nation at 72.8, which could wear down KU’s 7-foot-2 center Hunter Dickinson. The Bulldogs were blown out by Purdue 98-45 early in the season in their only game against a ranked team. They went 29-4 the rest of the way.

Potential payout: Bet $100 to profit $260 (payout = $360).

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NC STATE (+180) vs. Texas Tech – 10:55 p.m.

The 11-seeded Wolfpack take on the 6-seeded Red Raiders in Pittsburgh. The Pack stunned the UNC Tar Heels 84-76 to take the ACC crown. They won 5 games in 5 consecutive days, and they have the size underneath to strike an advantage on anyone. F D.J. Burns Jr., 6-foot-9 and 275 pounds, averaged 16 PPG over the last 7 games, and he was in double figures in 6 of them. F Mohamed Diarra averaged 14 PPG, 14 RPG and 2.3 BPG over his last 4 games. They’re hot, battle-tested, and they could make a run.

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