Technically, the 2023 NCAA Tournament began Tuesday with the First Four, but the real mayhem of March gets going Thursday and Friday as first-round action takes place across the country. Between the two days, the field will shrunk in half from 64 to 32 teams as a (nearly) sun up to sun down schedule consumes the sport
It’s what makes March Madness, well, March Madness.
Getting some extra skin in the games may help put you in the tournament spirit, too. Below, our CBS Sports experts have provided their insight with picks straight up and against the spread for some of the top games on Thursday’s extended slate. Our expert brackets may offer some help on this front as well.
While surviving and advancing is clearly what matters for most, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads, and we’ve tracked the season since November to be able to offer our own thoughts on every game.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the rest of the month for NCAA Tournament coverage through the end of the Final Four. Let’s take a look at our expert picks as first round games get underway Thursday.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern
Featured NCAA Tournament picks
(7) Missouri vs. (10) Utah State
Thursday, 1:40 p.m. | TNT, March Madness Live: This line opened at Utah State -2 and has ticked down to -1 in the last day or so as Missouri gains steam among public bettors. I’m going to hold steady on the Utah State train here. Coach Ryan Odom led the Aggies to seven wins in its last eight games leading into the NCAA Tournament with the lone loss coming to a fifth-seeded San Diego State team that has the goods to make a deep run. Pick: Utah State -1
Spread
MIZZOU +1
UTAHST -1
MIZZOU +1
UTAHST -1
MIZZOU +1
MIZZOU +1
Straight up
MIZZOU
UTAHST…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2023-march-madness-predictions-ncaa-bracket-expert-picks-against-the-spread-odds-in-thursdays-round-1-games/
Author : Kyle Boone
Publish date : 2023-03-15 23:08:18
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