After a jam-packed day of March Madness action on Thursday, it’s almost time for the second day of the Round of 64. And what better way to celebrate a massive 16-game college hoops slate on Friday than with a March Madness parlay? That’s right; I have crafted an NCAA Tournament parlay for today’s games that pays out at nearly 9/1 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s dive in, but make sure you also check out our March Madness picks for EVERY game throughout the NCAA Tournament.
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Cal Baptist vs Kansas Under 138.5 (-110)
Northern Iowa ML (+400)
March Madness parlay odds: +855
March Madness parlay pick: Cal Baptist vs Kansas Under 138.5 (-110)
There are multiple avenues for this matchup to stay under the total, which gives me confidence in targeting the under at the current number. It starts with Kansas, as the Jayhawks boast a top 10 defense and are especially elite inside the paint thanks to the presence of big man Flory Bidunga, who is one of the best defenders in the nation. The Jayhawks lone weakness on defense is on the boards, but they’ve still been able to win plenty of games in a loaded Big 12 conference because of their defensive intensity and discipline. Kansas is not only a very effective defense at the rim, but Bill Self’s team has been able to defend the basket at a high level without fouling, as the Jayhawks are 29th in free-throw rate allowed on the season.
On the other side, Cal Baptist is barely inside the top 200 in adjusted offensive efficiency (KenPom), and while Dominique Daniels Jr. is electric off the bounce, the Lancers top scoring threat could be in some real trouble in this one against a Kansas defense that has plenty of length and athleticism to slow down the high-scoring combo guard. Furthermore, the Lancers don’t attempt many threes or get to the free-throw line, which bodes well for a lower-scoring game. Cal Baptist’s real strength happens to be on defense (ranked 37th in adjusted efficiency) and Kansas has struggled mightily away from home on offense. Don’t expect the Jayhawks to put up a ton of points in a game that is likely going to be played in the mud. Let’s take a shot on the under.
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March Madness parlay pick: Northern Iowa Panthers ML over St. Johns’s Red Storm (+400)
This is a pretty big swing on paper, but this is actually a good matchup for Northern Iowa and one that lends itself well to a potential upset. This year’s version of the Panthers is a veteran bunch that is led by its defense, which is ranked 24th nationally in adjusted efficiency per KenPom. Ben Jacobson’s team has not only won 10 of its last 13 games, but because the Panthers play extremely slow (ranked 364th in adjusted tempo) and consistently look to grind out quality shots late in the clock, they profile as an effective underdog that should be able to shorten the game and put extra stress on each possession. With that in mind, this could be another instance of a team from the Missouri Valley Conference pulling off an early round upset in March.
St. John’s has gotten plenty of positive media coverage following its Big East tournament title, and for good reason. However, Rick Pitino’s team really struggles to score (ranked 191st in effective field goal percentage and 214th in 3-point percentage), and that could certainly prove to be costly on Friday. Furthermore, the Panthers defense is a fundamentally sound unit that won’t commit fouls to bail St. John’s out of stagnant possessions. If the Red Storm are not able to get out in transition and generate good looks early in the shot clock, it could be a long day for this extremely inconsistent offense. All things considered, this has all the makings of a defensive struggle, making a +400 ticket on an outright upset to be a pretty appealing wager.
Find out our 5-star Northern Iowa vs St. John’s best bet
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