Ricky Dimon
Nobody has ever filled out a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket and nobody ever will. After all, it wouldn’t be March Madness if it was predictable. Asking to go perfect on just a single day, however, is not out of the realm of possibility. That’s not to say that going 16-for-16 is easy; but it can be done.
The second half of first-round action in the Big Dance will be played on Friday. By the end of the night, the field of 64 will already be cut in half. Here is my millionaire parlay for Friday, and you can also find our March Madness basketball picks for every game.
This parlay would pay out at +44176 odds!
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Michigan State Spartans ML (-130) over USC Trojans
It’s March. That means a lot of things, and one of those things is Michigan State winning basketball games. I’m not picking against Tom Izzo in the first round.
Check out our full USC vs Michigan State predictions
Xavier Musketeers ML (-800) over Kennesaw State Owls
Does this have any value as a standalone bet? Absolutely not. That being said, Xavier should be able to get past 14th-seeded Kennesaw State and keep the millionaire parlay dream alive.
Check out our full Xavier vs Kennesaw State Owls predictions
Baylor Bears ML (-610) over UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Baylor won the National Championship 2 years ago. A much different version of the Bears probably won’t win it again, but loss to UCSB is unlikely to say the least.
Check out our full Baylor vs UC Santa Barbara predictions
VCU Rams ML (+160) over Saint Mary’s Gaels
This would be an upset, but it wouldn’t be a big one – especially not compared to what we witnessed on Sunday. VCU has been winning all season and this program always knows how to win in March.
Check out our full Saint Mary’s vs VCU predictions
Marquette Golden Eagles ML (-600) over Vermont Catamounts
One team I’m not putting on upset alert is Marquette. The Golden Eagles are hot right now and I expect them to keep it rolling for a while in the NCAA Tournament.
Check out our full Marquette vs Vermont predictions
Iowa State Cyclones ML (-175) over Pittsburgh Panthers
In most cases I will side with the Big 12 over the ACC any day of the week. This is no exception, as Pittsburgh messed around with Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament and then got destroyed by Duke.
Check out our full Iowa State vs Pittsburgh predictions
Creighton Bluejays ML (-215) over North Carolina State
I’m kind of on the fence with this one. As a standalone bet there is probably value on N.C. State well into plus money. However, NCSU is not quite a team on which I am willing to risk my entire millionaire parlay.
Check out our full Creighton vs North Carolina State predictions
UConn Huskies ML (-450) over Iona Gaels
A whole host of well-respected college basketball media members are all over UConn. I’m more skeptical of the Huskies’ longterm chances, but I doubt they will struggle with Iona.
Check out our full UConn vs Iona predictions
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Purdue Boilermakers ML (-8000) over Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
This won’t be a fair fight for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. FDU doesn’t have anyone on the entire roster taller than 6’7’’ and nobody who gets any minutes taller than 6’8’’. Good luck against Zach Edey!
Check out our full Purdue vs Fairleigh Dickinson predictions
Providence Friars ML (+150) over Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky may be a blueblood program, but this particular squad is not like many Kentucky teams of old. That Wildcats are ripe for an upset, and Providence is more than capable of delivering.
Check out our full Kentucky vs Providence predictions
Miami Hurricanes ML (-130) over Drake Bulldogs
The ‘Canes are 9-2 in their last 11 games and one of the 2 losses was to a red-hot Duke opponent in the ACC Tournament. I think Miami will have too much athleticism for Duke.
Check out our full Miami vs Drake predictions
Gonzaga Bulldogs ML (-1500) over Grand Canyon
The chasm between these teams is a as wide as…well…the Grand Canyon. That’s a terrible pun, which is appropriate because this game will in all likelihood be similarly laughable.
Check out our full Gonzaga vs Grand Canyon predictions
Memphis Tigers ML (-135) over Florida Atlantic Owls
The Tigers got an assist with Houston’s Marcus Sasser being unable to play in the American Athletic Conference Tournament final, but that can’t take away from the fact that they are playing great basketball these days.
Check out our full Memphis vs Florida Atlantic predictions
Kansas State Wildcats ML (-390) over Montana State Bobcats
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that 11-7 in the Big 12 is better than 15-3 in the Big Sky. The Bocats are a competent basketball team, but the Wildcats generally take care of business as favorites. They haven’t lost to a non-tournament team since February 14 (Oklahoma).
Check out our full Kansas State vs Montana State predictions
Indiana Hoosiers ML (-195) over Kent State Golden Flashes
Trayce Jackson-Davis will be the best player on the floor and I don’t see him letting Indiana lose – at least not in the opening round.
Check out our full Indiana vs Kent State predictions
TCU Horned Frogs (-240) over Arizona State Sun Devils
I would take Arizona State plus the points, but TCU will likely survive and advance. The Horned Frogs are battled tested coming out of the tough Big 12 and they are also more rested.
Check out our all of our NCAA Tournament predictions
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