March Insanity has its a giant day Thursday because the 2024 NCAA Event kicks into excessive gear with first-round motion happening throughout the nation starting at 12:15 p.m. ET. Over a 48-hour span, the sphere will shrink from 64 groups to 32 with a sun-up to sun-down schedule that won’t simply eat the game however the world basically.
Little question your brackets have been stuffed out by now — otherwise you’re in all probability placing the ultimate touches on them — however there are different picks that may be made for the first-round video games. Getting some further pores and skin within the sport can actually put you within the event spirit.
As such, our CBS Sports activities specialists are right here to assist by offering perception into Thursday’s first-round video games with picks straight up and in opposition to the unfold. Our knowledgeable brackets could supply some assist, too, particularly in case you’re contemplating seed-line upsets.
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The NCAA Event is all about surviving and advancing, however for these plunking down on their coach or pulling as much as their desk to eat as a lot March Insanity content material as doable — particularly over the following 4 days — which groups cowl their spreads might be fairly vital as effectively. The CBS Sports activities school basketball specialists have been masking the game for years and positively all season since November, and they don’t seem to be shy with their picks for these video games.
Make sure you follow CBS Sports activities for the remainder of the month as NCAA Event protection continues via the top of the Closing 4. Let’s check out our knowledgeable picks as first spherical video games get underway Thursday.
Odds through SportsLine concensus | All instances Jap
2024 NCAA Event picks
(3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
Thursday, 1:30 p.m. | TNT, March Insanity Stay: The steadiness of Creighton is simply too tempting to fade even with a giant line right here. It’s certainly one of solely eight groups on this 12 months’s discipline getting into the event with a high 25 offense and protection in adjusted effectivity scores. The matchup — in opposition to an Akron workforce that may not be within the discipline if not for a Kent State slip-up within the convention title sport — units up properly. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Schierman and the size and measurement of this Bluejays roster ought to be sufficient to mow down the Zips in convincing vogue. Decide: Creighton -13 — Kyle Boone
Unfold |
CREI -12.5 |
CREI -12.5 |
CREI -12.5 |
CREI -12.5 |
CREI -12.5 |
CREI -12.5 |
Straight up |
CREI |
CREI |
CREI |
CREI |
CREI |
CREI |
(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon
Thursday, 4 p.m. | TNT, March Insanity Stay: Dana Altman doesn’t typically have a expertise benefit, however his Geese have routinely grow to be a tough out in event play. Oregon can experience the momentum of a Pac-12 Event title all the best way to a win within the first spherical. Meechie Johnson leads a South Carolina workforce that has higher wins on the entire than what Oregon can boast, however I do not see the Gamecocks having a solution inside for N’Faly Dante. South Carolina will seemingly need to shoot over Oregon’s protection to win due to the Geese’ measurement, and as a 33.5% three-point capturing workforce, I am not able to depend on that for a first-round prediction. Decide: Oregon +1.5 — Chip Patterson
Unfold |
SCAR -1.5 |
SCAR -1.5 |
SCAR -1.5 |
SCAR -1.5 |
ORE +1.5 |
ORE +1.5 |
Straight up |
SCAR |
SCAR |
SCAR |
SCAR |
ORE |
ORE |
(7) Texas vs. (10) Colorado State
Thursday, 6:50 p.m. | TNT, March Insanity Stay: A workforce that performed within the First 4 makes a run just about each season. Colorado State could possibly be the varsity to do it this 12 months after obliterating Virginia on Tuesday to achieve the Spherical of 64. The Rams have an elite, veteran guard in Isaiah Stevens and are getting into with ample confidence to play a middling Texas workforce. The Longhorns are getting into off an eight-day layoff and have not received a sport in opposition to an NCAA Event workforce since Feb. 27. Decide: Colorado State +2.5 — David Cobb
Unfold |
COLST +2.5 |
TEX -2.5 |
COLST +2.5 |
COLST +2.5 |
COLST +2.5 |
|
Straight up |
COLST |
TEX |
COLST |
COLST |
COLST |
Get each decide, each play, each upset and fill out your bracket with our assist! Go to SportsLine now to see which groups will make and break your bracket, and see who will reduce down the nets, all from the mannequin that nailed a whopping 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.
Thursday, 7:25 p.m. | TBS, March Insanity Stay: McNeese is certainly one of solely 4 groups on this 12 months’s discipline to win 30 or extra video games. The Cowboys dominated the Southland and have received 25 of their final 26 video games getting into the NCAA Event. They draw an excellent matchup in opposition to a Gonzaga workforce that is not fairly on par with current Mark Few-coached quads. McNeese has the athleticism and offensive firepower to a minimum of hold this throughout the quantity. Decide: McNeese +6.5 — Kyle Boone
Unfold |
MCNEESE +6 |
MCNEESE +6 |
MCNEESE +6 |
MCNEESE +6 |
MCNEESE +6 |
MCNEESE +6 |
Straight up |
ZAGS |
MCNEESE |
MCNEESE |
MCNEESE |
MCNEESE |
MCNEESE |
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
Thursday, 9:55 p.m. | TBS, March Insanity Stay: With Kansas star wing Kevin McCullar Jr. out as a result of damage, a troublesome matchup for Kansas goes to be even harder. The Jayhawks are sorely missing depth and might be enjoying at altitude in opposition to a Samford workforce that ranks No. 3 nationally in bench utilization. The Bulldogs get 44.8% of their minutes from gamers exterior the beginning 5 and press on just about each possession. Samford could possibly put on the Jayhawks down within the second half. Decide: Samford +7 — David Cobb
Unfold |
SAM +7.5 |
SAM +7.5 |
KAN -7.5 |
KAN -7.5 |
SAM +7.5 |
SAM +7.5 |
Straight up |
KAN |
SAM |
KAN |
KAN |
SAM |
SAM |
(8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State
Thursday, 12:15 p.m. | CBS, March Insanity Stay: Chris Jans has completed a superb job getting Mississippi State into consecutive NCAA Tournaments, however there is a notable teaching edge with Tom Izzo given the sort of sport we’re anticipating within the early tip of the afternoon session in Charlotte. Each groups are rock strong defensively, and it’ll produce a little bit of a rock battle — one the place the Spartans are going to have extra choices when it comes to offensive playmakers for these tense event possessions within the ultimate minutes. Michigan State has that with Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard, so so long as they’ll hold Tolu Smith off the glass, Michigan State advances to the weekend. Decide: Michigan State -1 — Chip Patterson
Unfold |
MS ST +1 |
MS ST +1 |
MS ST +1 |
MI ST -1 |
MI ST -1 |
MI ST -1 |
Straight up |
MS ST |
MS ST |
MS ST |
MI ST |
MI ST |
MI ST |
Get each decide, each play, each upset and fill out your bracket with our assist! Visit SportsLine now to see which groups will make and break your bracket, and see who will reduce down the nets, all from the mannequin that beat over 92% of CBS Sports activities brackets gamers three of the final 5 years.
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