NCAAB · 5 months ago

5 Picks, Predictions for Thursday’s NCAA Tournament | Best Bets

David Connelly

Host · Writer

UC San Diego ML (+120) vs. Michigan
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(12) UC San Diego (30-4) vs (5) Michigan (25-9)
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WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS

Arena: Ball Arena
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: CBS
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Spread: Michigan -2.5 | Total: 142.5
Moneyline: UM -140 | UCSD +120
SportsGrid Matchup Page
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It's perhaps the most public dog of the opening round, but we'll ride with the public anyway. The Tritons own the longest win streak in college basketball right now and are easily one of the most dangerous No. 12 seeds the tournament has ever seen. Add in that Michigan played in the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday and has to travel to altitude to play in Denver, making this a perfect storm for UC San Diego to pull off the upset late on Thursday night.
High Point +8 vs. Purdue
March Madness Previews: East | South | West | Midwest

(13) High Point (29-5) vs (4) Purdue (22-11)
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WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS
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Arena: Amica Mutual Pavilion
Location: Providence, RI
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: truTV
Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
Spread: Purdue -8 | Total: 154
Moneyline: PUR -360 | HP +280
SportsGrid Matchup Page
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We smell a potential for an upset in this spot. Purdue has been a mess for over a month, going 3-6 in their final nine games to close out the year. On the other hand, High Point enters on the nation's second-longest win streak and a top-25 offense in the country on KenPom. They can score with anybody in the country and would gladly take this contest into the 80s. We'll take the points as insurance, but consider the moneyline if you feel frisky.
Wisconsin -16.5 vs. Montana
NCAA Tournament Bracket Busters: Top 10 First-Round Most Likely Upsets

(14) Montana (25-9) vs (3) Wisconsin (26-9)
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WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS

Arena: Ball Arena
Location: Denver, CO
Date: Friday, March 21
Where to Watch: TNT
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Spread: Wisconsin -16.5 | Total: 153
Moneyline: WIS -2200 | MON +1100
SportsGrid Matchup Page
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A Big Sky team has not won in the NCAA Tournament since 2006. That obviously does not include point spread, but Big Sky teams have a clear stylistic concern when entering the field of 68 and facing high-major programs in the opening round. The Grizzlies don't have the size and talent to compete with the Badgers here, a team with a high floor that should handle business easily on Thursday.
Arkansas +5 vs. Kansas
March Madness 2025: Top 10 Cinderella Final Four Bracket Busters

(10) Arkansas (20-13) vs (7) Kansas (21-12)
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WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS

Arena: Amica Mutual Pavilion 
Location: Providence, RI
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: CBS
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Spread: Kansas 5 | Total: 145.5
Moneyline: KU -225 | ARK +185
SportsGrid Matchup Page
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This feels like a pair of teams trending in opposite directions regarding energy and effort. While Kansas is one of the most talented teams in the country, there are loads of times when the team lacks a lot of energy on the court and gets out-hustled. The Razorbacks have been feeding off that energy lately, slowly starting to piece things together with five wins in their previous seven and a group buying into head coach John Calipari's principles. Take Arkansas to stay within the number.
BYU -2.5 vs. VCU
March Madness 2025: 10 Bracket Busters Set for Cinderella Runs

(11) VCU (28-6) vs (6) BYU (24-9)
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WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS

Arena: Ball Arena
Location: Denver, CO
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: TNT
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Spread: BYU -2.5 (-105) | Total: 147.5
Moneyline: BYU -135 | VCU +115
SportsGrid Matchup Page
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Bart Torvik's T-Rank is a handy tool for finding who is hot entering March. BYU is undoubtedly one of those teams, ranking fourth in the nation since mid-February. They have reeled off nine wins in their previous ten games, and their lone loss came in the Big 12 Tournament to Houston. VCU has also been a metric darling lately, but their only win on the year against a team in the field came over Colorado State, a No. 12 seed. It will be tight in Denver, but back the Cougars to cover the number.
UC San Diego ML (+120) vs. Michigan
Unleash AI power on your March Madness picks. Try our Bracket Pick'em Tool now!

(12) UC San Diego (30-4) vs (5) Michigan (25-9)
```
WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS

Arena: Ball Arena
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: CBS
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Spread: Michigan -2.5 | Total: 142.5
Moneyline: UM -140 | UCSD +120
SportsGrid Matchup Page
```
It's perhaps the most public dog of the opening round, but we'll ride with the public anyway. The Tritons own the longest win streak in college basketball right now and are easily one of the most dangerous No. 12 seeds the tournament has ever seen. Add in that Michigan played in the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday and has to travel to altitude to play in Denver, making this a perfect storm for UC San Diego to pull off the upset late on Thursday night.
High Point +8 vs. Purdue
March Madness Previews: East | South | West | Midwest

(13) High Point (29-5) vs (4) Purdue (22-11)
```
WHERE TO WATCH & bet365 ODDS
```
```
Arena: Amica Mutual Pavilion
Location: Providence, RI
Date: Thursday, March 20
Where to Watch: truTV
Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
Spread: Purdue -8 | Total: 154
Moneyline: PUR -360 | HP +280
SportsGrid Matchup Page
```
We smell a potential for an upset in this spot. Purdue has been a mess for over a month, going 3-6 in their final nine games to close out the year. On the other hand, High Point enters on the nation's second-longest win streak and a top-25 offense in the country on KenPom. They can score with anybody in the country and would gladly take this contest into the 80s. We'll take the points as insurance, but consider the moneyline if you feel frisky.