NCAA March Madness Picks for Thursday’s First-Round Night Games

#10 Drake vs. #7 Washington State - East Region | Thursday, 10:05 p.m. ET | truTV

We really liked Washington State entering this tournament, but they just got hit with a nightmare draw here. Drake might be the best double-digit seed in the tournament this year, led by Tucker DeVries and his father, Darian DeVries, as the head coach. 

They have everything you want out of a team built for a tournament run with a leader in Tucker, some size with Darnell Brodie, sharpshooting from Atin Wright and Conor Enright, and excellent coaching in DeVries. Back the Bulldogs to cover as a surprising double-digit favorite here.

The Pick: Drake -1.5

#12 McNeese vs. #5 Gonzaga - Midwest Region | Thursday, 7:25 p.m. ET | TBS

We'll list it as the spread, but I will have McNeese outright in my bracket. The selection committee admitted that they had to over-seed Gonzaga here due to BYU's inability to play on Sundays, which forced them to be moved off the five-seed line. It brought the Bulldogs up, who now face arguably the most challenging 12-seed in the field. 

McNeese is led by Shahada Wells, an on-ball sharpshooting guard who runs the show. Christian Shumate is another name to watch here, as one of the best high-flyers and pure athletes in the field. 

The Cowboys play like a middle-of-the-pack SEC team. While smaller, they are physical, can shoot, and are as well-coached as any team in the country under Will Wade. Back this upset on Thursday night.

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The Pick: McNeese +5.5

#15 South Dakota State vs. #2 Iowa State - East Region | Thursday, 7:35 p.m. ET | truTV

Iowa State proved how impressive their defense can be in their Big 12 Championship triumph over Houston on Saturday. It's also an improved defense compared to a season ago. In most games where Iowa State would be in a rock fight with their opponents, they can now separate with enough offensive firepower and a well-balanced scoring attack. 

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The Jackrabbits really lean into their efficient shooting as their path to victory, and we imagine that the Cyclones will be able to take that away pretty easily as the bigger, better opponent.

The Pick: Iowa State -16.5

#15 Saint Peter's vs. #2 Tennessee - Midwest Region | Thursday, 9:20 p.m. ET | TNT

Saint Peter's did it once, but we don't expect this to be their year. The Peacocks are dreadful on the offensive end, ranking outside the top 300 nationally on KenPom. They thrive on games being a rock fight, but nobody outdoes a rock fight like Tennessee. 

The Vols fall in a similar bucket as Iowa State. It's a team that always has been defensively dominant but now looks stronger than most years on the offensive end. The addition of Northern Colorado transfer and First-Team All-American Dalton Knecht has been a massive boost for the offense, and there is enough here offensively for Tennessee to cover this hefty number. 

A team total under on Saint Peter's may also be worth a look.

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The Pick: Tennessee -21.5

#11 NC State vs. #6 Texas Tech - South Region | Thursday, 9:40 p.m. ET | CBS

North Carolina State is the biggest miracle in the field. The Wildcats are only here after Michael O'Connell hit a fadeaway bank-shot buzzer-beating three to send the ACC semifinals with Virginia into overtime. They would go on to upset North Carolina and steal a bid in this year's NCAA Tournament field. The Wildcats don't belong here, and we trust a Big 12-tested team like Texas Tech to handle a mediocre ACC squad on a neutral court with a legitimate coaching advantage. 

Lay it with the Red Raiders.

The Pick: Texas Tech -5.5

#13 Samford vs. #4 Kansas - Midwest Region | Thursday, 9:55 p.m. ET | TBS

Another upset brewing here! Kansas was already vulnerable before, but these injuries are starting to bog them down. While Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson may still play in this matchup, neither may be fully healthy for the first weekend. The Jayhawks also have next to no depth, clocking in at 318th nationally in bench minutes. 

They will be up against the 14th-fastest tempo in the nation in Samford while also battling the elevation of Salt Lake City. There just seems to be a myriad of little advantages that swing the pendulum in Samford's favor, so we'll take them to cover and ultimately pull off the upset.

The Pick: Samford +8.5

#10 Drake vs. #7 Washington State - East Region | Thursday, 10:05 p.m. ET | truTV

We really liked Washington State entering this tournament, but they just got hit with a nightmare draw here. Drake might be the best double-digit seed in the tournament this year, led by Tucker DeVries and his father, Darian DeVries, as the head coach. 

They have everything you want out of a team built for a tournament run with a leader in Tucker, some size with Darnell Brodie, sharpshooting from Atin Wright and Conor Enright, and excellent coaching in DeVries. Back the Bulldogs to cover as a surprising double-digit favorite here.

The Pick: Drake -1.5