Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
March Madness is here! The 2024 NCAA Tournament tipped off on Thursday afternoon and the first round will continue on Friday. Half of the 64 teams in the field will be eliminated by the end of the night.
Which favorites will be heading for the exits? Which underdogs will lay the foundation for a Cinderella run? For now, let’s try to answer those questions by going for the jackpot with a 16-team parlay. And why not? Thursday and Friday are arguably the 2 best sporting days of the entire year. Here is our second millionaire parlay of the Big Dance, this one for Friday’s opening-round action.
Make sure you check out our college basketball predictions for EVERY NCAA Tournament matchup!
Florida Atlantic Owls over Northwestern Wildcats (-148)
FAU made it all the way to the Final Four in 2023. The Owls aren’t going out in the first round one year later.
Baylor Bears over Colgate Raiders (-1100)
This isn’t the Baylor team that won it all a few years ago, but it’s good enough to take care of Colgate.
Read our full Colgate Raiders vs Baylor Bears predictions
San Diego State Aztecs over UAB Blazers (-278)
You may have slept on SDSU last March when it went all the way to the title game. You won’t sleep on the Aztecs again.
Marquette Golden Eagles over Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-1350)
I am by no means on the Marquette bandwagon, but at the same time I’m not picking a #15 to beat a #2.
Read our full Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Marquette Golden Eagles predictions
UConn Huskies over Stetson Hatters (-8000)
This would be the biggest upset in tournament history; bigger than UMBC over Virginia and Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue.
Read our full Stetson Hatters vs UConn Huskies predictions
New Mexico Lobos over Clemson Tigers (-142)
The 11th-seeded Lobos are favored against the sixth-seeded Tigers. Despite that, the value is still on New Mexico.
Read our full New Mexico Lobos vs Clemson Tigers predictions
Auburn Tigers over Yale Bulldogs (-800)
Auburn has a ton of momentum after rolling to the SEC Tournament championship. We all want UConn vs Auburn in the Sweet 16.
Read our full Yale Bulldogs vs Auburn Tigers predictions
Nebraska Cornhuskers over Texas A&M Aggies (-112)
This could be the best game of the day between the former Big 12 rivals who have since joined different conferences.
Read our full Texas A&M Aggies vs Nebraska Cornhuskers predictions
Duke Blue Devils over Vermont Catamounts (-800)
I feel like 3 of the 4 teams in the Duke, Vermont, Wisconsin, James Madison pod could advance to the Sweet 16. Vermont is the one that can’t.
Read our full Vermont Catamounts vs Duke Blue Devils predictions
Alabama Crimson Tide over Charleston Cougars (-485)
Charleston has been a pesky mid-major program in the past, but Alabama is too athletic.
Read our full College of Charleston Cougars vs Alabama Crimson Tide predictions
Houston Cougars over Longwood Lancers (-5000)
Longwood simply isn’t going to last long in the NCAA Tournament.
Read our full Longwood Lancers vs Houston Cougars predictions
James Madison Dukes over Wisconsin Badgers (+185)
James Madison isn’t just a football school. Its basketball team is loaded, and the Dukes are a trendy first-round upset pick.
Read our full James Madison Dukes vs Wisconsin Badgers predictions
Utah State Aggies over TCU Horned Frogs (+154)
Pretty much any time you can get any team in an 8-9 game at +145 odds, it’s an opportunity that should be taken.
Read our full TCU Horned Frogs vs Utah State Aggies predictions
Grand Canyon Antelopes over Saint Mary’s Gaels (+190)
The ol’ 5-12 matchups always seem to deliver something special. Saint Mary’s vs Grand Canyon is unlikely to be an exception.
Read our full Grand Canyon Antelopes vs Saint Mary’s Gaels predictions
Purdue Boilermakers over Grambling State Tigers (-20000)
Anyone who watched Grambling in the play-in game is going to like this team and probably take it against the spread. On the money line, however? Nope!
Read our full Grambling State Tigers vs Purdue Boilermakers predictions
Florida Gators over Colorado Buffaloes (-125)
I would rather see this matchup in football, to be honest. Colorado probably would, too!
Read our full Colorado Buffaloes vs Florida Gators predictions
A 16-team parlay pays out +51463 odds!
