Ricky Dimon
Regardless of your bracket’s state following the first day of March Madness, there is another opportunity to hit the betting market on Friday. 16 more games will take center stage throughout the country and first-round action in the NCAA Tournament continues. To celebrate the ongoing festivities, let’s go for a 16-leg parlay covering every single matchup!
You can also find out our college basketball expert’s March Madness best bets for today, along with which dogs could be barking in our March Madness upset picks and underdog predictions.
Mississippi State Bulldogs over Baylor Bears (-125)
Both teams struggled down the stretch of the regular season, but I’m not too concerned about backing a team that struggled against SEC competition.
Read our full Baylor vs Mississippi State prediction
Alabama Crimson Tide over Robert Morris Colonials (-5000)
The Crimson Tide are almost certainly not going to lose to Robert Morris…and they might not lose to anyone else all tournament long.
Read our full Robert Morris vs Alabama prediction
Iowa State Cyclones over Lipscomb Bisons (-1350)
Keshon Gilbert is out for the entirety of March Madness, so the Cyclones could lose early. But it probably won’t be at the hands of Lipscomb.
Read our full Lipscomb vs Iowa State prediction
Memphis Tigers over Colorado State Rams (+105)
The Tigers have won 8 games in a row and they are 16-1 in their last 17 overall. I don’t care if the competition level is soft… because it’s still pretty soft on Friday.
Read our full Colorado State v Memphis prediction
Duke Blue Devils over Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers (-50000)
Duke could go up against Mount Saint Mary’s without Cooper Flagg and would still likely win 100 times out of 100.
Read our full Mount Saint Mary’s vs Duke prediction
Saint Mary’s Gaels over Vanderbilt Commodores (-184)
Saint Mary’s swept Gonzaga during the regular season but couldn’t get past the Zags in the WCC Tournament final. Motivation will be high to get back on track against an SEC foe.
Read our full Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s prediction
North Carolina Tar Heels over Ole Miss Rebels (-120)
Say what you will about the Tar Heels not deserving to be in the tournament; they looked like a tournament team in a big way in the First Four.
Read our full North Carolina vs Ole Miss prediction
Maryland Terrapins over Grand Canyon Antelopes (-600)
The “Crab Five” is a great nickname. They may not go all the way to the final like the Fab Five, but they should at least get out of the first round.
Read our full Grand Canyon vs Maryland prediction
Florida Gators over Norfolk State Spartans (-9000)
Following a run to the title of the best conference in college basketball, Florida is considered by many to be the best team in the nation. That’s bad news for Norfolk State.
Read our full Norfolk State vs Florida prediction
Kentucky Wildcats over Troy Trojans (-670)
I have Kentucky getting upset early…just not by Troy. The Trojans faced Arkansas earlier this season and scored a mere 49 points.
Read our full Troy vs Kentucky prediction
New Mexico Lobos over Marquette Golden Eagles (+150)
Matchups between #7 and #10 seeds are generally fun, and this one should be no exception. I’ll take the money line value on Mexico well into plus-odds territory.
Read our full New Mexico vs Marquette prediction
Arizona Wildcats over Akron Zips (-1200)
Arizona played well enough in the Big 12 Tournament, reaching the final before falling to Houston. I want to see a Caleb Love vs Duke matchup in the Sweet 16.
Read our full Akron vs Arizona prediction
Oklahoma Sooners over UConn Huskies (+190)
The Huskies of 2023 and 2024 ain’t walkin’ through that door. And they might not even walk into the second round.
Read our full Oklahoma vs UConn prediction
Xavier Musketeers over Illinois Fighting Illini (+136)
Xavier has momentum after mounting a second-half comeback to defeat Texas in the First Four. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Musketeers made the Sweet 16.
Read our full Xavier vs Illinois prediction
Michigan State Spartans over Bryant Bulldogs (-2400)
Bet against Michigan State in the month of March at your own peril. I have the Spartans in the Final Four.
Read our full Bryant vs Michigan State prediction
Oregon Ducks over Liberty Flames (-300)
If this was football, Oregon would probably choke in the postseason. But this is basketball, so the Ducks should be able to beat an inferior opponent.
Read our full Liberty vs Oregon prediction
