March Madness First Round Predictions & Picks Today – March 22

Written By PlayPicks Staff on March 21, 2024

The Friday NCAA Tournament schedule has plenty of exciting matchups on the docket. Among those games is the Stetson Hatters playing the UConn Huskies. Here’s a look at the best bets for all of day’s NCAA action.

Scroll down to find the best spread, total, and moneyline bets in college basketball based on our computer projections and make your bets with DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread Pick: Stetson (+27.5) vs. UConn

The spread for this matchup suggested by the model (21.9 points) is much tighter than the 27.5-point edge DraftKings gives to UConn, though the data still has them as the favorite. Put your money on Stetson to cover.

Read a full preview of this game here.

Stetson UConn
ATS Record 16-16-0 23-12-0
Favorite ATS Record 7-9-0 23-11-0
Underdog ATS Record 8-7-0 0-1-0
Home ATS Record 6-7-0 9-8-0
Away ATS Record 8-8-0 7-4-0
Conference ATS Record 9-10-0 15-8-0

Want to bet on Stetson to cover in this game? Sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook and make your bet!

Total Pick: Charleston (SC) vs. Alabama Under (173)

The DraftKings point total for this matchup is significantly higher (10.6 points) than the model projection. Put your money on the under.

Check out full preview of this game here.

Alabama Charleston (SC)
O-U-P 24-8-0 11-18-2
Home O-U-P 11-5-0 5-7-0
Away O-U-P 9-2-0 6-9-1
Conference O-U-P 14-5-0 5-13-0

Sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook to bet on this game’s over/under!

Moneyline Pick: Utah State (+154) vs. TCU (-185)

Score Prediction: Utah State 76, TCU 75

Want to learn more about this game? Read more here.

Utah State TCU
ML Fave. Record 24-1 12-6
ML Und. Record 1-5 3-6
Home ML Fave. Record 12-1 5-4
Home ML Und. Record 0-0 1-0
Away ML Fave. Record 7-0 4-0
Away ML Und. Record 1-4 2-5
Conf. ML Fave. Record 14-1 7-4
Conf. ML Und. Record 1-4 3-6

Who do you think will take home the victory? Sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook and make your pick!

Today’s First Round Schedule

Matchup Game Time TV Favorite Total
Northwestern (22-11) vs Florida Atlantic (25-9) 12:15 PM ET CBS Florida Atlantic (-4.5) 143
Colgate (25-10) vs No. 14 Baylor (24-10) 12:40 PM ET truT Baylor (-15) 137.5
UAB (23-12) vs No. 24 San Diego State (25-10) 1:45 PM ET TNT San Diego State (-6) 141
Western Kentucky (22-12) vs No. 8 Marquette (26-9) 2:00 PM ET TBS Marquette (-15) 157
New Mexico (26-10) vs Clemson (22-11) 3:10 PM ET truT New Mexico (-2) 153
Stetson (22-13) vs No. 1 UConn (32-3) 3:22 PM ET CBS UConn (-27.5) 146
Yale (22-9) vs No. 7 Auburn (27-7) 4:15 PM ET TNT Auburn (-14) 140
Colorado (25-10) vs Florida (24-11) 4:30 PM ET TBS Colorado (-1.5) 157
Texas A&M (20-14) vs Nebraska (23-10) 6:50 PM ET TNT Texas A&M (-1) 147.5
Vermont (28-6) vs No. 13 Duke (24-8) 7:10 PM ET CBS Duke (-12.5) 133
Grambling (21-14) vs No. 3 Purdue (29-4) 7:25 PM ET TBS Purdue (-27.5) 139
Charleston (SC) (27-7) vs No. 19 Alabama (21-11) 7:35 PM ET truT Alabama (-9) 173
Longwood (21-13) vs No. 2 Houston (30-4) 9:20 PM ET TNT Houston (-24) 129.5
James Madison (31-3) vs No. 23 Wisconsin (22-13) 9:40 PM ET CBS Wisconsin (-5.5) 144.5
TCU (21-12) vs No. 20 Utah State (27-6) 9:55 PM ET TBS TCU (-4) 149.5
Grand Canyon (29-4) vs No. 15 Saint Mary’s (CA) (26-7) 10:05 PM ET truT Saint Mary’s (CA) (-5.5) 131.5

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