March Madness is officially here! The 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket has been announced, and the teams are lining up for the Big Dance. Let’s take a look at our picks and predictions for Tuesday’s First Four games.
2023 March Madness First Four Picks & Predictions
Texas A&M-CC vs. Southeast Missouri State 2023 NCAA Tournament Predictions
Our first game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament could be a true foul fest. Both Southeast Missouri State and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi rank inside the top 100 in free throw rate offensively and rank outside the top 300 in free throw rate defensively. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi can stroke it from deep, while SEMO allows teams to shoot 35.3% from deep. Conversely, A&M Corpus-Christi ranks 330th in 2-point defense.
I don't have a strong preference for the spread but would lean toward the Islanders at -4 or better. However, my favorite play is the over. Nerves could be a factor early, but both of these teams have clear paths to putting points up on the board.
Pick: Over 153.5 (-110)
Mississippi State vs. Pittsburgh 2023 NCAA Tournament Predictions
You know it's been a wonky year in college basketball when the team that finished 14-6 in the ACC is playing in a First Four matchup against a team that went 8-10 in the SEC. But that's exactly what we're getting when Pitt takes on Mississippi State for a chance to face Iowa State in the Round of 64. This game offers quite a clash of styles. Pitt wins its games with exceptional offense, ranking 51st in effective field goal percentage and 62nd in turnover percentage.
Mississippi State is the complete opposite. They pride themselves on stingy defense, ranking ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency, 20th in effective field goal defense and 23rd in turnover rate. The Bulldogs might actually be allergic to scoring, as they are 328th in effective field goal percentage. The one thing Mississippi State does well is create second chances, as they rank 15th in offensive rebounding. Pittsburgh is decent at cleaning up the defensive glass, ranking 169th in defensive rebounding.
Pitt can take care of the ball and is decent enough on the glass to take away Mississippi State's only offensive strength. Pitt is the better offensive team by a mile, and I think they can get enough stops against an inept Bulldogs offense.
Pick: Pitt +2 (-110)
More Round 1 Betting Picks & Predictions
South
- #8 Maryland vs. #9 West Virginia
- #5 San Diego St. vs. #12 Charleston
- #4 Virginia vs. #13 Furman
- #6 Creighton vs. #11 NC State
- #3 Baylor vs. #14 UC Santa Barbara
- #7 Missouri vs. #10 Utah State
- #2 Arizona vs. #15 Princeton
East
- #8 Memphis vs. #9 Florida Atlantic
- #5 Duke vs. #12 Oral Roberts
- #4 Tennessee vs. #13 Louisiana
- #6 Kentucky vs. #11 Providence
- #3 Kansas State vs. #14 Montana State
- #7 Michigan State vs. #10 USC
- #2 Marquette vs. #15 Vermont
West
- #1 Kansas vs. #16 Howard
- #8 Arkansas vs. #9 Illinois
- #5 Saint Mary’s vs. #12 VCU
- #4 UConn vs. #13 Iona
- #3 Gonzaga vs. #14 Grand Canyon
- #7 Northwestern vs. #10 Boise State
- #2 UCLA vs. #15 UNC Asheville
Midwest
- #1 Houston vs. #16 Northern Kentucky
- #8 Iowa vs. #9 Auburn
- #5 Miami vs. #12 Drake
- #4 Indiana vs. #13 Kent State
- #3 Xavier vs. #14 Kennesaw State
- #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Penn State
- #2 Texas vs. #15 Colgate
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