The main draw of the NCAA tournament begins Thursday afternoon. To help you with your bracket picks and wagers, we’ve compiled one trend to consider for each of the 32 first-round games.
Odds are current as of Tuesday morning via DraftKings. Historical information is from OddsShark, and public betting figures are from Action Network. Lines for games affected by play-in round will be added Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
West Region
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State
Spread: Gonzaga, -23.5 Moneyline: Gonzaga -8000, Georgia State +2500 Total: 149
Promos: DraftKings is boosting Gonzaga’s moneyline odds to +100 for all users. Max bet $50.
Trend: The Bulldogs have failed to cover in five of their past seven games.
No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 Memphis
Spread: Memphis, -2.5 Moneyline: Memphis -145, Boise State +125 Total: 133.5
Trend: The over has hit in five of the Broncos’ past six games.
No. 5 Connecticut vs. No. 12 New Mexico State
Spread: Connecticut, -6.5 Moneyline: Connecticut -275, New Mexico State +220 Total: 131.5
Trend: The Huskies have failed to cover in 11 of their past 14 games, a skid that dates to Jan. 29.
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont
Spread: Arkansas, -5 Moneyline: Arkansas -220, Vermont +180 Total: 139.5
Trend: The Catamounts are drawing just 45% of the spread bets but 81% of the money wagered, a signal big bettors are backing them strongly.
No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Rutgers or Notre Dame
Lines: Not available until after play-in round
Trend: The Crimson Tide have covered in just two of their past eight games.
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 Montana State
Spread: Texas Tech, -15 Moneyline: Texas Tech -1600, Montana State +900 Total: 131.5
Trend: The Bobcats are drawing just 55% of the spread bets but 80% of the money wagered, signaling a strong preference for them among big bettors.
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Davidson
Spread: Michigan State, -1 Moneyline: Michigan State -110, Davidson -110 Total: 141
Trend: The Wildcats are another popular spread bet for big bettors, as they’re drawing 71% of the money wagered on just 47% of the spread bets.
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Cal State-Fullerton
Spread: Duke, -18.5 Moneyline: Duke -2500, Cal State-Fullerton +1200 Total: 145.5
Trend: Big bettors are fading the Blue Devils, who are receiving 85% of the spread bets but just 41% of the money wagered.
East Region
No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State
Spread: Baylor, -21.5 Moneyline: Baylor -3800, Norfolk State +1600 Total: 137.5
Trend: The Bears have failed to cover in five of their past seven games.
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette
Spread: North Carolina, -3 Moneyline: North Carolina -155, Marquette +135 Total: 151.5
Trend: The Tar Heels are an overwhelming public side, with 85% of the spread bets and 96% of the money wagered behind them, making this game a prime opportunity to bet with the house against them.
No. 5 St. Mary’s vs. No. 12 Indiana or Wyoming
Lines: Not available until after play-in round.
Trend: The under has cashed in four of the Gaels’ past seven games.
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron
Spread: UCLA, -13.5 Moneyline: UCLA -1500, Akron +850 Total: 127.5
Trend: This line has moved 1.5 points since open because of strong public support for Akron, which is drawing 71% of the bets and 96% of the money.
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech
Spread: Texas, -1 Moneyline: Texas -115, Virginia Tech -105 Total: 123.5
Trend: The Longhorns have failed to cover in each of their past six games.
No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Yale
Spread: Purdue, -16 Moneyline: Purdue -1750, Yale +950 Total: 143
Trend: The over is drawing just 35% of the total bets but 80% of the money wagered, a sign sharps expect a higher-scoring game.
No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco
Spread: Murray State, -1.5 Moneyline: Murray State -120, San Francisco +100 Total: 136
Trend: The Racers have failed to cover in four of their past five games.
No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 St. Peter’s
Spread: Kentucky, -18 Moneyline: Kentucky -3800, St. Peter’s +1600 Total: 131.5
Trends: The Wildcats have covered in just one of their past six games.
South Region
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Wright State or Bryant
Lines: Not available until after play-in round.
Trend: The over has cashed in each of the Wildcats’ past six games.
No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. 9 Texas Christian
Spread: Pick ‘em Moneyline: Both teams, -110 Total: 130.5
Trend: The Horned Frogs are popular with big betters, as the 54% of spread bets behind them account for 73% of the money wagered.
No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 Alabama-Birmingham
Spread: Houston, -8.5 Moneyline: Houston -400, Alabama-Birmingham +300 Total: 135
Trend: The under has cashed in six of Houston’s past seven games, and the Cougars are 6-1 against the spread in that span.
No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 13 Chattanooga
Spread: Illinois, -7.5 Moneyline: Illinois -320, Chattanooga +250 Total: 135.5
Trend: The Fighting Illini have dropped seven of their past nine games against the spread.
No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan
Spread: Michigan, -2 Moneyline: Michigan -145, Colorado State +125 Total: 139
Trend: The under has cashed in six of the Rams’ past seven games, and they’re 2-5 against the spread in that span.
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Longwood
Spread: Tennessee, -17.5 Moneyline: Tennessee -2500, Longwood +1200 Total: 132
Trend: The Volunteers are drawing 54% of the spread bets but 85% of the money wagered, a sign they’re popular with big bettors.
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Loyola-Chicago
Spread: Loyola-Chicago, -1 Moneyline: Loyola-Chicago -115, Ohio State -105 Total: 132.5
Trend: The under has cashed in five of the Ramblers’ past six games.
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 15 Delaware
Spread: Villanova, -15.5 Moneyline: Villanova -1750, Delaware +950 Total: 133.5
Trend: The big bets are strongly behind the Blue Hens, who are drawing 98% of the spread money wagered on just 69% of the tickets.
Midwest Region
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Lines: Not available until after play-in round
Trend: The under has cashed in four of the Jayhawks’ past six games.
No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton
Spread: San Diego State, -2.5 Moneyline: San Diego State -135, Creighton +115 Total: 120
Trend: The under has hit in five of Creighton’s past six games, and the Blue Jays are 4-2 against the spread in that span.
No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond
Spread: Iowa, -10.5 Moneyline: Iowa -575, Richmond +410 Total: 150
Trend: The under is drawing just 38% of the total bets but 84% of the money wagered, making it a popular bet with big bettors.
No. 4 Providence vs. No. 13 South Dakota State
Spread: Providence, -2 Moneyline: Providence -135, South Dakota State +115 Total: 149.5
Trend: The over has cashed in six of the Friars’ past eight games.
No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Iowa State
Spread: LSU -4 Moneyline: LSU -190, Iowa State +160 Total: 127.5
Trend: The over has cashed in four of the Cyclones’ past six games.
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Colgate
Spread: Wisconsin, -7.5 Moneyline: Wisconsin -310, Colgate +245 Total: 139
Trend: Colgate is drawing 66% of the spread bets and 95% of the money wagered, signaling popularity with sharps.
No. 7 USC vs. No. 10 Miami
Spread: USC, -1.5 Moneyline: USC -125, Miami +105 Total: 139
Trend: The over has cashed in six of the Hurricanes’ past seven games.
No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 15 Jacksonville State
Spread: Auburn, -15.5 Moneyline: Auburn -2000, Jacksonville State +1000 Total: 138.5
Trend: The Tigers have failed to cover in six of their past seven games.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: March 16, 2022, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: March 16, 2022, 11:24 a.m.