There are too many games to bet in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. As a result, I broke down my top picks, separately Thursday and Friday.
This is by far the most exciting time of year for sports fans. What could be better than a second consecutive day with 16 games on tap loaded with buzzer-beaters, upsets, and bad beats?
Without further ado, here are my top 5 picks ATS for Friday, March 18th:
No. 10 Loyola-Chicago (EVEN) over No. 7 Ohio State
No one forgets the Ramblers’ epic 2018 run as a No. 11 seed to the Final Four. Now, Loyola is prime to make another deep run, and it starts on Friday against Ohio State. The Ramblers possess a deep and experienced roster loaded with talent. They should be able to handle the Buckeyes, who have dropped 4 of their last 5 games. While OSU can be dangerous on the offensive front, so can Loyola, as both teams average 73.5 points per game. This should be a high-scoring affair, but in the end, take the team with more experience to escape with a win.
No. 7 USC (-1.5) over No. 10 Miami
USC may have struggled to end the season, but there is no denying their talent. Led by Isaiah Mobley, the Trojans are loaded with size in their roster as 4 of their 5 starters are 6’9 or taller. This is a favorable matchup for the Trojans as Miami ranks toward the bottom of rebounding in the nation. Look for USC to pound the boards and win on second-chance points over a mediocre Hurricanes squad. Take the favorite.
No. 11 Iowa State (+4) over No. 6 LSU
This year, Iowa State is perhaps one of the most underrated teams in the tournament. They have one of the best defensive units in the country, limiting their opponents to 63 points per game on average. LSU, meanwhile, boasts an exceptional defensive front as well but can struggle with turnovers on offense. The Cyclones should be able to capitalize on this and force the Tigers to make plenty of turnovers. LSU is also one of the nation’s youngest teams, and the lack of experience can prove costly on the main stage. Take the points with the Cyclones and look at the money line. This could be one of the big upsets of the day.
No. 4 Illinois (-7.5) over No. 13 Chattanooga
All you need to know about Illinois is Kofi Cockburn. A finalist for the Wooden Award, Cockburn has the talent to lead his team against any opponent as he averages 21 points and 10.6 rebounds on the year. The Fighting Illini are poised to make a deep run this season in the tournament and are one of the least talked about teams in the power conference. Chattanooga is a nice story, but they do not have the weapons to compete with an Illinois highly efficient team on offense and defense. Lay the points.
No. 5 Houston (-8.5) over No. 12 UAB
The Cougars enter the tournament one year removed from a Final Four appearance, and they have the talent to reach it again. Four of their starters are seniors, and they are perhaps the best defensive team in the country, holding opponents to 58.9 points a game. UAB garnered a 27-7 record in the C-USA conference but did not play any Top 25 squad or team that was close to it. In fact, the only team in the tournament they did play was San Francisco, and they lost that contest. Take Houston to cover.
