Photo By – Reuters Connect. UCLA guard Donovan Dent (2) tries to drive to the basket.
Welcome to your March Madness hub for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.
Our college basketball experts will guide you through the March Madness bracket with March Madness expert picks, matchup breakdowns, and betting analysis for every game, right through to the National Championship.
Bookmark this page and come back for our latest college basketball picks.
March Madness picks for 3/20 & 3/21
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March Madness best bets and SGPs
Friday, March 20
15 Furman vs 2 UConn
East Region, 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS
Best bet
The UConn Huskies may seem like a tall task for Cooper Bowser, especially with shot swatter Tarris Reed patrolling the paint.
However, the Furman Paladins’ half-court offense starts with Bowser at the top of the circle, setting on-ball screens and moving a lot without the basketball.
Bowser’s recent output was tempered due to lineup changes, with the Paladins going smaller in the conference tournament. He scored 14 points in 24 minutes in each of the first two games before striking for 21 in 30 minutes in the final.
He’s tallied 12 + points in 14 of his last 17 games and is projected for 13 points on Friday.
Read Jason Logan’s full Furman vs. UConn predictions for Friday, March 20.
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10 Missouri vs 7 Miami
West Region, 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV
Best bet
The Miami Hurricanes are 324th in the country in opponent 3PT% (37.4%) since January 1. The Missouri Tigers offense will need to take advantage of that weakness which means getting the ball to Trent Pierce.
The 6-foot-10 wing is a matchup nightmare who can stretch the floor. His quick release and catch-and-shoot ability makes him especially dangerous with Miami struggling against movement shooters.
Pierce is coming off a game against Kentucky where he went 1-for-4 from deep. However, he cleared 1.5 treys in his previous six contests, knocking down 2.5 threes per game at a 42.9% clip.
Read Rohit Ponnaiya’s full Missouri vs. Miami predictions for Friday, March 20.
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Saturday, March 21
9 Saint Louis vs 1 Michigan
Midwest Region, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
Best bet
Michigan’s defense is a concern without LJ Cason, and it shows up more in high-tempo games, as seen in allowing 80 points to Howard. This matchup could be even faster, amplifying those defensive challenges.
Michigan’s offense is elite across actions, ranking near the top in big cut + rolls, pick + pops, and general inside-out actions. That’s not ideal for Saint Louis, which is smaller and poor defensively at the rim.
Likewise, St. Louis should enjoy some of its own offensive advantages, particularly in transition. Michigan has been well below the national average, allowing 1.02 PPP.
Read Chris Hatfield’s full Saint Louis vs. Michigan predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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6 Louisville vs 3 Michigan State
East Region, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS
Best bet
The Cardinals are already without top threat Mikel Brown Jr., and backcourt mate Ryan Conwell took some hard screens in that win over USF. A tenderized Louisville Cardinals now meets one of the most physical teams — on both ends of the floor — in the MSU Spartans.
The Spartans can bully UL, especially down low. The Cardinals gave up 44 points in the paint to the Bulls and rolled out the red carpet to the rim in the home stretch of ACC play.
Michigan State has capable bodies to battle in the paint, a deeper bench, and fresher legs. Getting MSU shorter than two bucks seems like a steal.
Read Jason Logan’s full Louisville vs. Michigan State predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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9 TCU vs 1 Duke
East Region, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS
Best bet
The TCU Horned Frogs’ first half versus Ohio State was a weird one.
Texas Christian isn’t a great 3-point team, but its 39 first-half points were fueled by 7-of-13 shooting from deep. That eventually dried up, as TCU made just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half and scored only 27 points.
The Frogs’ offense is normally driven by fastbreak buckets, points off turnovers, and offensive rebounds. Those are areas in which the Duke Blue Devils deny opponents.
Duke cleans the glass, takes care of the basketball, and its efficient offense forces opponents to start possessions from in-bounds, pushing them into the halfcourt.
Read Jason Logan’s full TCU vs. Duke predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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11 Texas vs 3 Gonzaga
West Region, 7:10 p.m. ET, truTV
Best bet
The Longhorns’ biggest weakness is their 3-point defense (35.4%) and tendency to foul (307th in opponent FT rate). However, Gonzaga attempts threes at one of the lowest rates in the country while ranking just 277th in FT rate.
On the other side of the floor, the Zags have impressive defensive stats, but that’s puffed up by weak competition in the West Coast Conference.
They struggled to defend more athletic teams earlier in the season, and Texas has a highly efficient offense. Gonzaga doesn’t have a wing capable of locking up Dailyn Swain or a rim protector to contain Matas Vokietaitis.
Read Rohit Ponnaiaya’s full Texas vs. Gonzaga predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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11 VCU vs 3 Illinois
South Region, 7:50 p.m. ET, CBS
Best Bet
No one has been playing on edge longer than the VCU Rams. On Jan. 11, they were 11-6 with losses to New Mexico and George Mason. The NCAA Tournament was a dream.
VCU has since gone 17-1 outright, not to mention winning the Atlantic-10 Tournament and going 3-1 ATS in the postseason. Of course, the Rams came back from 14 down late in the second half of the first round; they are relentless.
That refusal to doubt may sound abstract, but it’ll threaten any Illinois Fighting Illini lead. If the Illini ease up late, the Rams will storm through a back door.
Read Douglas Farmer’s full VCU vs Illinois predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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5 Vanderbilt vs 4 Nebraska
South Region, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT
Best bet
Congratulations to the Nebraska Cornhuskers for finally winning their first NCAA Tournament game. Here comes the natural letdown.
Nebraska ran through Troy in part thanks to a 26-10 advantage in points in the paint, which is to be expected against a mid-major opponent. The Vanderbilt Commodores will not yield such chances, as they boast one of the best interior defenses in the SEC.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has been knocked a bit because it failed to cover -12.5 against McNeese, despite winning by 10 in a rather slow game. If anything, the Commodores should receive a touch of praise, while the Cornhuskers are ripe to be disappointed.
Read Douglas Farmer’s full Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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12 High Point vs 4 Arkansas
West Region, 9:45 p.m. ET, truTV
Best bet
Despite playing an extremely weak schedule, High Point ranks 43rd in the country in adjusted tempo and just 175th in opponent 2-point percentage (51.6%).
The Panthers were torched by Wisconsin’s guards in the first round and were fortunate the Badgers lacked frontcourt scoring to expose High Point’s size issues.
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile can do exactly that. He’s coming off a 19-point performance despite shooting just 1-for-7 from deep, and he has scored 16+ points in five of his last six games.
Read Rohit Ponnaiya’s full High Point vs. Arkansas predictions for Saturday, March 21.
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March Madness betting 101
Single elimination changes everything. One cold shooting night or foul trouble can end a season, so aim for good prices and smart risk, not “can’t-miss” takes.
Start with the basics
Spread: In point spread betting, you’re wagering on how close the game stays. In the tournament, late-game fouling can turn a tight cover into a bad beat (or vice versa).
Moneyline: Moneyline betting is often the cleanest way to play a true March Madness upset, but you risk losing more frequently if you wager just on underdogs.
Total: Pace and shot quality matter in Over/Under betting, but so do tournament quirks like neutral rims, tight legs, and whistle changes.
Neutral-site mindset
Games aren’t played in familiar gyms, and crowds can be split. Travel, time zones, and quick turnarounds can matter, especially for teams that rely heavily on energy, depth, or shooting rhythm. When in doubt, lean on repeatable traits: defense, rebounding, and turnover control.
Why single elimination matters
Underdogs can be live because favorites feel pressure and have less room to “play through” a bad stretch. But favorites can also separate late when depth and free throws matter. Think in game scripts:
- Take the underdog + points if they can control tempo, defend without fouling, and protect the ball.
- Sprinkle a unit on the moneyline if they have a clear matchup advantage (e.g., elite 3-point volume vs weak perimeter D).
- Bet on the favorite if they can force turnovers, dominate the glass, or punish inside.
First half vs full game betting
Early nerves and unfamiliar sightlines can create slow starts. If you expect a tactical feel-out period, 1H Unders or 1H underdog spreads can be sharper than full game.
Overtime and endgame chaos
OT is usually included in spreads/totals, and late fouling can add 10–20 “free” points. Totals can swing wildly in the final minute, but don’t panic if you’re on the right side of pace and shot quality.
Still need help? Our Covers hoops analysts are here to provide you with March Madness expert picks from the First Four to the National Championship Game.
Popular March Madness betting markets
March Madness is a betting buffet – the key is picking the right market for your edge.
Futures: Futures are best when you’re early or disagree with the bracket. Conference tourney week and Selection Sunday can create mispriced numbers on title, Final Four odds, March Madness MVP odds, and region winner odds. Shop prices, and remember: a “good team” isn’t always a good futures bet if the path is brutal.
Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread and butter once the bracket starts. Neutral courts, quick turnarounds, and unfamiliar sightlines can impact shooting (and totals) especially early. If you have a strong pace or matchup read, consider team totals or 1st half bets to isolate the edge.
Props: March Madness props shine when roles are stable and matchups are clear: usage, minutes, foul risk, and opponent style (rim protection, pace, rebounding). Ladders and alt lines can be powerful, but keep stakes smaller.
Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.
And be sure to check out our expert NCAA bracket picks before the action begins!
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