March Madness is the perfect setup for overachievers and basketball upsets. It’s the time of the year where teams actually believe they can go all the way. It’s about believing and advancing. It’s about lousy defenses and buzzer beaters. It’s March Madness.
So go ahead and spend some time trying to find what channel is TruTV. Once you get there, let’s have a look where the best upsets in the tournament’s first round will be. In the end, these teams are very close regarding performances. Every year it gets harder to find a loop in the bookmaker software to spot real underdogs. But here are five you want to take.
These are the 2017 March Madness First Round Upset Picks:
(12) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. (5) Minnesota Golden Gophers
- When: Thursday, March 16, 2017
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 2017 March Madness Odds: Minnesota -1
- Region: South
- TV: TNT
This is the classic 12 vs. 5 team upset in the March Madness bracket. The PPH Sportsbooks didn’t want to take any risks in this one and made Minnesota just one point favorites in the College Basketball betting odds.
The reality is Middle-Tennessee can score points if they get good looks and even if they don’t, they have a baller in Senior forward JaCorey Williams. He has shot the ball 439 times this season, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Williams averages 17.3 points per game and adds 7.3 rebounds. He also shoots 55{c44f53148ca15068631231900821c84f41217af0237910c947d4979ff2d91aa8} inside the arc.
The Blue Raiders enter this meeting with ten wins in a row. Of course, they faced questionable competition in the USA Conference, but still, they are on the run.
Minnesota has dropped two of their last three games, losing to real opposition like Wisconsin and Michigan. The Golden Gophers have a fine basketball team, but there isn’t a star that can carry them into the second round. All the eyes will be on Nate Mason, who averages 15.5 points per game. He needs to step up.
Keep in mind the Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games.
March Madness Picks: Middle Tennessee +1.
(10) VCU Rams vs. (7) Saint Mary’s Gaels
- When: Thursday, March 16, 2017
- Game Time: 6:20 PM ET
- Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 2017 March Madness Odds: Saint Mary’s -4.5
- Region: West
- TV: TruTV
Saint Mary’s gets awarded a favorite label because they are the only team good enough to give Gonzaga some fight in the WCC. The pay per head sites made them 4.5-point favorites in the first round of the 2017 March Madness.
Yet, VCU can go head-to-head against the Gaels if they close the top of the key. The Rams average 75.0 points per game, compared to the 72.0 points per game from the Gaels.
According to the NCAA betting trends, VCU has been a good side during the tournament play. The Rams are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog and 15-3 ATS in their last 18 NCAA Tournament games.
Saint Mary’s didn’t show much in the WCC tournament final against Gonzaga. They were held to 56 points in the game. If they don’t bring their A-Game, there could be an upright upset in the making.
March Madness Picks: VCU +4.5
(12) Nevada Wolfpack vs (5) Iowa State Cyclones
- When: Thursday, March 16, 2017
- Game Time: 8:57 PM ET
- Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 2017 March Madness Odds: Iowa State -6
- Region: Midwest
- TV: TruTV
On my bracket I have the Iowa State Cyclones getting to the Sweet 16 and beating Kansas. Then why are they in the March Madness upset picks in the first round? Nevada is just a bad matchup for Iowa State. There isn’t any other way to put it.
Nevada has found in transferred Marcus Marshall, a playmaker that could disrupt defenses and bookmaking predictions. Marshall is averaging 19.8 points per game while shooting 42.5{c44f53148ca15068631231900821c84f41217af0237910c947d4979ff2d91aa8} from the field.
Nevada’s coach Eric Musselman called Marshall: “He is the best shot maker in late games I’ve had, including NBA players that I’ve coached.’’
Well, Marshall gives the underdog Nevada a chance against a loaded team like Iowa State. The Cyclones should win the game in the end, but they will sweat. By any means, this is an easy task for the Iowa State.
The Wolf Pack is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win, 19-5-2 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning {c44f53148ca15068631231900821c84f41217af0237910c947d4979ff2d91aa8} above .600, 20-4-2 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
March Madness Picks: Nevada +6.
(9) Seton Hall Pirates vs (8) Arkansas Razorbacks
- When: Friday, March 17, 2017
- Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
- Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
- 2017 March Madness Odds: Arkansas -1
- Region: South
- TV: TNT
One you see the SEC competition against the Big East, one would think Arkansas has faced better teams this season. The thing is both teams have credentials to get into the second round and then start dreaming.
Seton Hall lost to Villanova in a defensive effort in the Big East tournament. They covered the spread against the pay per head sportsbooks by losing 55-53 against the Champs. The Pirates will be a pain in the head to any team that has to face them.
The Pirates are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning {c44f53148ca15068631231900821c84f41217af0237910c947d4979ff2d91aa8} above .600, 3-0-1 ATS in their last four neutral site games and 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games as an underdog.
Arkansas lost to Kentucky in the SEC tournament. That’s not news. The problem is they were hammered by 17 points. The Razorbacks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games, 1-7 ATS in their last 8 NCAA Tournament games and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games. Can you smell the upset?
March Madness Picks: Seton Hall +1.
(10) Marquette Golden Eagles vs (7) South Carolina Gamecocks
- When: Friday, March 17, 2017
- Game Time: 8:50 PM ET
- Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
- 2017 March Madness Odds: South Carolina -1.5
- Region: East
- TV: TBS
Marquette against South Carolina is one of the most fun games in the first round. Both have an entirely different approach on how to get wins. The Golden Eagles score 82.5 points per game, the 17th best number in College Basketball. And newsflash, they can’t defend.
The Gamecocks struggle scoring 72.1 points per game, but they play a defensive scheme that’s hard to beat.
The pay per head bookies made South Carolina the favorites, but the Gamecocks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games, 1-8 ATS in their last nine games as a favorite and 1-9 ATS in their last ten games overall.
On the contrary, the Golden Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss and 5-2 ATS in their last seven neutral site games as an underdog.
March Madness Picks: Marquette +1.5.