The NCAA Tournament field will be reduced to 48 teams by the time first-round action begins on Friday. By the time the sun goes down and we head into the weekend, there will be 32 teams left — and they might not be the ones you expect, given how March Madness lived up to its name on Thursday.
The only problem you might have is consuming all the action that’s on the way this week. But if the only struggle you have with March Madness is finding second, third, and fourth screens to watch the action, then you’re probably doing just fine, huh?
Of course, getting extra skin in the games can help get you into the tournament spirit (if you’re not already there). Below, our CBS Sports experts have provided their insights with live picks and against the spread for some of the top games in Friday’s extended bracket. Us expert parenthesis can offer some help on that front as well.
While survival and progression are clearly what matters to most, we’re interested in whether these teams will cover their spreads and have been watching the season since November so we can offer our own thoughts on each game.
Be sure to stay with CBS Sports throughout the rest of the month for coverage of the NCAA Tournament all the way to the Final Four. Let’s take a look at our experts’ picks for the final day of the first round on Friday.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All weather Eastern
Selected NCAA Tournament selections
(3) Baylor vs. (14) UCSB
Friday, 13:30 | TNT, March Madness Live: UCSB, which won 27 games this season, was probably a trendy 14-over-3 pick for people on their team, which was … wrong. This Baylor team has struggled to be consistent at various points this season, but it can score on teams led by the second-most efficient offense in the sport and a team-leading 40 3-point shooting percentage. Bears roll big. Pick: Baylor -11.5
|
Spreading |
UCSB +11.5 |
BU -11.5 |
UCSB +11.5 |
GULF -11.5 |
UCSB +11.5 |
GULF -11.5 |
|
Straight up |
ORMOS |
ORMOS |
ORMOS |
ORMOS |
ORMOS |
ORMOS |
(5) Saint Mary’s vs. (12) VCU
Friday, 2 p.m. | TBS, March Madness Live: Everyone loves a good 12-over-5 pick — and so do I — but I’m not going to come out on top in this particular matchup. Saint Mary’s has been a borderline top-10 team in all KenPom and BartTorvik metrics all season. I’m leaning towards putting the points with the Gaels here. The real game is probably the under; it’s one of the few first-round matchups between two teams with top-20 defenses in adjusted efficiency ratings. Pick: Saint Mary’s -34
|
Spreading |
VCU +4 |
VCU +4 |
VCU +4 |
SMC-4 |
SMC-4 |
VCU +4 |
|
Straight up |
VCU |
VCU |
VCU |
SMC |
SMC |
VCU |
(4) UConn vs. (13) Iona
Friday, 16:30 | TBS, March Madness Live: Think UConn wins this one and advances, but I also think Iona, led by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, will give the Huskies a run for their money and keep them in single digits. This Gaels team is well-coached, works hard on defense and has the size to mitigate — maybe not eliminate, but moderate — the advantages UConn has with its athleticism and length. Option: Iona +9
|
Spreading |
IONA +9 |
UCONN -9 |
IONA +9 |
IONA +9 |
UCONN -9 |
IONA +9 |
|
Straight up |
UCONN |
UCONN |
UCONN |
UCONN |
UCONN |
UCONN |
(3) Gonzaga vs. (14) Grand Canyon
Friday, 7:35 p.m. | truTV, March Madness Live: Gonzaga has a top-10 scoring margin on the season and enters the NCAA Tournament leading the nation in that category over its last three games. Grand Canyon is a better opponent than your WCC foe, but the Zags have too much length and athleticism not to win easily. Pick: Gonzaga -15.5
|
Spreading |
ZAGS -15.5 |
ZAGS -15.5 |
ZAGS -15.5 |
ZAGS -15.5 |
ZAGS -15.5 |
ZAGS -15.5 |
|
Straight up |
ZAGS |
ZAGS |
ZAGS |
ZAGS |
ZAGS |
ZAGS |
(8) Memphis vs. (9) Florida Atlantic
Friday, 21:20 | TNT, March Madness Live: FAU has 31 wins going into the NCAA season after dominating Conference USA with a nice mix of offensive and defensive balance. The sticking point here in the FAU sweep is the fading of Memphis guard Kendrick Davis — a scorer and creator who might be the best at his position — but I bet coach Dusty Maye has at least one game plan to make things are difficult for him. I like the owls to win this one so I’ll take the 2.5 points. Option: FAU +2
|
Spreading |
MEM -2 |
FAU +2 |
FAU +2 |
FAU +2 |
MEM -2 |
MEM -2 |
|
Straight up |
MEM |
FAU |
FAU |
FAU |
MEM |
MEM |
(4) Indiana vs. (13) Kent State
Friday, 21:55 | TBS, March Madness Live: What we’ve seen from Indiana over the past month is equal parts encouraging and scary when projecting their prospects ahead of the tournament. You can’t tell what you get from this team. But At this point, with many people believing Kent State can pull it off, coach Mike Woodson will have IU ready. Big game from running back Trace Jackson-Davis, big second half from Jalen Hood-Sfifino — and an IU win (more than the number). Pick: Indiana -4
|
Spreading |
IU -4 |
KSU +4 |
IU -4 |
IU -4 |
KSU +4 |
KSU +4 |
|
Straight up |
IU |
KSU |
IU |
IU |
IU |
KSU |