NCAA Tournament Picks Round 1 2017

2017 NCAA Tournament Odds Round 1

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament more popularly known as "March Madness" has arrived and has once again caught the sports world in a fever. Hardcore and casual fans everywhere rush to fill out their brackets hoping to win that coveted prize for making the most correct picks, a tougher test than it sounds with plenty of top-six seeds falling in bunches. That is why it is so popular. A casual fan with no knowledge of college ball could get just as many right as an analytical college basketball expert. This is the closest thing to a real life sports lottery but with this said, we take a look at four key matchups that have huge potential for upset or at least an exciting game.

No. 3 Florida State vs No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast (West Region)

This has the makings to become the best game in the tournament. Both teams are high-flyers and pack plenty of firepower. The key stat: 11 no. 2 or 3 seeds have fallen in the first round in the last ten years. No. 3 seeds have been upset 16.41% in tournament history. FSU could be that team this year. The Seminoles are wildly inconsistent looking like a title contender and a one-and-done team alternately. Leonard Hamilton is too good of a coach to let them collapse now but the FGCU Eagles are no strangers to Cinderella runs and if they catch the Seminoles sleeping, they could get the job done and at 6-1 betting odds they are worth that shot.

TAKE FLORIDA GULF COAST +610

No. 6 Creighton vs No. 11 Rhode Island (Midwest Region)

A close match-up and one that could lead to an upset. Historically, no. 11 seeds upset no. 6 seeds 36% of the time. The Creighton Bluejays would've been a bigger favourite here if point guard Maurice Watson didn't tear his ACL. Since then, the Bluejays haven't been the same and are matched against the red-hot Rams who have won eight in a row. The Bluejays also rely on the three-pointer a lot and surprise, the Rams happen to have some of the best three-point defense in the tournament. The only thing making the Rams a shaky pick here is that they're too trendy of an upset pick. But at worst this will be a close game and at best, the Rams pull it off.

TAKE RHODE ISLAND -110

No. 7 Minnesota vs No. 12 Middle Tennessee (South Region)

This is an upset in terms of seeding but not in terms of betting where Middle Tennessee is a slight favourite. Historically, no. 12 seeds upset no. 7 seeds 36% of the time with at least two no. 12s pulling it off in four of the last five tournaments. The Middlee Tennessee Blue Raiders are a defensive team that switches up their schemes and confuses opponents and they can play offense. The Minnesota Gophers have the Big Ten Coach of the Year in Richard Pitino but are shorthanded losing big man Akeem Springs and overachieved for the season. The Raiders also have upset experience from last year beating the vaunted Michigan State Spartans and they could just pull off another one.

TAKE MIDDLE TENNESSEE -115

No. 4 Florida vs No. 13 East Tennessee State (East Region)

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers is coming into this a live underdog at +410 against powerhouse school Florida at -530. Despite the loss of big man John Egbunu, the Gators are still the superior team in almost all facets especially considering ETSU's inexperience in playing in the tournament and facing an elite team. They last won a tournament game way back in 1992. Florida is still likely to pull this one off but at those big odds the bet is ETSU. The Bucs are solid offensively and TJ Cromer is the best offensive player on the floor. Their turnover proneness will hurt them but they also boast a turnover-forcing defense and appear like a defensively-driven Cinderella team that could surprise most people.

TAKE EAST TENNESSEE STATE +410

Category : Online Betting News

Tag : march madness , NCAAB

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