Picks for 3/20/26
College Basketball
1:50 PM EST
Rotation # 756
Virginia -17.5 over Wright State (loss)
Both teams have done a heck of a job turning 15-win programs around from a year ago. Ryan Odom has been a great hire for Virginia, and Clint Sargent took his Raiders team from 8th to 1st in the Horizon. The Cavaliers are a more talented school and have played tougher competition this year. Virginia has always prided itself on defense and will make life tough for Wright State. The Raiders’ defense was subpar against lighter competition, so Virginia should use their size advantage in the paint and from beyond the three-point line. Thijs De Ridder should be a problem around the rim and a force on the boards, while the guards should all step up and make big shots. The Cavaliers are a superior program and should make that clear early and often. Take Virginia.
1:50 PM EST
Rotation # 756
Virginia -17.5 over Wright State (loss)
Both teams have done a heck of a job turning 15-win programs around from a year ago. Ryan Odom has been a great hire for Virginia, and Clint Sargent took his Raiders team from 8th to 1st in the Horizon. The Cavaliers are a more talented school and have played tougher competition this year. Virginia has always prided itself on defense and will make life tough for Wright State. The Raiders’ defense was subpar against lighter competition, so Virginia should use their size advantage in the paint and from beyond the three-point line. Thijs De Ridder should be a problem around the rim and a force on the boards, while the guards should all step up and make big shots. The Cavaliers are a superior program and should make that clear early and often. Take Virginia.
College Basketball
2:50 PM EST
Rotation # 764
Iowa State -24.5 over Tennessee State (win)
37-year-old head coach Nolan Smith had the veteran group of Tigers rolling this year in the Ohio Valley Conference, but they will have a tough time today playing at a fast tempo against a Cyclones team that forces turnovers. Tennessee State is a poor defensive team, and that was also playing out in a weak conference. Iowa State should have no issues scoring with its highly efficient offense. Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson are too big and too strong and should dominate on the glass and in the paint area. Tamin Lipsey is a veteran guard who will find his open teammates for easy buckets. Take Iowa State.
2:50 PM EST
Rotation # 764
Iowa State -24.5 over Tennessee State (win)
37-year-old head coach Nolan Smith had the veteran group of Tigers rolling this year in the Ohio Valley Conference, but they will have a tough time today playing at a fast tempo against a Cyclones team that forces turnovers. Tennessee State is a poor defensive team, and that was also playing out in a weak conference. Iowa State should have no issues scoring with its highly efficient offense. Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson are too big and too strong and should dominate on the glass and in the paint area. Tamin Lipsey is a veteran guard who will find his open teammates for easy buckets. Take Iowa State.
College Basketball
3:15 PM EST
Rotation # 744
Alabama -11.5 over Hofstra (win)
We’ve all seen the drama this week inside the Alabama program following Aden Holloway’s arrest. Hofstra was 11th in the Colonial Conference a year ago, 3rd this year, and then went on a hot streak, winning the CAA Tournament. The Tide is a weak defensive team, but they make up for it with their top-notch offense. Alabama will miss Holloway’s scoring and playmaking ability, but they are a guard-heavy team, and others will step up. Labaron Philon is the best player on the floor and should have a big offensive day. The Tide are trusted more to get higher-percentage shots, as Hofstra has the tournament’s remaining weakest 2-point percentage. If the long ball isn’t falling for Hofstra, they will be in for a long night, as Alabama can go on many quick runs to put the game out of reach. I believe the Tide will reach a point soon when Holloway’s absence will impact them, but they should get by today. Hofstra has been a covering machine this year, which is why the betting line is much lower than it should be. Take Alabama.
3:15 PM EST
Rotation # 744
Alabama -11.5 over Hofstra (win)
We’ve all seen the drama this week inside the Alabama program following Aden Holloway’s arrest. Hofstra was 11th in the Colonial Conference a year ago, 3rd this year, and then went on a hot streak, winning the CAA Tournament. The Tide is a weak defensive team, but they make up for it with their top-notch offense. Alabama will miss Holloway’s scoring and playmaking ability, but they are a guard-heavy team, and others will step up. Labaron Philon is the best player on the floor and should have a big offensive day. The Tide are trusted more to get higher-percentage shots, as Hofstra has the tournament’s remaining weakest 2-point percentage. If the long ball isn’t falling for Hofstra, they will be in for a long night, as Alabama can go on many quick runs to put the game out of reach. I believe the Tide will reach a point soon when Holloway’s absence will impact them, but they should get by today. Hofstra has been a covering machine this year, which is why the betting line is much lower than it should be. Take Alabama.
NCAA Underdog Opening Round Pick
4:10 PM EST
Rotation # 771
Utah State -1.5 over Villanova
Every year, we look at the tournament’s opening-day schedule and think the upsets won’t come this year, but they do. This wouldn’t technically be an upset as the Aggies are the small favorite, but they are the #9 seed. Most of the country is off to bed around tip-off time when Mountain West Games get going, but the Mountain West Conference is loaded with talent and is on par with the BIG East. MJ Collins and Mason Falslev are great shooters and will look to up the tempo to force the Wildcats to play a style they don’t like. The Aggies are outstanding on the fastbreak. Kevin Willard has done an excellent job in his first year as coach at Nova, coming over from Maryland. The Aggies have a deep bench and will look to capitalize on their high field-goal efficiency to push them over the finish line. Aggies coach Jerrod Calhoun has been outstanding the last few seasons and should have his team ready to compete. Take Utah State.
4:10 PM EST
Rotation # 771
Utah State -1.5 over Villanova
Every year, we look at the tournament’s opening-day schedule and think the upsets won’t come this year, but they do. This wouldn’t technically be an upset as the Aggies are the small favorite, but they are the #9 seed. Most of the country is off to bed around tip-off time when Mountain West Games get going, but the Mountain West Conference is loaded with talent and is on par with the BIG East. MJ Collins and Mason Falslev are great shooters and will look to up the tempo to force the Wildcats to play a style they don’t like. The Aggies are outstanding on the fastbreak. Kevin Willard has done an excellent job in his first year as coach at Nova, coming over from Maryland. The Aggies have a deep bench and will look to capitalize on their high field-goal efficiency to push them over the finish line. Aggies coach Jerrod Calhoun has been outstanding the last few seasons and should have his team ready to compete. Take Utah State.
College Basketball
9:25 PM EST
Rotation # 746
Florida -35.5 over Prairie View A&M
We saw both #1 seeds play around yesterday. Duke was a bounce or two away from getting upset. Florida and their staff watched those games, and the defending champs will not play around. When you have a spread this high, you are at the mercy of the coaching staff and would hope they don’t pull back on the gas pedal, but the Gators are leaps and bounds better than the Panthers. Prairie View is a team that won just four games in the SWAC a year ago and only 9 this year. The Panthers were 8th in the SWAC and made an incredible run in the conference tournament. Prairie View has 3-4 players who will play the entire game and must be exhausted by now. The Gators can play above the rim and will take high-percentage shots against a bad defensive team. Florida has a great guard led by Walter Clayton Jr., with Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu playing tough in the paint and on the boards. Prairie View was not a good team this year, even against the weakest competition. I credit the Panthers for playing a tough non-conference schedule, but the talent gap in this game is large. Take Florida.
9:25 PM EST
Rotation # 746
Florida -35.5 over Prairie View A&M
We saw both #1 seeds play around yesterday. Duke was a bounce or two away from getting upset. Florida and their staff watched those games, and the defending champs will not play around. When you have a spread this high, you are at the mercy of the coaching staff and would hope they don’t pull back on the gas pedal, but the Gators are leaps and bounds better than the Panthers. Prairie View is a team that won just four games in the SWAC a year ago and only 9 this year. The Panthers were 8th in the SWAC and made an incredible run in the conference tournament. Prairie View has 3-4 players who will play the entire game and must be exhausted by now. The Gators can play above the rim and will take high-percentage shots against a bad defensive team. Florida has a great guard led by Walter Clayton Jr., with Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu playing tough in the paint and on the boards. Prairie View was not a good team this year, even against the weakest competition. I credit the Panthers for playing a tough non-conference schedule, but the talent gap in this game is large. Take Florida.
College Basketball
10:00 PM EST
Rotation # 752
UConn -20.5 over Furman
Furman finished 5th in the Southern Conference but made a run in the conference tournament to earn the automatic bid. They deserve to be here, but they were average in a weaker conference. UConn finished 2nd in the BIG East, and although they looked lost at times this season, they are still much better from top to bottom against the Paladins. The Huskies should be able to run their offense at a high rate against a Paladins team that is awful at forcing turnovers. Silas Demary Jr. looks like he is ready to go after injuring himself in the last game. Demary is the best ball handler on the court and should have a high assist outing. Tarris Reed is too big and powerful to be stopped, and Solomon Ball and Braylon Mullins should drill a lot of three-point attempts. Dan Hurley will have his team ready to go, as they have not played sharp enough this year to mess around in the opening round and take anybody lightly. Take UConn.
10:00 PM EST
Rotation # 752
UConn -20.5 over Furman
Furman finished 5th in the Southern Conference but made a run in the conference tournament to earn the automatic bid. They deserve to be here, but they were average in a weaker conference. UConn finished 2nd in the BIG East, and although they looked lost at times this season, they are still much better from top to bottom against the Paladins. The Huskies should be able to run their offense at a high rate against a Paladins team that is awful at forcing turnovers. Silas Demary Jr. looks like he is ready to go after injuring himself in the last game. Demary is the best ball handler on the court and should have a high assist outing. Tarris Reed is too big and powerful to be stopped, and Solomon Ball and Braylon Mullins should drill a lot of three-point attempts. Dan Hurley will have his team ready to go, as they have not played sharp enough this year to mess around in the opening round and take anybody lightly. Take UConn.