Current:Home > NewsMarch Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament -LegacyBuild Academy
March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
View
Date:2025-04-17 19:37:05
There's still plenty of time to fill in your March Madness brackets. By now you have considered this year's best upset picks and the top seeds (looking at you, North Carolina) that got the easiest path in their region.
If you're looking for more help, here's a look historically at how seeds have performed in the NCAA Tournament. UConn is a popular Final Four pick, but there's a reason why the East is considered the toughest of the four.
First Four games begin Tuesday night, but brackets aren't officially due until Thursday (before first round games tip off). If you need the full tournament schedule and where to watch on TV, here it is.
Here's a look at first round game picks from experts Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg and Dan Wolken:
East
(1) UConn vs. (16) Stetson
- Mendoza: UConn
- Myerberg: UConn
- Wolken: UConn
IT'S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY's NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.
(8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) Northwestern
- Mendoza: Florida Atlantic
- Myerberg: Florida Atlantic
- Wolken: Northwestern
(5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB
- Mendoza: San Diego State
- Myerberg: San Diego State
- Wolken: UAB
(4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale
- Mendoza: Auburn
- Myerberg: Auburn
- Wolken: Auburn
(6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne
- Mendoza: Duquesne
- Myerberg: BYU
- Wolken: BYU
(3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead State
- Mendoza: Illinois
- Myerberg: Illinois
- Wolken: Illinois
(7) Washington State vs. (10) Drake
- Mendoza: Washington State
- Myerberg: Washington State
- Wolken: Drake
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) South Dakota State
- Mendoza: Iowa State
- Myerberg: Iowa State
- Wolken: Iowa State
West
(1) North Carolina vs. (16) Howard/(16) Wagner
- Mendoza: North Carolina
- Myerberg: North Carolina
- Wolken: North Carolina
(8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State
- Mendoza: Mississippi State
- Myerberg: Michigan State
- Wolken: Mississippi State
(5) Saint Mary's vs. (12) Grand Canyon
- Mendoza: Saint Mary's
- Myerberg: Saint Mary's
- Wolken: Saint Mary’s
(4) Alabama vs. (13) College of Charleston
- Mendoza: Alabama
- Myerberg: Alabama
- Wolken: College of Charleston
(6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico
- Mendoza: New Mexico
- Myerberg: Clemson
- Wolken: New Mexico
(3) Baylor vs. (14) Colgate
- Mendoza: Baylor
- Myerberg: Baylor
- Wolken: Baylor
(7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada
- Mendoza: Nevada
- Myerberg: Dayton
- Wolken: Dayton
(2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach State
- Mendoza: Arizona
- Myerberg: Arizona
- Wolken: Arizona
South
(1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood
- Mendoza: Houston
- Myerberg: Houston
- Wolken: Houston
(8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M
- Mendoza: Nebraska
- Myerberg: Nebraska
- Wolken: Nebraska
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison
- Mendoza: JMU
- Myerberg: Wisconsin
- Wolken: JMU
(4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont
- Mendoza: Duke
- Myerberg: Duke
- Wolken: Duke
(6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State
- Mendoza: Texas Tech
- Myerberg: Texas Tech
- Wolken: Texas Tech
(3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland
- Mendoza: Kentucky
- Myerberg: Kentucky
- Wolken: Kentucky
(7) Florida vs. (10) Colorado/(10) Boise State
- Mendoza: Florida
- Myerberg: Boise State/Colorado
- Wolken: Boise State/Colorado
(2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky
- Mendoza: Marquette
- Myerberg: Marquette
- Wolken: Marquette
Midwest
(1) Purdue vs. (16) Grambling/Montana State
- Mendoza: Purdue
- Myerberg: Purdue
- Wolken: Purdue
(8) Utah State vs. (9) TCU
- Mendoza: Utah State
- Myerberg: Utah State
- Wolken: Utah State
(5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese
- Mendoza: McNeese
- Myerberg: Gonzaga
- Wolken: McNeese
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
- Mendoza: Samford
- Myerberg: Kansas
- Wolken: Samford
(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon
- Mendoza: Oregon
- Myerberg: South Carolina
- Wolken: Oregon
(3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
- Mendoza: Creighton
- Myerberg: Creighton
- Wolken: Creighton
(7) Texas vs. (10) Colorado State/(10) Virginia
- Mendoza: Colorado State/Virginia
- Myerberg: Texas
- Wolken: Texas
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter's
- Mendoza: Tennessee
- Myerberg: Tennessee
- Wolken: Tennessee
veryGood! (5272)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Rush hour earthquake jolts San Francisco, second in region in 10 days
- A new cure for sickle cell disease may be coming. Health advisers will review it next week
- How law enforcement solved the case of a killer dressed as a clown
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- All the Songs Taylor Swift and Harry Styles (Allegedly) Wrote About Their Romance
- Her 6-year-old son shot his teacher. Now she is being sentenced for child neglect
- US expands its effort to cut off funding for Hamas
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Alliance of 3 ethnic rebel groups carries out coordinated attacks in northeastern Myanmar
- Best Buy recalls nearly 1 million pressure cookers after reports of 17 burn injuries
- Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor Make Rare Red Carpet Appearance With 18-Year-Old Son Quinlin
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- 2023 World Series predictions: Rangers can win first championship in franchise history
- Leo Brooks, a Miami native with country roots, returns to South Florida for new music festival
- Utah Halloween skeleton dancer display creates stir with neighbors
Recommendation
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor Make Rare Red Carpet Appearance With 18-Year-Old Son Quinlin
AP PHOTOS: Devastation followed by desperation in Acapulco after Hurricane Otis rips through
Inside Tom Sandoval and Jax Taylor's Reconciliation Post-Vanderpump Rules Cheating Scandal
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
Horoscopes Today, October 26, 2023
Georgia’s largest utility looks to natural gas as it says it needs to generate more electricity soon
Pete Davidson, John Mulaney postpone comedy shows in Maine after mass killing: 'Devastated'