March Madness is upon us, and after last year’s cancelation it will feel better than ever to hear that wonderful intro music before each broadcast. 68 teams, four Final Four slots, one team cutting down the nets wearing commemorative hats and T-shirts. Three weekends of basketball bliss. Let’s go!
But before that we’ve got a First Four on Thursday, followed by the opening weekend of wall-to-wall basketball with over 12 hours a day of games. We’ve got the favorites, the potential Cinderella’s and more.
Here’s all the information you need for each game of the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
First Four
No. 16 Texas Southern vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s — Thu Mar 18, 5:10 p.m., truTV
Odds: Texas Southern -0.5, 134.5
Game preview, picks
No. 11 Drake vs. No. 11 Wichita State — Thu Mar 18, 6:27 p.m., TBS
Odds: Drake -0.5, 140.5
Game preview, picks
No. 16 Appalachian State vs. No. 16 Norfolk State — Thu Mar 18, 8:40 p.m., truTV
Odds: Appalachian State -2.5, 135
Game preview, picks
No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 11 Michigan State — Thu Mar 18, 9:57 p.m., TBS
Odds: Michigan State -2, 136
Game preview, picks
First Round — East
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Texas Southern — Sat Mar 20, 3 p.m., CBS
Odds: Michigan -27, 140.5
Game preview, picks
No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure— Sat Mar 20, 1:45 p.m., TNT
Odds: LSU -1.5, 144.5
Game preview, picks
No. 5 Colorado vs. No. 12 Georgetown — Sat Mar 20, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Odds: Colorado -4.5, 138
Game preview, picks
No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 13 UNC Greensboro — Sat Mar 20, 12:45 p.m., truTV
Odds: Florida State -10.5, 145.5
Game preview, picks
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Michigan State/UCLA — Sat Mar 20, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Odds: TBD
Game preview, picks
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 14 Abilene Christian — Sat Mar 20, 9:50 p.m., truTV
Odds: Texas -9, 139.5
Game preview, picks
No. 7 UConn vs. No. 10 Maryland — Sat Mar 20, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Odds: UConn -3, 130
Game preview, picks
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Iona — Sat Mar 20, 4 p.m., TBS
Odds: Alabama -16.5, 147
Game preview, picks
First Round — South
No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Hartford — Fri Mar 19, 3:30 p.m., truTV
Odds: Baylor -26.5, 140.5
Game preview, picks
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Wisconsin — Fri Mar 19, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Odds: North Carolina -1.5, 139.5
Game preview, picks
No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 12 Winthrop — Fri Mar 19, 9:57 p.m, TNT
Odds: Villanova -6.5, 143.5
Game preview, picks
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 North Texas — Fri Mar 19, 7:25 p.m., TNT
Odds: Purdue -7.5, 126.5
Game preview, picks
No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Utah State — Fri Mar 19, 1:45 p.m., TNT
Odds: Texas Tech -5, 131.5
Game preview, picks
No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 14 Colgate — Fri Mar 19, 12:45 p.m., truTV
Odds: Arkansas -8.5, 162.5
Game preview, picks
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech — Fri Mar 19, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Odds: Florida -1, 135.5
Game preview, picks
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Oral Roberts — Fri Mar 19, 3 p.m., CBS
Odds: Ohio State -16.5, 155.5
Game preview, picks
First Round — Midwest
No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 16 Drexel — Fri Mar 19, 1:15 p.m., TBS
Odds: Illinois -22, 144
Game preview, picks
No. 8 Loyola-Chicago vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech — Fri Mar 19, 4 p.m., TBS
Odds: Loyola -2.5, 126
Game preview, picks
No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Oregon State — Fri Mar 19, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Odds: Tennessee -7, 131.5
Game preview, picks
No. 4 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Liberty — Fri Mar 19, 6:25 p.m., TBS
Odds: Oklahoma State -7.5, 142
Game preview, picks
No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 Syracuse — Fri Mar 19, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Odds: San Diego State -3, 139.5
Game preview, picks
No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 14 Morehead State — Fri Mar 19, 9:50 p.m., truTV
Odds: West Virginia -12.5, 137.5
Game preview, picks
No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Rutgers — Fri Mar 19, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Odds: Rutgers -1, 125.5
Game preview, picks
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Cleveland State — Fri Mar 19, 7:15 p.m., truTV
Odds: Houston -20, 135
Game preview, picks
First Round — West
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Norfolk State/Appalachian State — Sat Mar 20, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Odds: TBD
Game preview, picks
No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Missouri — Sat Mar 20, 7:25 p.m., TNT
Odds: Oklahoma -2, 141
Game preview, picks
No. 5 Creighton vs. No. 12 UC Santa Barbara — Sat Mar 20, 3:30 p.m., truTV
Odds: Creighton -7, 138.5
Game preview, picks
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Ohio — Sat Mar 20, 7:15 p.m., truTV
Odds: Virginia -7.5, 131.5
Game preview, picks
No. 6 USC vs. No. 11 Wichita State/Drake — Sat Mar 20, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Odds: TBD
Game preview, picks
No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 14 Eastern Washington — Sat Mar 20, 1:15 p.m., TBS
Odds: Kansas -10.5, 146
Game preview, picks
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 VCU — Sat Mar 20, 9:57 p.m., TNT
Odds: Oregon -5.5, 137
Game preview, picks
No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Grand Canyon — Sat Mar 20, 6:25 p.m., TBS
Odds: Iowa -14, 146
Game preview, picks
For the most current odds, you can visit Draftkings 2021 March Madness betting.