The first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, after a COVID-induced gap year, is finally upon us. From Friday at 12:15 ET and spread throughout the day, we are treated to overlapping hoop actions as the hook slowly begins to take shape.
In the first full day will play some of the biggest brands. Two number 1 seeds – Illinois and Baylor – are in action. And so are the 2-seeds Ohio State and Houston, as well as the 3-seeds Arkansas and West Virginia. The only complaint you may have on Friday is figuring out how to keep up with all the actions on your various devices.
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In preparation for the day, our team put together their pick for each game Friday. Then scroll down and get a feel for who we want – and don’t like – before throwing some hard-earned cash at the action.
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Time: 12:15 p.m. Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
Virginia Tech has only played three games since Feb. 6 and lost two of them. But Florida has not been steady lately as the Gators have lost three of their last four games. The reason for choosing the Hokies is simply that their best player Keve Aluma will be a tough game for Florida. At 6-foot-9, Aluma can score from all three levels, and he was really good in the second half of this season. Forecast: Virginia Tech 76, Florida 70. – Cobb
(14) Colgate VS. (3) Arkansas
Time: 12:45 pm | Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: truTV | Live stream: March Madness Live
What can you expect if two high-flying violations collide in this one? All the points! Vegas has the top / bottom as the highest among all games in the first round for Friday’s action. I take the Razorbacks – one of my Final Four picks – but it can be a deep sweat for Eric Musselman and his team. Colgate and star Jordan Burns can shell out a bunch of points to keep it close. Forecast: Arkansas 82, Colgate 77. – Kyle Boone
(16) Drexel teen (1) Illinois
Time: 13:15 | Location: Boer Colosseum
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
It’s hard to believe this is Illini’s first NCAA tournament since 2013. Now that Illinois is here, however, do not expect them to bow anytime soon. The journey begins with an easy victory over Drexel. After a run through the CAA tournament, the Dragons must be respected. But they do not have the firepower to hang with a high-flying number 1 seed. Forecast: Illinois 91, Drexel 58. – Cobb
Time: 13:45 | Location: Meeting Room
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live
Texas Tech is a team that forces you to make mistakes and take advantage of the mentioned mistakes. Utah State is a team that turns the ball around a lot and does not have the grid makeup to dig out of a backlog when it falls into one. So it’s an automatic handrail for me to ride with Texas Tech and Chris Beard. He has taken this program since his arrival to a Final Four and two Elite Eights and thrives in the post-season. Forecast: Texas Tech 71, Utah State 65. – Boone
Time: 15:00 | Location: Mackey Arena
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
The Buckeyes face an interesting opponent in the first round of this game. Everywhere Roberts boasts the country’s leading scorer in Max Abmas. The 6-foot-1 guard is a true volume 3-point shooter and leads a team that can score serious points. The state of Ohio, however, has no problem, and the Buckeyes looked really good in the Big 12 tournament. This one may therefore be closer than expected, but expect the state of Ohio to survive. Forecast: Ohio State 95, Oral Roberts 85. – Cobb
(16) Hartford teen (1) Baylor
Time: 15:30 | Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: truTV | Live stream: March Madness Live
Baylor are second in the standings this season and play in one of the toughest leagues in the country (Big 12). It has no problem with first-time dancer Hartford. But a spread greater than two dozen points? I will take the points. The Bears are still able to manage the table, but this team has not yet fully returned to its dominant mid-season form. Easy win, but Hartford covers. Forecast: Baylor 80, Hartford 64. – Boone
(9) Georgia Tech teen (8) Loyola Chicago
Time: 16:00 | Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
People are going to be all over Loyola in this one, because Moses Wright, the ACC player of the year, will not be playing. This is reflected by the Ramblers as a favorite of 5.5 points. But I take the yellow jackets straight after seeing what they’ve been doing for the past few weeks. If Wright does not hurt, but Jose Alvarado is going to stand up to his teammates for this great moment, and as the emotional leader of GT, I think they are as successful as they were and still being an underdog in this game will motivate a lot. Coach Josh Pastner will no doubt use it to his advantage. Forecast: Georgia Tech 71, Loyola Chicago 68. – Boone
Time: 16:30 | Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live
Making sense of this game is a struggle. Tennessee is full of talent, but has been incredibly contradictory over the past few months. Oregon State, on the other hand, won three straight in the Pac-12 tournament to reach the Big Dance. But it’s worth wondering if a few days off might have cooled the Beavers’ mojo. OSU has not been offensively big for much of the season, and it could struggle to score against a defensive Tennessee team. Forecast: Tennessee 68, Oregon State 66. – Cobb
Time: 18:25 | Location: Boer Colosseum
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
Trendy Oklahoma State is a dark horse in the popular Midwest region due to its recent hot streak and Cade Cunningham, but does not sleep in this Liberty team. It won 23 games after a top-10 three-point attack in the country and a style similar to Virginia. If any team can kick the Pokes off their rhythm, it’s this old, undersized Flames bunch. Forecast: Oklahoma State 77, Liberty 74 – Boone
Time: 19:10 | Location: Mackey Arena
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
These teams are leaning hard in opposite directions, and the talent lead of UNC should shine here as the young Tar Heels try to flourish on the big stage. The flashes of brilliance that UNC has shown recently make it the choice. Wisconsin was simply too inconsistent, even though he had a veteran roster, and it’s hard to determine a position where the Badgers have a clear advantage. Forecast: North Carolina 83, Wisconsin 77 – Cobb
Time: 19:15 | Location: Meeting Room
TV: truTV | Live stream: March Madness Live
Houston has not been tested regularly in a weak AAC. But the Cougars were defensive elite all season and had enough athletes to overcome Cleveland State. It’s fair to wonder how Houston will be past this game, but there’s no reason to worry about the Cougars in this game. Forecast: Houston 73, Cleveland State 60 – Cobb
Time: 19:25 | Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live
Don’t let Purdue’s one-of-a-kind Big Ten tournament distract you from the fact that this team has won its last five games in the regular season and turned a corner behind the young stars in Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey . The Boilermakers have an amazing mix of old and young on their list, which together enable them to be a threat in the first round and beyond. Put the points down. Forecast: Purdue 71, North Texas 60 – Boone
Time: 21:29 | Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
Clemson boasts impressive depth, but success in the NCAA Tournament is often about star power, and Rutgers is better in that division with Ron Harper Jr. and Jacob Young. On top of that, the Scarlet Knights are breaking a 30-year drought in the NCAA Tournament here. They will be motivated to make their run last longer than a match. After the Big Ten schedule permeated, this team was tested and ready to handle Clemson and his star Aamir Simms. Forecast: Rutgers 67, Clemson 62. – Cobb
Time: 21:40 | Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
Syracuse and the state of San Diego have one thing in common: Both play close matches very. So while I really like San Diego State and the MWC-awarded Aztecs, I have a hard time thinking in the end that this will be anything other than a one-possession game. Forecast: San Diego State 69, Syracuse 68. – Boone
Time: 21:50 | Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: truTV | Live stream: March Madness Live
West Virginia’s mountain-of-a-man Derek Culver may not be the mismatch most teams will consider, thanks to the rise of Morehead State rookie Johni Broome late last season. But the mountaineers have guards they can throw at you in waves between Deuce McBride, Sean McNeil and Taz Sherman, making it a game that WVU has to deal with relatively easily. Must.. Forecast: West Virginia 70, Morehead State 62. – Boone
Time: 21:57 | Location: Indiana Farmers Coliseum
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live
It’s hard to overstate how difficult Collin Gillespie’s loss is for Villanova. The senior guard selected the entire operation, and the Wildcats are 0-2 without him. If there is one concern about the choice of Winthrop, it is that the Eagles have simply not been tested against the best competition. But they were so dominant in the Big South tournament, and Villanova without Gillespie seemed so weak that Winthrop’s choice to win here should not even be considered an upset choice. Forecast: Winthrop 74, Villanova 72. – Cobb