Ball Bets Day 1: Notre Dame set to roll over Princeton
Want to play a bracket contest with a chance to win big money? Try theScore $100K Team Tourney Challenge! Download theScore app on iOS or Android and play today!
While most view the NCAA tournament as a chance to fill out brackets and win the local office pool, the real money lies in betting individual games.
The first two days of action will see 32 contests played across the country, and here are the best bets from the first 16.
Best Bets
(12) Princeton vs. (5) Notre Dame -6.5
Picking a 12-seed to upset a No. 5 is certainly a fun exercise, but Princeton can't score enough to take down Notre Dame and its high-powered offense. The Fighting Irish are an experienced bunch that have made deep tournament runs in the last two seasons, and they won't be rattled should the Tigers come out hot. Bonzie Colson will feast on the competition, as per usual, and lead Notre Dame to the win. Notre Dame 74, Princeton 63
(10) VCU vs. (7) Saint Mary's -4
VCU yet again stakes its reputation on a pressure-packed defense, having forced over 14 turnovers per game. Most teams would struggle against that, but Saint Mary's ranks fourth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Gaels also hold a massive advantage in frontcourt size, as VCU doesn't have anyone standing over 6-foot-7 that plays more than 15 minutes. VCU won't roll over easily, but Saint Mary's efficiency will reign supreme. Saint Mary's 69, VCU 60
(12) UNC Wilmington vs. (5) Virginia -7.5
Another 5-12 matchup that many people will mark down as a possible upset is UNC Wilmington over Virginia. Don't believe the hype, though, because the Cavaliers are a team unlike any other the Seahawks have seen this season. Tony Bennett's program is once again a dominant defensive unit, ranking first in the country in defensive efficiency. UNC Wilmington is a dominant offensive team, but the Cavaliers have already faced four opponents with a more efficient offense. Virginia won't be surprised, Virginia 70, UNC Wilmington 55
Full-day Parlay
The Full-day Parlay offers a pick from one early game, one mid-afternoon game, and one night game on Saturday. The idea is to take the winnings from Game 1 and place them on Game 2, and then do the same for Game 3.
(16) South Dakota State vs. (1) Gonzaga -20.5 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Mike Daum will get his buckets against Gonzaga, but unless the nation's second-ranked scorer puts up 60, South Dakota State doesn't stand a chance against the Bulldogs. Gonzaga showed throughout the season it's exceptional at pounding bad teams, and at 18-16, that's exactly what the Jackrabbits are. Mark Few's squad is tournament-tested, and will make a statement in the opening round. Gonzaga 85, South Dakota State 60
(11) Xavier vs. (6) Maryland -1.5 - 6:50 p.m. ET
Maryland certainly limped down the stretch in losing five of its last nine regular-season games. The Terrapins then quickly bowed out to Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament. Luckily for Mark Turgeon's outfit, Xavier also looked awful in closing the season with six defeats in seven games. Since losing starting guard Edmond Sumner to a season-ending injury, the Musketeers have looked out of sync. Melo Trimble has shown his ability to rise to the big occasion, and that will get the Terrapins the win. Maryland 75, Xavier 70
(15) North Dakota vs. (2) Arizona -16.5 - 9:50 p.m. ET
Arizona has become a trendy Final Four pick in many people's brackets, thanks to an impressive run to the Pac-12 tournament championship. The Wildcats have a balanced attack that features six players scoring nine points per game or more, and should run the overmatched Fighting Hawks out of the gym. There have been a few cases of a 15-seed upsetting a 2-seed in the past, but this won't be one of them. Arizona 90, North Dakota 64
Season Record
Best bets: 24-15
Home dog: 3-9
Full-day parlay: 6-7
Twitter picks: 7-2
Overall Spread Record: 61-36
(Lines courtesy: Covers )
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)