2021 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions: March Madness picks, odds, lines for first-round games Saturday

Author: CBS Sports
Published:
MGN

The first day of the first round of March Madness on Friday was predictably, unsurprisingly and delightfully off the rails. The first game featuring Florida and Virginia Tech went to overtime, No. 3 seed Arkansas got a good scare by a team that shares the namesake of a famous toothpaste, and No. 2 seed Ohio State got outmatched by No. 15 seed Oral Roberts in overtime, becoming the ninth No. 2 seed ever to fall to a No. 15 seed.

And that was half of the first round.

Saturday has even more drama in store for fans. There are another 16 games ready to tip off throughout the day, and it all begins on CBS at 12:15 p.m. ET with Georgetown vs. Colorado. Also slated to take the floor on Saturday are a pair of No. 1 seeds in Michigan and Gonzaga. The Bulldogs begin their tournament run with plenty of pressure as the favorites to win it all. They are also looking to make history and be the first team since 1976 to complete an undefeated season as national champion.

There are 16 games in total as the field will be reduced to 32 by Saturday night. Our team of experts has analyzed the games and made picks straight up and against the spread for each of them below. Odds via William Hill Sportsbook

(12) Georgetown vs. (5) Colorado

Time: 12:15 p.m. ET | Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: CBS  | Live stream: March Madness Live

Colorado hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2012, but it also hasn’t been seeded this well in modern times. Georgetown may be a trendy pick because of its impressive run through the Big East Tournament, but the Buffaloes have the right combination of size, 3-point shooting, experience and depth to handle business here and cover a five-point spread. PredictionColorado 71, Georgetown 64 — David Cobb

(13) UNC Greensboro vs. (4) Florida State

Time: 12:45 p.m. ET | Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: truTV  | Live stream: March Madness Live

Florida State picked up a nasty habit of playing down to its competition this season. It can beat any team in the country on its best night, but it has a tendency to fool around against inferior opponents. So I like UNC Greensboro – a team that won 21 games and has some very good size – to cover the number here. Seminoles win, Spartans ATS. PredictionFlorida State 71, UNCG 67 — Kyle Boone

(14) Eastern Washington vs. (3) Kansas

Time: 1:15 p.m. ET | Location: Indiana Farmers Coliseum
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live

Eastern Washington kept it close with a trio of Pac-12 opponents in the first couple weeks of the season and will not be intimidated by a shorthanded Kansas team. The Jayhawks will be without leading rebounder Jalen Wilson, and that should help the Eagles keep it close enough to cover a 10.5-point spread. If Kansas looks as bad as it did against lowly UTEP earlier this month, an upset is possible. PredictionKansas 84, Eastern Washington 80 — Cobb

(9) St. Bonaventure vs. (8) LSU

Time: 1:45 p.m. ET | Location: Assembly Hall
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live

LSU and its top-five offense is efficient and lethal enough to wipe out or scare any team in the country, evidence being it took SEC champion (and No. 2 seed) Alabama to the brink less than a week ago. That presents an interesting matchup for the A-10 winning Bonnies, whose defense is far and away their forte. But I’ll ride with the SEC talent led by the league’s scoring leader Cameron Thomas, who averaged 22.6 points per game as a freshman this season. PredictionLSU 75, St. Bonaventure 64 — Boone

(16) Texas Southern vs. (1) Michigan

Time: 3 p.m. ET | Location: Mackey Arena
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live

(12) UC Santa Barbara vs. (5) Creighton

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: truTV  | Live stream: March Madness Live

Creighton simply can’t be relied upon to cover a 7.5-point spread, not after the dud the Bluejays produced in a blowout loss against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament final. UCSB is a relative unknown due to its lack of games against power conference foes, but the Gauchos are sound enough to keep this one close. Leading scorer Jaquori McLaughlin is an Oregon State transfer more than capable of putting up numbers against a quality foe. Prediction: Creighton: 82, USCB, 80 — Cobb

(15) Iona vs. (2) Alabama

Time: 4 p.m. ET | Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: TBS  | Live stream: March Madness Live

Rick Pitino taking Iona to the tournament despite numerous COVID pauses in a season where Louisville and Kentucky aren’t in the field is a fantastic story. But the Gaels are really just that. They stand no chance to strike a real fear into this Bama team that bombs 3-pointers away at a high rate and can absolutely lock teams down defensively. PredictionAlabama 80, Iona 60 — Boone

(11) Drake vs. (6) USC

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET | Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live

Drake is a quintessential March Madness mid major darling. Guard Joseph Ysufu emerged as a star for a program that just won its first tourney game in half a century. But with Shanquan Hemphill still coming back from injury and the Mobley brothers cleaning up on the glass, the Trojans do just enough to cover against a feisty Bulldogs team. PredictionUSC 68, Drake 61 — Ben Kercheval

(15) Grand Canyon vs. (2) Iowa

Time: 6:25 p.m. ET | Location: Indiana Farmers Coliseum
TV: TBS | Live stream: March Madness Live

Grand Canyon’s frontcourt is solid, but the Antelopes will struggle to keep up with Iowa. The Hawkeyes are one of the top scoring team’s in the country partly because they ran up huge numbers on less-talented opponents early in the season. Sure, Grand Canyon may be able to do a decent job one containing Luka Garza. But Iowa has enough outside shooting to cover a 14.5-point spread. PredictionIowa 95, Grand Canyon 74 — Cobb

(10) Maryland vs. (7) UConn

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET | Location: Mackey Arena
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live

The Huskies look like a dangerous No. 7 seed now that star James Bouknight is back and healthy. To Maryland’s credit, though, they are as good at slowing things down as any team in the country. The under at 130 feels safe, but the Huskies do just enough offensively to get the win and the cover. PredictionUConn 66, Maryland 60 — Kercheval

(13) Ohio vs. (4) Virginia

Time: 7:15 p.m. ET | Location: Assembly Hall
TV: truTV  | Live stream: March Madness Live

Virginia was cleared to travel to Indianapolis on Friday for its first round game against Ohio on Saturday. That is not ideal. It is easily one of the most unique circumstances a team in the field is dealing with at present. But I’m taking UVA and laying the points here, effectively pledging allegiance to Tony Bennett and his staff. The Cavaliers may be rusty but their enigmatic style nonetheless will present real challenges to Ohio. PredictionVirginia 68, Ohio 57 — Boone

(9) Missouri vs. (8) Oklahoma

Time: 7:25 p.m. ET | Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: TNT | Live stream: March Madness Live

Not too many players will miss tourney games because of COVID, but Sooners guard De’Vion Harmon is one of them. Harmon’s absence puts more pressure on Austin Reaves offensively, and that should be reflected in the outcome. PredictionMissouri 68, Oklahoma 65 — Kercheval

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