Current:Home > StocksMarch Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament -MoneyStream
March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
View
Date:2025-04-17 07:40:57
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! (572)
Related
- Messi injury update: Ankle 'better every day' but Inter Miami star yet to play Leagues Cup
- North Carolina Medicaid recipients can obtain OTC birth control pills at pharmacies at no cost
- Rescuers search through mud and debris as deaths rise to 166 in landslides in southern India
- Nicola Peltz Beckham Sues Groomer Over Dog's Death
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Rob Lowe teases a 'St. Elmo's Fire' sequel: 'We've met with the studio'
- Exonerated murder suspect Christopher Dunn freed after 30 years, Missouri court delay
- New Jersey school is removing Sen. Bob Menendez’s name from its building
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- 'Top Chef' star Shirley Chung diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer
Ranking
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- The Daily Money: Deal time at McDonald's
- Black and other minority farmers are getting $2 billion from USDA after years of discrimination
- The best all-wheel drive cars to buy in 2024
- Kansas City Chiefs CEO's Daughter Ava Hunt Hospitalized After Falling Down a Mountain
- A Guide to the Best Pregnancy-Friendly Skincare, According to a Dermatologist
- A night in Paris shows how far US table tennis has come – and how far it has to go
- Robbers linked to $1.7 million smash-and-grab heists in LA get up to 10 years in prison
Recommendation
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Great Britain swimmer 'absolutely gutted' after 200-meter backstroke disqualification
'Black Swan murder trial' verdict: Ashley Benefield found guilty of manslaughter
Robbers linked to $1.7 million smash-and-grab heists in LA get up to 10 years in prison
PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
Texas is home to 9 of the 10 fastest growing cities in the nation
Dunkin' debuts new iced coffee drinks in collaboration with celebrity chef Nick DiGiovanni
What’s next for Katie Ledecky? Another race and a relay as she goes for more records