March Madness Best Bets – Madness Switches In To High Gear Thursday

The NCAA March Madness tournament opened with less than a whimper on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the final four teams that were added to the competition fought for a spot in the top-64. The mood will change on Thursday with a full slate of games, with the Pittsburgh Panthers the lone top seed to take the floor. Here is a quick look at some of the key matchups from the day, and who to take in your bracket. Here our first-day March Madness best bets:

North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Thursday, 3:10 PM ET

The top seed from the Southeast region will be the first to take the floor when they battle North Carolina-Asheville on Thursday afternoon. The Panthers finished atop the Big East standings during the regular season, but were upset by Kemba Walker and the Connecticut Huskies in a game that should serve them well as they enter the Madness. No matchup is safe, and Pittsburgh will look to make a statement by opening with a big win over a Bulldogs’ team that took down the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans on Tuesday night to earn a spot in the top-64. The Panthers are one of the biggest teams in the country, and will rely on their size throughout the tournament, beginning Thursday night when they flex their muscle against North Carolina-Asheville.

March Madness Best Bets: Pittsburgh Panthers -17.5

Northern Colorado Bears @ San Diego State Aztecs
Thursday, 4:40 PM ET

The Aztecs finally overcame their nemesis in the Mountain West to clinch the conference title, taking down the BYU Cougars by 18 in the MWC championship game less than a week ago. San Diego State will look to carry over the momentum and confidence from having beaten every team they have faced this year into the NCAA national title tournament, beginning with a game against Northern Colorado in the second round. The Bears have won seven straight overall, but will learn very quickly that the Madness is nothing like the Big Sky.

March Madness Best Bets: San Diego State Aztecs -15.5

Gonzaga Bulldogs @ St. John’s Red Storm
Thursday, 9:45 PM ET

The Red Storm are one of the hardest teams to project after the way that their season ended in the Big East. St. John’s climbed all the way into the top-25 with upset wins over the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils and the top seed Pittsburgh Panthers, but were then dominated by the Syracuse Orange in the opening round of the conference title tournament. If the Red Storm can get their confidence back in a hurry, they could be one of the toughest teams in the Southeast region, but that’s a big if.
March Madness Best Bets: St. John’s Red Storm -1.5

Utah State Aggies @ Kansas State Wildcats
Thursday, 9:57 PM ET

The Wildcats were another team that pulled off some major upsets during the regular season with wins over the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Longhorns, but then failed against the Colorado Buffaloes in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament. Jacob Pullen will need to be at his best against the WAC champion Aggies, which have reeled off eight straight wins to enter the tournament with significant momentum.

March Madness Best Bets: Kansas State Wildcats -2