Current:Home > reviewsMarch Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament -Edge Finance Strategies
March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
View
Date:2025-04-17 20:37:14
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! (6)
Related
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Will Kim Cattrall Play Samantha Again After And Just Like That Cameo? She Says..
- Little Big Town to Host First-Ever People's Choice Country Awards
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $400 Satchel Bag for Just $89
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Contact is lost with a Japanese spacecraft attempting to land on the moon
- Pull Up a Seat for Jennifer Lawrence's Chicken Shop Date With Amelia Dimoldenberg
- Writers Guild of America goes on strike
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Airbnb let its workers live and work anywhere. Spoiler: They're loving it
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Maryland and Baltimore Agree to Continue State Supervision of the Deeply Troubled Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Hard times are here for news sites and social media. Is this the end of Web 2.0?
- Climate Change Remains a Partisan Issue in Georgia Elections
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- How the Fed got so powerful
- 10 Trendy Amazon Jewelry Finds You'll Want to Wear All the Time
- Global Warming Drove a Deadly Burst of Indian Ocean Tropical Storms
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
In ‘Silent Spring,’ Rachel Carson Described a Fictional, Bucolic Hamlet, Much Like Her Hometown. Now, There’s a Plastics Plant Under Construction 30 Miles Away
How Prince Harry and Prince William Are Joining Forces in Honor of Late Mom Princess Diana
YouTuber Colleen Ballinger’s Ex-Husband Speaks Out After She Denies Grooming Claims
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
Steve Irwin's Son Robert Irwin and Heath Ledger's Niece Rorie Buckey Made Red Carpet Debut
Global Warming Drove a Deadly Burst of Indian Ocean Tropical Storms
A Black Woman Fought for Her Community, and Her Life, Amidst Polluting Landfills and Vast ‘Borrow Pits’ Mined for Sand and Clay