As we approach the 1st and 2nd rounds of games, the 6 teams with the best odds of cutting down the nets are Gonzaga (+210), Baylor (+625), Illinois (+625), Michigan (+825), Iowa (+1800), and Ohio State (+2200).
Below we will lay out how the bracket schedule has been broken down, and when (and how) you can watch these teams face off.
1ST ROUND – FRIDAY, MARCH 19th 2021
12:15 PM (ET) 10. Virginia Tech vs. 7. Florida @ Hinkle FIeldhouse/CBS
12:45 PM (ET) – 14. Colgate vs. 3. Arkansas @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse/truTV
1:15 PM (ET) – 16. Drexel vs. 1. Illinois @ Farmers Coliseum/TBS
1:45 PM (ET) – 11. Utah St. vs. 6. Texas Tech @ Assembly Hall/TNT
3:00 PM (ET) – 15. Oral Roberts vs. 2. Ohio St. @ Mackey Arena/CBS
3:30 PM (ET) – 16. Hartford vs. 1. Baylor @ Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)/truTV
4:00 PM (ET) – 9. Georgia Tech vs. 8. Loyola Chicago @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/TBS
6:25 PM (ET) – 13. Liberty vs. 4. Oklahoma St. @ Farmers Coliseum/TBS
7:10 PM (ET) – 9. Wisconsin vs. 8. North Carolina @ Mackey Arena/CBS
7:10 PM (ET) – 15. Cleveland St. vs. 2. Houston @ Assembly Hall/truTV
7:25 PM (ET) – 13. North Texas vs. 4. Purdue @ Lucas Oil Stadium Equality (North)/TNT
9:20 PM (ET) – 10. Rutgers vs. 7. Clemson @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse/TBS
9:40 PM (ET) – 11. Syracuse vs. 6. San Diego St. @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/CBS
9:50 PM (ET) – 14. Morehead St. vs. 3. West Virginia @ Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)/truTV
9:57 PM (ET) – 12. Winthrop vs. 5. Villanova @ Farmers Coliseum/TNT
1ST ROUND – SATURDAY MARCH 20th 2021
12:15 PM (ET) – 12. Georgetown vs. 5. Colorado @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/CBS
12:45 PM (ET) – 13. UNC Greensboro vs. 4. Florida St. @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse/truTV
1:15 PM (ET) – 14. Eastern Washington vs. 3. Kansas @ Farmers Coliseum/TBS
1:45 PM (ET) – 9. St. Bonaventure vs. 8. LSU @ Assembly Hall/TNT
3:00 PM (ET) – 16. Texas Southern vs. 1. Michigan @ Mackey Arena/CBS
3:30 PM (ET) – 12. UC Santa Barbara vs. 5. Creighton @ Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)/truTV
4:00 PM (ET) – 15. Iona vs. 2. Alabama @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/TBS
4:30 PM (ET) – 11. Drake vs. 6. USC @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse/TNT
6:25 PM (ET) – 15. Grand Canyon vs. 2. Iowa @ Farmers Coliseum/TBS
7:10 PM (ET) – 10. Maryland vs. 7. UConn @ Mackey Arena/CBS
7:25 PM (ET) – 9. Missouri vs. 8. Oklahoma @ Lucas Oil Stadium Equality (North)/TNT
9:20 PM (ET) – 16. Norfolk St. vs. 1. Gonzaga @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse/TBS
9:40 PM (ET) – 11. UCLA vs. 6. BYU @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/CBS
9:50 PM (ET) – 14. Abilene Christian vs. 3. Texas @ Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)/truTV
9:57 PM (ET) – 10. VCU vs. 7. Oregon @ Farmers Coliseum/TNT
Above we have highlighted some potential upsets that could reap great reward, narrowing it down to 5 games specifically you should keep an eye on. Consisting of 2 Friday night matchups, and 3 mid-late afternoon bouts on Saturday.
9:40 PM (ET) – 11. Syracuse vs. 6. San Diego St. @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/CBS
Syracuse has tournament experience, plays disciplined defense, and is on a hot streak. San Diego State’s wins are inflated.
9:57 PM (ET) – 12. Winthrop vs. 5. Villanova @ Farmers Coliseum/TNT
Winthrop has yet to play any major competition this season, but they carry only 1 loss, and Villanova has been inconsistent all year. Winthrop’s speed, and shooting could get out of hand.
12:15 PM (ET) – 12. Georgetown vs. 5. Colorado @ Hinkle Fieldhouse/CBS
The Hoyas are coming off a massive upset conference tournament championship, and Colorado is one of the more unpredictable teams in the nation. They have had great wins, but also brutal losses.
3:30 PM (ET) – 12. UC Santa Barbara vs. 5. Creighton @ Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)/truTV
Creighton has struggled when playing tough competition this year, and have not lived up to their pre-season hype. Meanwhile, UCSB is a young, tough group that’s been on a major hot streak.
7:10 PM (ET) – 10. Maryland vs. 7. UConn @ Mackey Arena/CBS
Maryland has taken out big-time schools multiple times this year, but have had some terrible losses at the same time. UConn is similar, but Maryland has beaten more impressive competition.
Following the 1st round of games, the 2nd round of matchups will be played on Sunday and Monday (March 21st and 22nd). With the rest of the competition will take place the following weekend, and the National Championship game being played on April 5th.
There is unquestionably a variety of intriguing matchups set to tip off, and with online sports betting being legal now in many states, now is the time to get in on the action!