March Madness bracket picks for Thursday's first round of the men's NCAA Tournament
You've looked at your NCAA men's tournament bracket once. You've read through it twice. Maybe even three times. And yet you're still wondering if you might need some more assistance to make sure you have everything right before entering your pool.
There's sure to be upsets. That's why it's called March Madness. There's sure to be teams that bust brackets. And there surely will be some favorites that make it through to the Final Four.
USA TODAY Sports is here to help. We have our bracket tips for you to review. And our five experts have filled out their brackets, and we've provided their picks below for every first-round game Thursday. The results might surprise you.
No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Michigan State, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Mississippi State
Paul Myerberg's pick: Michigan State
Erick Smith's pick: Michigan State
Eddie Timanus' pick: Mississippi State
Dan Wolken's pick: Mississippi State
No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Duquesne, 12:40 p.m., truTV
Jordan Mendoza pick: Duquesne
Paul Myerberg's pick: Brigham Young
Erick Smith's pick: Brigham Young
Eddie Timanus' pick: Brigham Young
Dan Wolken's pick: Brigham Young
No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 Akron, 1:30 p.m., TNT
Jordan Mendoza pick: Creighton
Paul Myerberg's pick: Creighton
Erick Smith's pick: Creighton
Eddie Timanus' pick: Creighton
Dan Wolken's pick: Creighton
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Long Beach State, 2 p.m., TBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Arizona
Paul Myerberg's pick: Arizona
Erick Smith's pick: Arizona
Eddie Timanus' pick: Arizona
Dan Wolken's pick: Arizona
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Wagner, 2:45 p.m., CBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: North Carolina
Paul Myerberg's pick: North Carolina
Erick Smith's pick: North Carolina
Eddie Timanus' pick: North Carolina
Dan Wolken's pick: North Carolina
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State, 3:10 p.m., truTV
Jordan Mendoza pick: Illinois
Paul Myerberg's pick: Illinois
Erick Smith's pick: Illinois
Eddie Timanus' pick: Illinois
Dan Wolken's pick: Illinois
No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Oregon, 4 p.m., TNT
Jordan Mendoza pick: Oregon
Paul Myerberg's pick: South Carolina
Erick Smith's pick: South Carolina
Eddie Timanus' pick: South Carolina
Dan Wolken's pick: Oregon
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada, 4:30 p.m., TBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Nevada
Paul Myerberg's pick: Dayton
Erick Smith's pick: Nevada
Eddie Timanus' pick: Nevada
Dan Wolken's pick: Dayton
No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Colorado State, 6:50 p.m., TNT
Jordan Mendoza pick: Colorado State
Paul Myerberg's pick: Texas
Erick Smith's pick: Texas
Eddie Timanus' pick: Colorado State
Dan Wolken's pick: Texas
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oakland, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Kentucky
Paul Myerberg's pick: Kentucky
Erick Smith's pick: Kentucky
Eddie Timanus' pick: Kentucky
Dan Wolken's pick: Kentucky
No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese State, 7:25 p.m., TBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: McNeese State
Paul Myerberg's pick: Gonzaga
Erick Smith's pick: McNeese State
Eddie Timanus' pick: Gonzaga
Dan Wolken's pick: McNeese State
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 South Dakota State, 7:35 p.m., truTV
Jordan Mendoza pick: Iowa State
Paul Myerberg's pick: Iowa State
Erick Smith's pick: Iowa State
Eddie Timanus' pick: Iowa State
Dan Wolken's pick: Iowa State
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Saint Peter's, 9:20 p.m., TNT
Jordan Mendoza pick: Tennessee
Paul Myerberg's pick: Tennessee
Erick Smith's pick: Tennessee
Eddie Timanus' pick: Tennessee
Dan Wolken's pick: Tennessee
No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 North Carolina State, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Texas Tech
Paul Myerberg's pick: Texas Tech
Erick Smith's pick: Texas Tech
Eddie Timanus' pick: North Carolina State
Dan Wolken's pick: Texas Tech
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford, 9:55 p.m., TBS
Jordan Mendoza pick: Samford
Paul Myerberg's pick: Kansas
Erick Smith's pick: Kansas
Eddie Timanus' pick: Samford
Dan Wolken's pick: Samford
No. 7 Washington State vs. No. 10 Drake, 10:05 p.m., truTV
Jordan Mendoza pick: Washington State
Paul Myerberg's pick: Drake
Erick Smith's pick: Drake
Eddie Timanus' pick: Drake
Dan Wolken's pick: Washington State
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket picks for NCAA Tournament first round
