March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
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 began Tuesday night, but brackets aren't officially due until Thursday (before first round games tip off). After the first night of play-in games, Colorado State has a date with Texas after dominating Virginia. Wagner won its first NCAA Tournament game in history, surviving a late comeback from Howard.
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
(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) 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
Mendoza: Florida
Myerberg: Colorado
Wolken: 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
Mendoza: Colorado State
Myerberg: Texas
Wolken: Texas
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter's
Mendoza: Tennessee
Myerberg: Tennessee
Wolken: Tennessee
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket predictions: Expert picks for first round games
