It has been 13 years since the First Four was first introduced.
Maybe in another 13 years I’ll finally find peace with the monsters — again seeking to expand the NCAA Tournament and potentially make it more difficult for mid-majors to make March’s most memorable runs — who believe the best house on the block would be more appealing with a pool in the kitchen.
South region: No. 10 Colorado (-2.5) over No. 10 Boise State
The Broncos have made the most NCAA Tournament appearances in history without a win (0-9).
They’ve lost twice in the First Four. They’ve lost in the first round each of the past two years.
They are due — but so is every person who plays the lottery.
The Broncos’ usual edge on the glass, as the 17th-ranked rebounding team in the country, will be negated by the Buffaloes, who rank ninth.
Colorado, which holds the edge in the backcourt and with depth, deserves better than to be in Dayton, as demonstrated during a recent eight-game win streak, with a lineup that features three future NBA draft picks — including lottery-bound Cody Williams — and the nation’s fifth-best 3-point shooting group (39.4 percent).
Midwest region: No. 16 Grambling State (+3.5) over No. 16 Montana State
Analytics don’t see this as a fair fight. The eye test tilts in Montana State’s direction, too.
The Bobcats have better talent and better shooting and play in a better conference.
But Grambling does something much more important — win.
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While Montana State entered the Big Sky Tournament three games under .500, the Tigers have surged in 2024, winning nine of their past 10 games — with the lone loss coming in double overtime — and 18 of their past 22 games.
Grambling is better than the metrics suggest — six one-sided losses came against NCAA Tournament teams, including Iowa State, Florida, Dayton and Colorado — and can will its way to an upset with its strength getting to the line (Montana ranks 308th in fouls per possession) and strength away from home, where the Tigers have won 11 of their past 12 games.
This season: 10-16
2011-23 record: 349-308-12
With March Madness upon us, new North Carolina sports bettors have immense opportunity to wager on who’s will win the big dance. To take advantage of their odds, they can use the best North Carolina betting apps to wager with confidence.