March Madness Kicks Off
March Madness tips off today and experts are warning unpredictability — historically at least one top‑four seed has fallen in the first round in 15 of the last 17 tournaments, so expect bracket chaos. Analysts urge data‑driven picks and to avoid defaulting to chalk as mid‑majors and matchup math could bust brackets early. (cbssports.com) (espn.com) (nbcnews.com)
The NCAA selection committee put Duke at the No. 1 overall seed, with Arizona, Michigan and Florida occupying the four No. 1 lines on the 68‑team bracket. (ncaa.com) The First Four matchups listed on Selection Sunday were NC State vs. Texas, Howard vs. UMBC, SMU vs. Miami (OH) and Lehigh vs. Prairie View A&M. (sportingnews.com) Texas defeated NC State in a First Four game and was scheduled to meet No. 6 BYU in the West region first round. (cbssports.com) SportsLine’s projection model flagged specific upset scenarios — including No. 9 Saint Louis over No. 8 Georgia and a play‑in winner knocking off Tennessee — in its regional simulations. (sportsline.com) CBS Sports reports that the projection model ran extensive simulations (10,000 per matchup) to generate its “optimal” bracket and upset probabilities. (cbssports.com) ESPN’s Giant Killers/BPI analysis put VCU at a 39% upset probability over No. 6 North Carolina and pegged No. 11 Texas with a 37% chance at No. 6 BYU, noting UNC will be without freshman Caleb Wilson (broken thumb). (espn.com) Futures markets opened with Michigan as the early betting favorite at +325, Duke at +333, Arizona +425 and Florida +600 on BetMGM, per Yahoo Sports’ roundup of odds. (uk.sports.yahoo.com) An Associated Press betting summary for BetMGM showed Michigan taking 14.8% of the money and 12% of the bets on Sunday night. (wtop.com) Selection Sunday also highlighted long‑awaited returns and extreme seed contrasts: the committee’s 1–68 list placed 32‑2 Duke at the top and 18‑17 Prairie View A&M at the bottom, while Idaho returns to the tournament after 36 years and Tennessee State after 32 years. (ncaa.com)
