March Madness Round 1 Day 1 Odds (Friday, March 19)
- The First Round of the NCAA Tournament tips-off Friday (March 19th), with 16 games starting at 12:15 pm ET
- Loyola Chicago has gone from a 2.5-point favorite to -5.5 over Georgia Tech, the largest spread move on the board
- See below for analysis on Friday’s First Round odds
The most exciting sporting event of the year is finally here. The NCAA Tournament’s First Round tips-off on Friday (March 19, 12:15 pm ET) with a jammed pack 16-game slate. Odds for the entire First Round were released at the beginning of the week and we’ve seen some significant line movement ahead of Friday’s action.
First Round Odds (Friday, March 19)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Date / Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (10) Virginia Tech | +1.0 (-116) | -108 | Over 135.0 (-110) | Fri. 12:15 pm ET |
| (7) Florida | -1.0 (-106) | -108 | Under 135.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (14) Colgate | +9.5 (-122) | +310 | Over 161.5 (-105) | Fri. 12:45 pm ET |
| (3) Arkansas | -9.5 (+100) | -390 | Under 161.5 (-115) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (16) Drexel | +22.5 (-110) | +1300 | Over 143.5 (-110) | Fri. 1:15 pm ET |
| (1) Illinois | -22.5 (-110) | -3000 | Under 143.5 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (11) Utah State | +4.0 (-110) | +160 | Over 131.0 (-110) | Fri. 1:45 pm ET |
| (6) Texas Tech | -4.0 (-110) | -190 | Under 131.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (15) Oral Roberts | +16.0 (-106) | +980 | Over 156.5 (-110) | Fri. 3 pm ET |
| (2) Ohio State | -16.0 (-116) | -1800 | Under 156.5 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (16) Hartford | +25.5 (-116) | OFF | Over 140.0 (-110) | Fri. 3:30 pm ET |
| (1) Baylor | -25.5 (-106) | OFF | Under 140.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (9) Georgia Tech | +5.5 (-110) | +200 | Over 124.0 (-108) | Fri. 4 pm ET |
| (8) Loyola Chicago | -5.5 (-110) | -245 | Under 124.0 (-112) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (12) Oregon State | +8.5 (-110) | +350 | Over 131.0 (-110) | Fri. 4:30 pm ET |
| (5) Tennessee | -8.5 (-110) | -450 | Under 131.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (13) Liberty | +7.5 (-110) | +280 | Over 139.0 (-110) | Fri. 6:25 pm ET |
| (4) Oklahoma State | -7.5 (-110) | -350 | Under 139.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (9) Wisconsin | +1.5 (-110) | +100 | Over 137.5 (-110) | Fri. 7:10 pm ET |
| (8) North Carolina | -1.5 (-110) | -118 | Under 137.5 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (15) Cleveland State | +20.0 (-110) | +1300 | Over 134.5 (-110) | Fri. 7:15 pm ET |
| (2) Houston | -20.0 (-110) | -3000 | Under 134.5 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (13) North Texas | +7.5 (-116) | +260 | Over 126.0 (-110) | Fri. 7:25 pm ET |
| (4) Purdue | -7.5 (-106) | -320 | Under 126.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (10) Rutgers | -1.5 (-115) | -125 | Over 125.5 (-110) | Fri. 9:20 pm ET |
| (7) Clemson | +1.5 (-105) | +105 | Under 125.5 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (11) Syracuse | +3.0 (-110) | +136 | Over 139.0 (-110) | Fri. 9:40 pm ET |
| (6) San Diego State | -3.0 (-110) | -162 | Under 139.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (14) Morehead State | +13.0 (-110) | +640 | Over 137.0 (-110) | Fri. 9:50 pm ET |
| (3) West Virginia | -13.0 (-110) | -950 | Under 137.0 (-110) | |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Time |
| (12) Winthrop | +6.5 (-110) | +220 | Over 143.0 (-110) | Fri. 9:57 pm ET |
| (5) Villanova | -6.5 (-110) | -270 | Under 143.0 (-110) |
Odds taken March 18th at FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365.
No game has seen as much movement as the Georgia Tech versus Loyola Chicago contest. The 9-8 matchup in the Midwest Region opened with the Ramblers favored by 2.5-points, but that number has moved a full 3 points in their favor.
Wright Out Due To COVID
As of Thursday night, 54% of the spread bets and 60% of the spread money is on the Ramblers, while 69% of the moneyline cash is also on Loyola Chicago. The primary reason? ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright has been ruled out for the Yellow Jackets due to a COVID related issue.
Georgia Tech star big man Moses Wright is out for both potential games this weekend, sources confirmed to ESPN. First by @GoodmanHoops. Wright will miss the first round game against Loyola Chicago and would also likely miss a potential second-round game against Illinois.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 18, 2021
Wright was third in the conference in scoring (17.4 ppg), but went on an absolute tear down the stretch. The 6’9 Senior averaged 23.5 points and 10 rebounds over the final six games of the regular season, and was instrumental in the Yellow Jackets’ surprise ACC title run. Georgia Tech hasn’t lost in over a month and is 8-1 ATS over its past nine outings.
𝟸𝟺 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜#OnwardLU x #StillChasing pic.twitter.com/PUYH5a05bm
— Loyola Men's Basketball (@RamblersMBB) March 18, 2021
The Ramblers meanwhile, went 17-1 over their final 18 games leading into March Madness, which included a dominant run in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Loyola Chicago won each of its three games by double-digits en route to the title, covering the spread in each outing. They were 16-9-1 ATS overall in 2020-21, and 13-7-1 in league play.
🚨 SISTER JEAN IS HEADING TO INDY!
The 101-year-old #MarchMadness legend will be cheering on the Ramblers in person! pic.twitter.com/iqwXhbzKK0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2021
Replacing Wright’s production will not be easy for the Yellow Jackets, and they’ll be hard pressed to rack up points against the Ramblers, who rank first in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric.
Total Shrinking In Liberty vs Oklahoma State
The biggest move to a total on Friday’s slate is also in a Midwest Region game, as the over/under is down from 141.5 to 139 in the Liberty versus Oklahoma State contest. The move is a bit surprising given the 13-4 matchup features two teams who’ve seen a large portion of their games go over the total recently.
🗣 "It's almost that time, baby!"#NewEra I #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/xTKV1FJEBt
— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) March 18, 2021
Seven of the Cowboys’ last eight games have eclipsed the number, and the over has hit in 68% of their outings this season. Offensively, they’re capable of scoring with anyone, thanks to projected number one overall pick Cade Cunningham, but they’ve struggled at the defensive end recently. Oklahoma State ranks 22nd in adjusted defensive efficiency, but surrendered an average of 80 points over their past seven contests.
The stage is set.
You know what comes next. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BQvba7yI3c— Liberty Flames (@LibertyFlames) March 18, 2021
The Flames on the other hand, averaged 79 points over their final nine games, and while they held their opposition to just 62 points during that stretch, the over was still 3-0-1 in their last four contests.
Liberty has faced only one team as talented as the Cowboys all season, and it’s important to note that in the four games they played against top-105 ranked competition, the over hit three times.
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
