24 Mar

NCAA Tournament picks, optimal predictions from top-rated college basketball model

The 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket has officially arrived and the madness already began during the First Four. There’s already been an overtime game, resulting in Grambling advancing to face No. 1 Purdue on Friday. In addition, Virginia’s offense went scoreless over the final 9:30 of the first half in a 67-42 victory for Colorado State. Since the introduction of the First Four round in 2011, every NCAA Tournament outside of 2019 had at least one First Four team win a game in the Round of 64. How should that affect how you build your 2024 March Madness bracket?

Purdue is hoping history doesn’t repeat itself when the Boilermakers lost to Fairleigh Dickinson after the Knights won their 1 vs. 16 game last season. Purdue finds itself in a similar situation, but only two No. 1 seeds have lost to a No. 16 seed in NCAA Tournament history, so you could feel confident that Purdue won’t fall victim to another opening loss. Purdue is now a No. 4 seed or better for the seventh straight season, but has only made it past the Sweet 16 once. Should you have Purdue in the Final Four of your 2024 NCAA bracket? Before filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket 2024, be sure to see the 2024 March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 92% of all CBS Sports brackets in three of the past five tournaments. In an upset-laden 2023 NCAA Tournament, the model was all over UConn’s shocking Final Four run as a 4-seed. It went an amazing 23-9 in the first round, including an astounding 12-4 in the Midwest and West regions.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016.

There’s no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2024 March Madness picks. Now, with the 2024 NCAA bracket revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Top 2024 March Madness bracket picks
One of the Midwest Region picks from the model: No. 3 seed Creighton goes on a surprise run to the Final Four. Creighton has proven capable of knocking off any team in the country, as displayed with a 19-point victory over UConn, the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Creighton has three players averaging more than 17 points per game, giving the Bluejays the offensive versatility that if one player has an off-scoring night, it doesn’t immediately signal the end of their run. Baylor Scheierman, a 6-foot-7 guard, leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounds (9.0), and blocks (3.0) while shooting 37.2% on 3-pointers while making 99 triples. He’s tied for the 23rd-most made 3-pointers in college basketball, doing so against some of the top competition in the country.

Creighton is third in the country in effective field goal percentage (57.5%) and fourth in shooting efficiency. The Bluejays average 80.5 points per game, the 23rd-most in the nation, with the 17th-best average scoring margin in college basketball. Creighton is one of the few teams in the country to match an efficient offense with an efficient defense, pairing the fourth-best opponent shooting efficiency with the 13th-best opponent effective field goal percentage in the nation. The Bluejays have all you’d want in a Final Four team for your 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket.

Another surprise: No. 5 Gonzaga gets past No. 4 Kansas in the second round of the Midwest. Kansas is the only school with two Wooden Award finalists, but one of those, Kevin McCullar Jr., has been ruled out for the entire 2024 NCAA Tournament due to a knee injury. Kansas played six games without McCullar this season and averaged 10 fewer points than the 26 games they played with him.

Gonzaga has few questions offensively. The Zags have the 17th-lowest turnover rate in the nation, and those extra possessions on offense allow Graham Ike to dominate in the paint. The Wyoming transfer has effectively replaced Drew Timme and is scoring 16.5 points per game on over 60% shooting. Meanwhile, Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard had a 30-point game in last year’s tournament and enters this year’s with three straight double-digit assist games. You can see the model’s 2024 NCAA bracket picks here.

How to make 2024 NCAA bracket predictions
Who wins every tournament-defining matchup, and which teams will make surprising runs through the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2024 NCAA bracket picks.

24 Mar

Top-rated simulation predicts surprising upsets, March Madness picks, sleepers

There are multiple NCAA Tournament Cinderella teams every season, and there are sure to be more in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket. Saint Peter’s burst onto the scene two years ago, becoming the only No. 15 seed ever to advance to the Elite Eight. The Peacocks are back in the 2024 March Madness bracket as a No. 15 seed and will enter the Big Dance full of confidence after winning eight of their last 10 games. Saint Peter’s will square off against No. 2 Tennessee in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

The Volunteers haven’t advanced past the Sweet 16 since 2010. Should your 2024 March Madness bracket picks include backing the Peacocks to pull off a stunning upset in the first round, or should you back another double-digit seed like Nevada (10), James Madison (12) or Samford (13) to make a deep run? Before you make your 2024 NCAA Tournament predictions, see the March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has nailed 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016 and nailed UConn’s dramatic Final Four run as a 4-seed last year. It went an amazing 22-10 in the first round, including an astounding 12-4 in the Midwest and West regions.

Last year, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including huge wins by No. 13 Furman over No. 4 Virginia and No. 10 Penn State over No. 7 Texas A&M. The model has beaten over 92% of all CBS Sports bracket players in three of the past five tournaments.

Now, SportsLine’s advanced computer model has simulated the entire 2024 NCAA Tournament 10,000 times to come up with the perfect 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket and find out which teams will pull off the biggest upsets. You shouldn’t even think about making a pick without seeing what their model has to say.

Top 2024 March Madness bracket upset picks
One Midwest Region surprise the model has identified: No. 11 seed Oregon knocks off No. 6 seed South Carolina. The Ducks reeled off three consecutive victories to be crowned champions of the Pac-12 Tournament. Oregon is led by Jermaine Couisnard, who’s averaging 15.4 points, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

Center N’Faly Dante is expected to have a big day when the Ducks take the court on Thursday. The 6-foot-11 senior averages 16.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while knocking down 70.2% of his field goal attempts. South Carolina ranks outside the top 200 in defensive rebounds and blocks, which could be an issue against Dante and the Ducks. With the Gamecocks also ranking 64th out of 68 tournament teams in creating turnovers, that presents more possessions for Oregon and more opportunities for Dante to make his presence felt.

Another Midwest Region surprise the model has identified: No. 5 Gonzaga beats No. 4 Kansas to advance to the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs have four players averaging in double-figures, including forward Anton Watson. The 6-foot-8 senior enters March Madness 2024 averaging 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while knocking down 57.7% of his field goals.

As a team, the Zags are making 57.2% of their field goals, which ranks eighth in the nation. That’s a big reason why Gonzaga is scoring 84.9 points per game on average, the seventh-most in college basketball. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks are making just 32.9% of their 3-pointers this season, which ranks 237th in the country. Bill Self’s squad will also be without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr. due to a knee injury in the NCAA Tournament. See which other 2024 March Madness matchups to target here.

How to make 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions
Who wins every tournament-defining matchup? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2024 NCAA bracket picks.

24 Mar

NCAA Tournament 2024 bracket picks, upsets, best Cinderella teams: Model simulates March Madness 10K times

The Creighton Blue Jays had a successful 2023-24 regular season, going 23-8 before falling in their first Big East Tournament game to Providence. Led by dynamic scorers Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander, and imposing center Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Blue Jays’ starting lineup matches up favorably to just about any team in the country. They open their 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket on Thursday as a No. 3 seed against No. 14 Akron. Are the Blue Jays capable of making a deep run through the 2024 March Madness bracket?

They’re in the Midwest Region with Purdue and Tennessee, two schools who have reputations for falling short in the Big Dance. Creighton could even be one of the 2024 March Madness sleepers to consider when making your 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket picks. Before making any 2024 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 92 percent of all CBS Sports brackets three of the past five tournaments. In an upset-laden 2023 NCAA Tournament, the model was all over UConn’s shocking Final Four run as a 4-seed. It went an amazing 23-9 in the first round, including an astounding 12-4 in the Midwest and West regions.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016.

There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2024 March Madness pools. Now, with the 2024 NCAA bracket being revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

2024 March Madness bracket games to watch
One of the 2024 March Madness matchups to keep an eye on: No. 4 seed Duke vs. No. 13 seed Vermont in the South Region. Led by center Kyle Filipowski, who averages 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, the Blue Devils have the size and experience to favorably compete with any team in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket. The Catamounts are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and give up the ninth fewest points in college basketball (63.0 per game).

Also in the South Region, Wisconsin vs. James Madison figures to be yet another pivotal 5 vs. 12 matchup. Despite making a run to the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, the Badgers enter the NCAA Tournament 2024 having lost nine of their last 15 games. The Dukes, on the other hand, have won 13 straight games, eight of which were decided by 10 or more points.

The third matchup to watch in the South Region features No. 3 seed Kentucky vs. No. 14 seed Oakland. Led by guards Antonio Reeves (20.0 points per game), Rob Dillingham (15.4), and Reed Sheppard (12.8), the Wildcats fly up and down the court whenever they have a chance. The Golden Grizzlies are led by forward Trey Townsend, who averages 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for a team that won the Horizon League’s regular season and conference tournament titles. You can see how far all these teams go over at SportsLine.

How to make 2024 NCAA bracket predictions
How far will those major programs go? And which Cinderella teams will make surprising runs through the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any NCAA bracket picks.

24 Mar

Lakers’ LeBron James gifts Duquesne team new sneakers ahead of matchup with BYU

The Duquesne men’s basketball team is set to begin its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 47 seasons. In coordination with the special occasion, the Dukes received some spectacular gifts from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

During a team meeting on Wednesday, Duquesne received new sneakers from James himself ahead of the team’s matchup against BYU.

Appreciate it King 🙏@DuqMBB x @KingJames pic.twitter.com/yTiQFMBno0

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) March 20, 2024
The team was clearly over the moon when the gifts arrived and were truly appreciative of the gesture from James.

James has been a big supporter of the Dukes’ program in recent years, and even congratulated them following Sunday’s victory in the Atlantic 10 tournament. That’s because Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot was James’ coach when he played at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron before being drafted.

This will be Dambrot’s final collegiate season as he plans to retire following this year’s NCAA Tournament run.

Duquesne has had a very impressive season as they put together a 24-11 (10-8 Atlantic 10) record this season. The Dukes won the Atlantic 10 conference tournament this past weekend to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 11 seed Dukes will face off with the No. 6 seed Cougars on Thursday with the game set to tip off at 12:40 p.m. ET.

24 Mar

2024 NCAA Tournament picks, March Madness bets by top model

The North Carolina Tar Heels make their return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence when they square off against the Wagner Seahawks in a first-round matchup on Thursday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Last season, North Carolina missed the tournament for the first time since 2010 despite entering the year as the preseason No. 1 team. This year, the Tar Heels (27-7) are the No. 1 seed in the West Region after winning the ACC regular season title. Meanwhile, the Seahawks (17-15) are playing in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history and first since 2003.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels are favored by 25.5 points in the latest North Carolina vs. Wagner odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 133.5. Before making any Wagner vs. North Carolina picks, you need to check out the college basketball analysis from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on UNC vs. Wagner. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Wagner vs. UNC:

North Carolina vs. Wagner spread: Tar Heels -25.5
North Carolina vs. Wagner over/under: 133.5 points
North Carolina vs. Wagner money line: Tar Heels -6186, Seahawks +1975
UNC: The Tar Heels are eighth in the nation in rebounds per game (41.2)
WAG: The Seahawks rank seventh in the country in scoring defense (62.3 points per game)
North Carolina vs. Wagner picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why North Carolina can cover
North Carolina has a dominant big man in Armando Bacot. The 6-foot-11 Bacot is averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He ranks ninth all-time in Div. I history in rebounds (1,681) and fourth in double-doubles (85). Led by Bacot, North Carolina averages 41.2 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the country.

In addition, the Tar Heels will face a Wagner team that has struggled offensively all season. The Seahawks rank 343rd out of 351 Div. I teams in both scoring offense (63.8 points per game) and field goal percentage (39.6). See who to back at SportsLine.

Why Wagner can cover
Wagner has been playing excellent defense all season. The Seahawks allow just 62.3 points per game, which ranks seventh in the country. They also give up just 29.5% shooting on 3-pointers, which is eighth in the nation.

In addition, Wagner has a do-it-all player in guard Melvin Council Jr. A 6-foot-4 junior guard from Rochester, N.Y., Council averages 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Earlier this month, he was named a first-team All-NEC player. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make North Carolina vs. Wagner picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 137 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.

24 Mar

Long Beach State AD takes credit for team’s NCAA Tournament berth after firing coach

Long Beach State athletic director Bobby Smitheran on Thursday took partial credit for the team’s Big West Tournament run that culminated with an NCAA Tournament automatic bid last week, saying he fired coach Dan Monson before the conference tournament in an effort to inspire the team. Speaking with reporters ahead of the No. 15 seed LBSU’s first round game vs. No. 2 seed Arizona, which tips at 2:00 p.m. ET on CBS, Smitheran claimed he wanted no credit … before taking credit … for the unexpected late-season rally.

“My belief and hope is that by doing what I did and the timing of it, they would play inspired, and that’s what they did,” said Smitheran. “I’m not trying to pat myself on the back, but it worked.”

Long Beach State parted ways with Monson, its long-time coach of nearly two decades after the regular season but allowed him the courtesy to coach out the postseason. The team then won three games in three days in the Big West Tournament to secure the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

“I don’t have to answer anything I don’t want to because I’m working for free today,” quipped Monson on Wednesday in his pre-tournament presser. “Did you see the ‘Seinfeld’ [episode] when George was trying to get fired and couldn’t lose his job, still going to work every day? That’s me. I’m a Seinfeld episode going on right now in real life.”

Monson and his LBSU team are 19.5-point underdogs to Arizona on Thursday, but his team has been one of the talks of the town leading into the NCAA Tournament because of the unique circumstance. Smitheran told the AP that the situation has been overblown, though, and even suggested that it was Monson’s idea.

“I think this is really getting lost on people, that we agreed that a change in leadership was necessary,” Smitheran said. “This was something Coach Monson brought to me.”

Long Beach State finished 10-10 in regular-season conference play and lost its final five games before its run through the Big West Tournament. It enters the NCAA Tournament 21-14 and is making its first appearance in the Big Dance since 2012.