Round 1 Upset Picks
The Sportsbook.com staff has scoured the list of first round games and chosen some upset picks.
Each of these squads has the ability to win the game outright, meaning the spread pick is even more enticing.
Visit Sportsbook.com for the odds of all 32 games for the opening round, and make sure to take advantage of 10% Reload Bonuses through Friday, and Reduced Juice for all wagers placed on Friday.
Western Kentucky (+4.5) Over Illinois
Game being played Thursday, 9:55 pm ET.
Number 12 seeds like Western Kentucky, who are tourney tested and have won 70% of their games, are historically a good play.
Western Kentucky upset Drake as a 12-seed last year and even though they lost Courtney Lee, holdover guards A.J. Slaughter and Orlando Mendez-Valdez are very good. Illinois suffers from severe scoring droughts at times and the Hilltoppers could easily pull the upset.
Morgan State (+16.5) Over Oklahoma
Game being played Thursday, 9:40 pm ET
Morgan State is obviously far more attractive getting the points, but an outright win is a small possibility as well.
Number two seeds like Oklahoma have bowed out early when they average under 80 PPG and allow 65 PPG or more. The Sooners come in at 79.2 PPG scored and 67.8 surrendered on the year, and are 2-4 straight-up and 1-5 ATS coming into the tournament.
North Dakota State (+10) Over Kansas
Game being played Friday, 12:30 pm ET
Fourteen seeds like North Dakota State that average over 76.5 PPG have placed pressure on three seeds, being able to win outright about a third of the time.
North Dakota State fits this particular profile at 80.8 PPG and has loads of senior talent. That is juxtaposed against three-seed Kansas, who returns no starters from their championship team of a year ago and could be ripe for an upset.
