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The nightcap of the first full day of NCAA Tournament betting action will get underway just before 7:00 ET, and in this session, there will be some of the best and brightest teams in the land kicking off what they hope will be deep runs into this tourney. But which ones will get the axe with premature exits from the dance? Check out our March Madness picks for Friday evening.

Matchup: #16 Boston Terriers vs. #1 Kansas Jayhawks
Date: Friday, March 18th, 6:50 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Tulsa, OK
NCAA Basketball Odds: Kansas -22.5
Over/Under 137

The Terriers have to have some confidence coming into this one, as they won the America East Tournament in fine fashion after coming from behind to beat the Stony Brook Seawolves. However, this is a totally different situation, as Kansas has to be one of the angriest teams in the country after getting embarrassed last year by the Northern Iowa Panthers in the second round of the dance. Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, and a bunch of the other leaders of this team remember that pain, and you can bet that they aren’t going to want to repeat that. Bringing Tyshawn Taylor and Josh Selby off of the bench really almost makes this unfair. KU certainly has the depth to be able to win this one and win it going away by a huge margin. Free March Madness Picks: Kansas Jayhawks -22.5

Matchup: #15 Long Island Blackbirds vs. #2 North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Friday, March 18th, 7:15 ET
Location: East Region, Charlotte, NC
NCAA Basketball Odds: North Carolina -17.5
Over/Under 158.5

We’re going to give the Blackbirds a heck of a lot of credit if they try to run with the Tar Heels, but it’s just not that good of an idea. Sure, UNC no longer has Larry Drew II at its disposal, but when push comes to shove, men like Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and company are just too good to be stopped. However, LIU didn’t win a ton of games this season on accident. The Blackbirds won’t be able to win this game, but this is a hefty, hefty pointspread to be giving us. We’ll take the points and hope we can get into the win column at the end. March Madness Free Picks: Long Island Blackbirds +17.5

Matchup: #14 St. Peter’s Peacocks vs. #3 Purdue Boilermakers
Date: Friday, March 18th, 7:20 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Chicago, IL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Purdue -14.5
Over/Under 120.5

Normally speaking, the big time teams in this tournament just don’t want to see the Metro Atlantic on their schedule. Plenty of teams have earned upsets, and most of these stingy clubs just find ways to stay in games, mostly through great defense and three point shooting. We know that the Boilermakers just have too many stars to be topped, though. Even without Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore are absolutely studs and will not have their talent matched on the court by the Peacocks. Give St. Peter’s the nod to be able to score 55 points or so on the Boilermakers, as that should be enough to beat the college basketball odds. Free March Madness Picks: St. Peter’s Peacocks +14.5

Matchup: #11 Marquette Golden Eagles vs. #6 Xavier Musketeers
Date: Friday, March 18th, 7:25 ET
Location: East Region, Cleveland, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: Xavier -2.5
Over/Under 140.5

The terms “Xavier” and “NCAA Tournament” just go together like “Fish and Chips” or “Arts and Crafts.” Yes, the Musketeers know what they are doing when they get here, and it feels like they have more consistent runs through the first weekend of the dance than any other mid major program. This year, Tu Holloway is the one to watch, as he is not just one of the best scorers in the conference, but in the entire country as well. We give Head Coach Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles a lot of credit for winning just enough games to get into the NCAA Tournament, but when push comes to shove, they just don’t have enough to be able to stick around in this bracket unless the three pointers really end up starting to fall in a huge way. Free March Madness Picks: Xavier Musketeers -2.5

Matchup: #9 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #8 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Date: Friday, March 18th, 9:20 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Tulsa, OK
NCAA Basketball Odds: UNLV -2
Over/Under 133.5

This is one of the most intriguing games in the entire tournament this year. Head Coach Lon Kruger will take on his old team in Tulsa, which should be a perfect neutral site basically halfway between both schools. The Illini have some great athletes, but it really seems like this team underachieved all season long. Tre’Von Willis is one of the most underappreciated players in the MWC, and he has the ability to really light it up even though he had a down season. This one could come down to the wire, and if it does, we know that we want those points on our side. March Madness Free Picks: Illinois Fighting Illini +2

Matchup: #10 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #7 Washington Huskies
Date: Friday, March 18th, 9:45 ET
Location: East Region, Charlotte, NC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Washington -5.5
Over/Under 140.5

The Huskies are red hot right now for the straight season heading into the NCAA Tournament. Last year, that hot run in the Pac-10 Tournament was enough to surge them into the Sweet 16. This is a very high octane team with a ton of potential. Isaiah Thomas will get up and run, and he’ll do all of the dirty work as well. Matthew Bryan-Amaning has really come on strong in the second half of the year, and the Dawgs are going to be very hard pressed to try to stop him in the paint. Georgia lost those two games against the Alabama Crimson Tide to end their season, and it really has to prove that it belongs here. Don’t figure upon that happening, though. Free March Madness Picks: Washington Huskies -5.5

Matchup: #11 VCU Rams vs. #6 Georgetown Hoyas
Date: Friday, March 18th, 9:50 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Chicago, IL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Georgetown -5.5
Over/Under 133

Many are pointing the finger at the Big East teams like Villanova, which slumped into the NCAA Tournament, but maybe we should be pointing the finger at Georgetown as well. The Hoyas have lost four in a row, but they have to be happy about having this game relatively close to home. Chris Wright should be back in the fold, and his absence has been key for this team’s losing streak. In terms of talent, this is one of the best teams in the nation, and it could be in for a great run through the dance. As we saw with Clemson on Thursday, we know that this play in game kept it off balance for a game just two days later. VCU could be in the same type of boat. Don’t be shocked if the defense for the Rams just gets broken down. March Madness Free Picks: Georgetown Hoyas -5.5

Matchup: #14 Indiana State Sycamores vs. #3 Purdue Boilermakers
Date: Friday, March 18th, 9:55 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Chicago, IL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Indiana State -14.5
Over/Under 120.5

The Boilermakers probably don’t have the depth to get through this tournament, but they certainly do have enough to take care of the Sycamores. However, what we have to remember is that the Missouri Valley Conference almost always produced an interesting game or two in the dance; just ask the Kansas Jayhawks how they feel about this conference… Purdue won’t end up out of the tourney in this one, but it will struggle just a tad. Ultimately, a very stingy ISU team will figure out how to stick inside of this number. Free March Madness Picks: Indiana State Sycamores +14.5

Though the NCAA Tournament has already gotten started, this is the first day in which most NCAA basketball betting fans are paying close attention. The first slate of games is always the most exciting, and we have all of the ins and outs covered for the start of what should be a great day of March Madness picks!

Matchup: #13 Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs. #4 Texas Longhorns
Date: Friday, March 18th, 12:15 ET
Location: West Region, Tulsa, OK
NCAA Basketball Odds: Texas -10
Over/Under: 154

The Longhorns were probably incredibly shafted this season in the dance, as they really could have been a No. 1 seed had they performed well down the stretch of the year. Still, this is a team that has proven that it can be great, or it can be awful. We hate these bi-polar clubs in the dance, especially against teams that really can fill up the basket. Don’t sleep on these Golden Grizzlies. They were head and shoulders above the rest of the Summit League this year, and they really can pull off this upset. Free March Madness Picks: Oakland Golden Grizzlies +10

Matchup: #9 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #8 Michigan Wolverines
Date: Friday, March 18th, 12:40 ET
Location: West Region, Charlotte, NC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Tennessee -2
Over/Under 127.5

We’re a little confused as to why the Wolverines are underdogs in this game. They really played some great ball in the second half of the season, and they have some very near misses against some of the best teams in the land. Tennessee has to be wondering whether this is the last game for Head Coach Bruce Pearl, and after a tumultuous season that included a suspension for Pearl at the start of the SEC campaign, we just don’t know if the Vols really deserve to be favored. Go with Big Blue and Tim Hardaway Jr. for the upset. March Madness Free Picks: Michigan Wolverines +2

Matchup: #15 Akron Zips vs. #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Friday, March 18th, 1:40 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Chicago, IL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Notre Dame -14
Over/Under 136

The Zips certainly weren’t the best team in the MAC this year, and they really don’t have a heck of a lot of depth. This is a bad matchup against this Notre Dame team, which might be one of the very best teams in the entire country. There are just too many outside scorers on this team, and once Tim Abromaitis and Ben Hansbrough get going, there is no end for the Zips. Carleton Scott could be a difference maker as well. Free March Madness Picks: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -14

Matchup: #9 Villanova Wildcats vs. #8 George Mason Patriots
Date: Friday, March 18th, 2:10 ET
Location: East Region, Columbus, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: Villanova -1.5
Over/Under 135

At least on paper, this should be a mismatch. After all, Villanova was once in the No. 6 position in the country and wondered whether it would be a No. 1 seed in the dance. This is probably about as much hype as George Mason could have with 26 wins on the season. The only thing that might have helped was a CAA Tournament triumph, though it is clear that the semifinal exit didn’t hurt it all that much. The Wildcats had better get out of this one, or they are going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble when push comes to shove going into the offseason, which would be one that is just full of a ton of question marks. Mason proved it can play against the Cats, losing by one last year in the City of Brotherly Love, but it won’t get the job done this week. Free March Madness Picks: Villanova Wildcats -1.5

Matchup: #12 Memphis Tigers vs. #5 Arizona Wildcats
Date: Friday, March 18th, 2:45 ET
Location: West Region, Tulsa, OK
NCAA Basketball Odds: Arizona -5.5
Over/Under 138.5

Arizona knows that it can make a really deep run in this tournament, and we tend to believe that this could be the start of something truly special. Memphis underachieved all season long, and though it does have the potential to do a lot of damage, it is very likely to prove that Conference USA is nowhere near as good as it should be. If the Tigers can’t find a way to hold up Derrick Williams, this one could get very, very ugly. Don’t be shocked if the U of A barges right into the Round of 32. March Madness Free Picks: Arizona Wildcats -5.5

Matchup: #16 Hampton Pirates vs. #1 Duke Blue Devils
Date: Friday, March 18th, 3:10 ET
Location: West Region, Charlotte, NC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Duke -23
Over/Under 134

Let’s get one thing straight right away: No one is beating Duke here in Charlotte in the first weekend of the tournament. However, this is an interesting game for a number of reasons. Hampton was able to win a heck of a lot games this season, and it is used to playing teams like this one, having done so a number of times in the dance. There is also a lot of question as to whether Kyrie Irving will be back in this fold for the first time since early this season. No, the Dookies won’t need him now, but they might for the rest of the season. Hampton might stick around for awhile in this one though, and when push comes to shove, it should stay within 20 or so. Free March Madness Picks: Hampton Pirates +23

Matchup: #10 Florida State Seminoles vs. #7 Texas A&M Aggies
Date: Friday, March 18th, 4:10 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Chicago, IL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Texas A&M -1
Over/Under 120.5

These two teams are virtually identical, assuming that Chris Singleton does suit up for the Seminoles. Khris Middleton and Singleton are both wing type of players that can do a ton, and both of these teams will play a ton of defense on a regular basis. This one won’t be for the faint of heart. Still, when push comes to shove, we just don’t have the confidence that Florida State can put a game away late. Head Coach Leonard Hamilton will inevitably blow it, as the Aggies advance. March Madness Free Picks: Texas A&M Aggies -1

Matchup: #16 Texas San Antonio Roadrunners vs. #1 Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Friday, March 18th, 4:40 ET
Location: East Region, Cleveland, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: Ohio State -24
Over/Under 138

This line opened up with the Buckeyes favored by three TDs, but it has only come up from there. The problem that the Roadrunners have is that they are going to try using six guys to beat the six guys for Ohio State. Good luck. Unless all of a sudden, foul trouble creeps up for a team that is one of the best in the land, OSU won’t be in any sort of trouble in this 1/16 game. The Roadrunners just don’t stand a puncher’s chance in this one, especially since the game is being played in Cleveland. Free March Madness Picks: Ohio State Buckeyes -24