David Connelly

The UCLA Bruins Leads Utah State Aggies; Day 1 Madness Highlights

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/march-madness-2025-top-player-props-for-friday-march-21">Top NCAA Tournament Player Props for Friday</a>
(14) Lipscomb (25-9) vs (3) Iowa State (24-9)
WHERE TO WATCH &amp; bet365 ODDS
Arena: Fiserv Forum 
Location: Milwaukee, WI 
Date: Friday, March 21 
Where to Watch: TNT 
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET 
Spread: Iowa State -14.5 | Total: 143 
Moneyline: ISU -1400 | LIPS +850 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/game/lipscomb-bisons-iowa-state-cyclones-scores-odds-picks-props-march-21-2025/e8bf579b-62f5-4fc8-9b27-5ef0ef4a8e4f">SportsGrid Matchup Page</a> 
Iowa State enters this tournament a little beat up without second-leading scorer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/keshon-gilbert/4798">Keshon Gilbert</a> due to injury. The Cyclones will have to fare without him, and it leaves their backcourt a bit short of creativity and playmaking outside of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/tamin-lipsey/4800">Tamin Lipsey,</a> who is also battling an injury. It feels like the perfect storm for a team like Lipscomb, who loves the three-ball and enters the game hot with wins in 11 of their previous 12, to keep this one close and stay within the number here. Keep an eye on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/jacob-ognacevic/11587">Jacob Ognacevic</a>, someone who could become a household name with a big performance for the Bisons.

Lipscomb +14.5 vs. Iowa State

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/iowa-state-vs-lipscomb-same-game-parlay-cbb-best-bets-today">Iowa State vs Lipscomb Same Game Parlay</a>
(11) North Carolina (23-13) vs (6) Ole Miss (22-11)
WHERE TO WATCH &amp; bet365 ODDS
Arena: Fiserv Forum 
Location: Milwaukee, WI 
Date: Friday, March 21 
Where to Watch: TNT 
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET 
Spread: UNC -2 | Total: 156 
Moneyline: UNC -130 | MISS +100 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/game/north-carolina-tar-heels-ole-miss-rebels-scores-odds-picks-props-march-21-2025/4793460a-c60c-4d89-811d-e3759c049156">SportsGrid Matchup Page</a>
Every year, it seems as if a First Four team makes a bit of a run by winning at least a game or two once the true tournament begins. We'll say North Carolina is that team this year after dismantling San Diego State on Wednesday night in Dayton to seal their spot in this game. The ceiling has always been there for the Tar Heels, but living up to it against quality competition has been their issue all season. Perhaps they are finding it at the right time? We'll back the Heels against a gettable Ole Miss side here.

North Carolina -2 vs. Ole Miss

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/ncaam-top-25-players-who-entered-the-cbb-transfer-portal">Ranking Players In the CBB Transfer Portal</a>
(14) Troy (23-10) vs (3) Kentucky (22-11)
WHERE TO WATCH &amp; bet365 ODDS
Arena: Fiserv Forum 
Location: Milwaukee, WI 
Date: Friday, March 21 
Where to Watch: CBS 
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET 
Spread: Kentucky -11.5 | 
Total: 151.5 
Moneyline: KENT -750 | TROY +525 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/game/troy-trojans-kentucky-wildcats-scores-odds-picks-props-march-21-2025/5d02bb8c-61ac-41bf-b286-e4846e09deea">SportsGrid Matchup Page</a> 
We'll back another hefty underdog here to keep things close on Friday, this time in the form of the Troy Trojans. Star guard <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/lamont-butler/15026">Lamont Butler</a> may still not be 100 percent on his return from a shoulder injury, and we fear the inconsistencies we saw from Kentucky all season. The Wildcats never strung together more than two wins together throughout any stretch of conference play. Troy will do their best to hang with Kentucky with a roster that has been together - top ten in the nation in continuity - and has some length and size that could trouble Kentucky.

Troy +11.5 vs. Kentucky

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Shoot your shot! Cash in with our four- and five-star <a class="c-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/picks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/picks" data-sk="tooltip_parent">College Basketball Picks</a> and buzzer-beating <a class="c-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/player-props" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/player-props" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Player Props</a>.
(10) New Mexico (26-7) vs (7) Marquette (23-10)
WHERE TO WATCH &amp; bet365 ODDS
Arena: Rocket Arena 
Location: Cleveland, OH 
Date: Friday, March 21 
Where to Watch: TBS 
Time: 7:25 p.m. ET 
Spread: Marquette -4 | Total: 152.5 
Moneyline: MARQ -180 | UNM +150 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/game/new-mexico-lobos-marquette-golden-eagles-scores-odds-picks-props-march-21-2025/c6f49159-89f8-4094-b153-e0cce89ca31e">SportsGrid Matchup Page </a>
This is a pure fade of the Mountain West after what we have seen from the conference throughout this tournament. The MWC representatives at the Big Dance have been abysmal, with San Diego State losing by 27 in the First Four and Utah State losing by 25 on Thursday night. This has been a constant trend for the league for some time now, and we don't see it stopping against a gelled, talented, and athletic Marquette team in this spot. Lay it with the Golden Eagles and fade the playstyle of the Mountain West until further notice.

Marquette -4 vs. New Mexico

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March Madness Previews: <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/march-madness-east-region-odds-picks-cinderella-and-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East</a> | <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/march-madness-south-region-odds-picks-cinderella-and-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South</a> | <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/march-madness-west-region-odds-picks-cinderella-and-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West</a> | <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaab/article/march-madness-midwest-region-odds-picks-cinderella-and-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Midwest</a>
(11) Xavier (22-11) vs (6) Illinois (21-12)
WHERE TO WATCH &amp; bet365 ODDS
Arena: Fiserv Forum 
Location: Milwaukee, WI 
Date: Friday, March 21 
Where to Watch: CBS 
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET 
Spread: Kentucky -11.5 | Total: 151.5 
Moneyline: KEN -750 | TROY +525 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/game/xavier-musketeers-illinois-fighting-illini-scores-odds-picks-props-march-21-2025/7ed6589d-3acd-453b-be65-a937f02849be">SportsGrid Matchup Page</a> 
We're back with another First Four participant on our bet slip! The Musketeers were already a team I was fond of before Big East Tournament play, and it was encouraging to see them give Marquette all they could handle in the Big East quarterfinals. The team felt just a few miscues away from being a real threat in any bracket, and then it clicked late against Texas. Xavier climbed the mountain of a double-digit deficit and downed the Longhorns in front of a rocking home atmosphere to punch their ticket to the Round of 64. They have now won eight of their previous nine games, and are shooting the lights out of the ball at nearly 40 percent on the year from beyond the arc. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/ryan-conwell/6175">Ryan Conwell</a> is really turning into the star they anticipated when he transferred in from Indiana State, and we're looking to get on the bandwagon here.

Xavier ML (+130) vs. Illinois

5 Picks, Predictions for Friday’s NCAA Tournament | Best Bets

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Breaking down the five best bets for Friday's NCAA Tournament action, including ATS picks, moneyline values, key stats, betting trends, and matchup analysis.

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Gilbert McGregor joins Craig Mish on NewsWire to reveal his favorite bets for the biggest matchups on Friday's 16-game slate in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Best Bets for Friday's Slate of NCAA Tournament Action

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