The NCAA Tournament rolls on with day two of the first round, with more madness expected to take place and more betting value to be had.
So, our staff is diving into the daytime slate with three picks.
Without further ado, here's our college basketball picks, including three March Madness best bets for Friday's daytime slate.
NCAA Tournament Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12:15 p.m. | |
  | 12:40 p.m. | |
  | 3:15 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Santa Clara vs. Kentucky
Santa Clara is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996 (when Steve Nash was on the team), and now its reward is a date with Kentucky.
But the Wildcats haven't been themselves this season under Mark Pope, dealing with constant injuries to key contributors.
Plus, the Broncos have a nice +6.3% edge on the spread, according to our Action PRO projections.
As you can see above, we have this spread closer to a pick'em, compared to the number (+3.5) that's currently circulating at sportsbooks at the time of writing.
Santa Clara moneyline also has a nice 6.6% edge, so sprinkling on the straight-up victory is a legit option, especially according to our projections.
Back Herb Sendek and Co. to make some magic in the tourney for the WCC.
Pick: Santa Clara +3.5
Akron��vs. Texas Tech
By Evan Abrams
Akron is one of the more popular upset picks of the first round, especially since Texas Tech is without its best player, JT Toppin, who's out for the season.
But my Bet Labs Sports Insights system — "Fade Fast Pace vs. Slow Pace" — believes in the Red Raiders covering this 7.5-point spread.
In fact, this system has a strong history (718-591-17 overall with a 5% return on investment) and has been even better this season (114-82-0 with an 11% return on investment), making this a worthwhile play.
This is a fade system. In college basketball, fast-paced teams (Akron is top-50 in KenPom adjusted tempo) often struggle when facing opponents that deliberately slow the game down.
The transition from an up-tempo style to a half-court grind disrupts rhythm, shot selection and flow, especially for teams accustomed to scoring early in the shot clock.
Slow-paced opponents force more possessions under pressure and limit transition chances, making efficiency more important than volume.
When a quick team meets a disciplined defense coming off a strong shooting performance, that combination compounds the disadvantage.
This system highlights how pace contrast can expose overvalued favorites whose success depends on speed rather than execution in structured, slower games.
Pick: Texas Tech -7.5
Hofstra vs. Alabama
By Sean Paul
The Crimson Tide went on an eight-game winning streak in February, but the vibe is pretty dark in Tuscaloosa. They lost two of their last three games, one to Georgia and one to Ole Miss.
The bigger issue is how Alabama will have to rally the troops without Aden Holloway, who was arrested and "removed from campus". He was the Crimson Tide's second-leading scorer at 16 points per game, while shooting 43% from deep.
Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette, who are more pure shooters than a scorer like Holloway, will have to step up.
Meanwhile, Hofstra is an interesting team. The Pride already have a pair of high-major wins, beating Syracuse and Pittsburgh in November. Plus, it led the CAA in KenPom all season.
Cruz Davis is one of the best mid-major players in the NCAA Tournament, as he's averaging 20 points and four assists per game. He can score easily against the poor defensive Alabama guards.
Odds are that pace will determine who wins this one — or if Hofstra can cover. Hofstra is 317th in adjusted tempo, so that's polar opposite from the free-flowing Crimson Tide.
If head coach Speedy Claxton can force Alabama to play a half-court game — which likely comes from dominating the offensive glass and hitting shots — the Pride have a chance to win.
Either way, 11.5 points is too many for an Alabama team without Holloway. He relieves pressure on Labaron Philon Jr. and can play backup point guard.
The Tide could be in legit danger without him.
Pick: Hofstra +11.5 (Play to +9)
