The 2023 NCAA Tournament is finally here with the Big Dance getting underway with the First Four games Tuesday. Texas A&M Corpus Christi defeated Southeast Missouri State 75-71 and Pitt defeated Mississippi State 60-59. Two more First Four games get going Wednesday.
The First Four games always serve as tasty appetizers to the main course that starts with the first round on Thursday.
Making things even more interesting is that oddsmakers and experts are split over which teams they expect to advance. All four game spreads are four points or less, which sets the stage for what could be a monumental tournament filled with upsets and surprises over the remaining few weeks.
While surviving and advancing is clearly what matters for most, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the rest of the month for NCAA Tournament coverage from the opening tipoff of the First Four through the end of the Final Four. Let's take a look at our expert picks as the first games get underway across Tuesday and Wednesday.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern
(16) Fairleigh Dickinson vs. (16) Texas Southern
Wednesday, 6:40 pm. | truTV, March Madness Live: If the name Texas Southern sounds familiar, it should. The Tigers are making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Johnny Jones despite a putrid 14-20 overall record and 7-11 finish in SWAC play. Why? They ran the table in the conference tournament. They've gotten hot as leading scorer Davon Barnes and sidekick PJ Henry have found their rhythm, making them my pick here against a Fairleigh Dickinson team that rates as the worst defensive unit in the field (third-worst in all of college hoops this season in efficiency ratings at KenPom). Pick: Texas Southern -2
| Parrish | Norlander | Boone | Cobb | Patterson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spread | FDU +2 | FDU +2 | TXSO -2 | FDU +2 | TXSO -2 |
Straight up | FDU | FDU | TXSO | FDU | TXSO |
(11) Nevada vs. (11) Arizona State
Wednesday, 9:10 p.m. | truTV, March Madness Live: Arizona State opened as a 2-point favorite, and its margin has ticked down to a single point ahead of Wednesday's tip, but I'm not ready to buy in to the Wolfpack in this spot. They had a great start to the season but slumped to the finish, culminating with three losses in three borderline must-win games as they flirted with the bubble. ASU is a fiesty bunch under Bobby Hurley, who I'll give the slight edge to here. Pick: Arizona State -1
| Parrish | Norlander | Boone | Cobb | Patterson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spread | ASU -1 | ASU -1 | ASU -1 | ASU -1 | ASU -1 |
Straight up | ASU | ASU | ASU | ASU | ASU |
