After a crazy opening day of action Thursday, bettors are back and hammering away at NCAA Midwest Region odds for Friday’s slate of games.
After No. 1 seed Kansas romped to an opening-round victory over Texas Southern, No. 2 seed Auburn takes the March Madness court for the first time in the region’s first game of the day. The Tigers face upset minded Jacksonville State, champions of the Atlantic Sun.
Props.com breaks down all eight first-round matchups, with insights from multiple oddsmakers on NCAA Tournament Midwest Region odds and action. Check back for updates through tipoff of all of Friday contests.
| Matchup | Time | Spread | Over/Under |
| No. 9 Creighton vs No. 8 San Diego State | 7:27 p.m. ET Thursday | San Diego State -2.5 | 120.5 |
| No. 16 Texas Southern vs No. 1 Kansas | 9:57 p.m. ET Thursday | Kansas -21.5 | 145.5 |
| No. 13 South Dakota State vs No. 4 Providence | 12: 40 p.m. ET Thursday | Providence -2.5 | 148.5 |
| No. 12 Richmond vs No. 5 Iowa | 3:10 p.m. ET Thursday | Iowa -9.5 | 150.5 |
| No. 11 Iowa State vs No. 6 LSU | 7:20 p.m. ET Friday | LSU -4 | 129.5 |
| No. 14 Colgate vs No. 3 Wisconsin | 9:50 p.m. ET Friday | Wisconsin -7 | 139.5 |
| No. 15 Jacksonville State vs No. 2 Auburn | 12:40 p.m. ET Friday | Auburn -14.5 | 138.5 |
| No. 10 Miami vs No. 7 USC | 3:10 p.m. ET Friday | USC -2.5 | 139.5 |
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 8:15 p.m. ET on March 18.
Midwest Region Odds and Betting Action
No. 11 Iowa State vs. No. 6 LSU
Game information: 7:20 p.m. ET Friday, at Milwaukee (TBS)
UPDATE 5:10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: LSU is down a smidge from -4.5 to -4 on PointsBet’s NCAA Midwest Region odds board. Still, the Tigers are drawing 56% of the tickets and 70% of the cash about two hours prior to tip. The total is up yet another point, moving from 128.5 to 129.5, with 72% of wagers/54% of cash on the Over.
UPDATE 11:15 A.M. ET FRIDAY: LSU is holding firm at -4.5 (-105) at BetMGM, although 60% of the bets and 58% of the money is on underdog Iowa State. After moving four points from an opener of 124.5 to 128.5, the total also remains unchanged. The Over continues to get most of the action on betting splits of 60% tickets/81% money.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: LSU opened as a 4.5-point favorite at BetMGM, and the odds have shifted slightly to -4.5 (-105) with 66% of tickets and 63% of money on Iowa State. The total opened at 124.5 and has steadily risen to 128.5, hitting 125.5 and 127.5 along the way. Most bettors definitely expect a high-scoring affair, as 63% of all wagers and 85% of all the cash is on the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: LSU (22-11 SU, 19-14 ATS) enters the tournament in turmoil after coach Will Wade was fired over the weekend amid allegations of NCAA rules violations. Interim coach Kevin Nickelberry will try to get the Tigers refocused after they lost to Arkansas 79-67 in the SEC tournament quarterfinals. Since came out of the gate this season with 12 straight victories and was 15-1 SU/13-3 ATS as of Jan. 12. However, the Tigers are 7-10 SU/6-11 ATS since.
The Tigers lost to No. 1 seed Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season 86-78 as a 4-point underdog, falling to 1-4 ATS in their last five in this event.
Iowa State (20-12 SU, 17-15 ATS) is entering the tournament with a whimper. The Cyclones have dropped three straight, including a 53-36 loss to Oklahoma State on March 2 and a 72-41 thrashing by Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals. Like LSU, Iowa State started the season 12-0 SU (9-3 ATS) but it has lost seven of its last 11 both on the court and at the betting window.
The Cyclones are seeking their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2017.
Four straight LSU games have gone Over. Also, despite its poor offensive showings against Oklahoma State and Arkansas, Iowa State is 6-3 to the Over in its past nine games.
The point spread is holding firm at the opening number of LSU -4.5 in BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds market. Ticket count is 58% on the underdog Cyclones, but 68% of the money is on LSU. The total has jumped sharply from the send-out number of 124.5 to 127.5, with 79% of bets/88% of dollars on the Over.
No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Wisconsin
Game information: 9:50 p.m. ET Friday, at Milwaukee (TBS)
UPDATE 8:15 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Wisconsin opened as a 7-point favorite at WynnBet, and the line went to 7.5 but is now back to 7. Current bet splits are not available. The total has been steady at 139.5 with 63% of tickets and 69% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 5:15 P.M. ET FRIDAY: There’s no change in the point spread, with Wisconsin holding as a 7.5-point favorite at PointsBet USA. Colgate is still getting a slight majority of the action, at 57% tickets and 55% cash. The total is sitting at 140, which is down a hair from PointsBet’s opening number of 140.5 (but up a bit based from the opening line at other books). Ticket count and money is 67% and 84%, respectively, on the Under.
UPDATE 11:20 A.M. ET FRIDAY: BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds board still shows Wisconsin as a 7.5-point favorite in this contest. That line hasn’t moved since initially dropping from an opener of -9.5 early in the week. Colgate continues to be the favored side, as 62% of bets and 63% of money is on the underdog Raiders. The total has not budged from the opener of 139.5, although the Under is taking 71% of the tickets and an eye-popping 93% of the cash.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: After a quick two-point drop in the point spread, the line has stabilized at Wisconsin -7.5 at BetMGM. Colgate is getting 69% of tickets and 73% of money. The total opened at 139.5 and has stayed there, despite 81% of tickets and 90% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: Wisconsin (24-7 SU, 17-14 ATS) tied with Illinois for the Big Ten regular-season title, but the Badgers entered the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed and lost 69-63 as 3-point favorites in the quarterfinals. Wisconsin also dropped its regular-season finale to last-place Nebraska 74-73 as a 13-point home chalk. Those two setbacks follow a 5-0 SU/4-1 ATS hot streak.
The Badgers are seeking their first Sweet 16 since 2017. Last year, they scored a 23-point opening-round victory over North Carolina before losing 76-63 to eventual national champion Baylor.
Colgate (23-11 SU, 17-15-1 AT) has won 15 straight games (10-5 ATS) while rolling to the Patriot League regular-season and tournament titles. The Raiders covered in all three wins in the conference tournament, including beating Navy 74-58 as a 7-point favorite in the final. The Raiders are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and fifth overall but are still seeking their first win.
The Over is 4-1 in Colgate’s last four overall and 4-0 in the Badgers’ last four NCAA Tournament outings.
Wisconsin opened as a 9.5-point favorite at BetMGM but has since plunged all the way to -7.5. Colgate is nabbing 78% of early wagers and 84% of early money. The total is sitting on the opening number of 139.5, with early action heavily favoring the Under at 91% bets/89% cash.
No. 15 Jacksonville State vs. No. 2 Auburn
Game information: 12:40 p.m. ET Friday, at Greenville, S.C. (TruTV)
UPDATE 11:25 A.M. ET FRIDAY: Auburn opened as a 16.5-point favorite at BetMGM then moved down to 15.5 and remained there until just dropping again to -14.5. As of early this morning, though, 61% of tickets and 62% of money were on the Tigers. The total opened at 138.5, jumped to 139.5, went down to 137.5 but is now back to 138.5, with 74% of tickets and 72% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 2:40 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Auburn opened as a 16.5-point favorite at BetMGM then moved down to 15.5 and currently remains there. The action still favors underdog Jacksonville State, at 56% of tickets/57% money. The total opened at 138.5, jumped to 139.5, but now sits at 137.5, as 57% of tickets and 84% of money are on the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: Auburn (27-5 SU, 19-13 ATS) won the SEC regular-season title but has cooled off after a 22-1 start (17-6 ATS). The Tigers are 5-4 SU and 2-7 ATS since, including a 67-62 loss as 9-point favorites against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament quarterfinals. Auburn, which earlier this season was ranked No. 1 for the first time ever, missed the NCAA Tournament last season. However, the Tigers reached the Final Four in 2019, and they’ve cashed in four straight March Madness contests.
Jacksonville State (21-10 SU, 17-12 ATS) took the strangest path to the NCAA Tournament. Bellarmine won the Atlantic Sun tournament, but the Knights were not eligible for March Madness per NCAA rules pertaining to their transition to Division I. That meant the conference’s automatic berth reverted to regular-season champion Jacksonville State, which lost to Jacksonville 54-51 in the Atlantic Sun semifinals.
The Gamecocks were on a 5-0 SU and ATS run before the semifinal defeat as a 6-point chalk, and the roll into the Tournament 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season. Jacksonville State is making just its second NCAA Tournament appearance and is seeking its first win.
Auburn hit BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds board as a 16.5-point chalk, but that number is now down to -15.5. Despite that move, the early action is going both ways, with 52% of the tickets on the Gamecocks and 54% of the dough on the Tigers. There’s been no change on the 138.5-point total, which has seen early betting splits of 71% tickets/75% money on the Over.
No. 10 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 7 USC
Game information: 3:10 p.m. ET Friday, at Greenville, S.C. (TruTV)
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET FRIDAY: USC was installed as a 1.5-point favorite at BetMGM and the line has risen to -2.5 on Friday, with a bit of a juice adjustment at USC -105/Miami -115. The Trojans are taking a modest majority of the action, at 59% tickets/58% money. The total opened at 139.5 and hasn’t moved, despite 79% of tickets and 78% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: USC was installed as a 1.5-point favorite at BetMGM and the line hasn’t budged, despite 65% of tickets and 76% of money landing on the Trojans. The total opened at 139.5 and that hasn’t moved, either, even though 90% of tickets and 83% of money favors the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: USC (26-7 SU, 15-18 ATS) grabbed an at-large berth after losing to UCLA 69-59 in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals as a 6-point underdog. The Trojans are on a 9-5 SU run, but they’re just 4-10 ATS. That includes going 0-for-8 ATS as a favorite, despite winning seven of those games SU. USC reached the Elite Eight last season before running into the then-undefeated Gonzaga buzzsaw and losing 85-66 as a 9-point ‘dog.
Miami (23-10 SU, 18-14-1 ATS) pulled out an NCAA Tournament berth after covering as an 8.5-point underdog in an 80-76 loss to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals. The Hurricanes are 7-3 SU and 7-2-1 ATS in their past 10. Miami is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 and is searching for its first win since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2016.
The Over is 6-1 in Miami’s last seven, but the Under has cashed in each of USC’s last six neutral-site contests.
USC opened as a 1.5-point favorite on BetMGM’s Midwest Region and that number is unchanged, although 60% of the tickets and 80% of the money are on the Trojans. The total also hasn’t budged from an opener of 139.5. However, the majority of early tickets (67%) and early money (73%) are on the Under.
No. 9 Creighton vs. No. 8 San Diego State
Game information: 7:27 p.m. ET Thursday, at Fort Worth, Texas (TruTV)
UPDATE 6:15 P.M. ET THURSDAY: TwinSpires moved San Diego State from -2 to -2.5, and the line is now back to -2, about an hour before tipoff. Creighton is taking 59% of spread tickets, while 65% of spread cash is on San Diego State. “Sharp play on San Diego State -2,” TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said. The total rose from 119 to 120.5 and is now 120, with 57% of tickets/63% of cash on the Over.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: After a brief dip earlier in the week to -1.5, San Diego State is back to the opening number of -2.5 on BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds board. However, 58% of tickets and 63% of money is on Creighton. The total opened at 120.5, dipped to 119.5, and is now back to 120.5, with 68% of tickets and 88% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 4:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: San Diego State opened as a 2-point favorite at PointsBet, and the line has stayed there despite the Aztecs attracting 59% of tickets and 84% of money. The line has been juiced to San Diego State -2 -115, up from -110. The total opened at 120.5 and has ticked down to 120 with 69% of tickets and 70% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: San Diego State (23-8 SU, 17-14 ATS) received an at-large bid from the Mountain West after losing 53-52 to Boise State in Saturday’s conference tournament final as a 3-point favorite. The Aztecs have won 11 of their last 13 games (7-6 ATS), with both losses coming to Boise State. SDSU hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2015, dropping three straight, including last year’s 78-62 loss to Syracuse.
Creighton (22-11 SU, 19-14 ATS) also reached its conference final and also came up short, falling 54-48 to Villanova in the Big East title game. The Bluejays barely covered as 7-point underdogs and are on a 9-2 ATS run overall,
Creighton reached the Sweet 16 last season for the first time since 2014, falling to eventual national title runner-up Gonzaga. Creighton is playing without starting point guard Ryan Nembhard, who suffered a season-ending wrist injury Feb. 23. The freshman averaged 11.3 points and 4.4 assists in 27 games.
The Bluejays and Aztecs faced off at Creighton in November 2019, and SDSU rolled 83-52 laying 2.5 points.
All three of the Aztecs’ Mountain West tournament games stayed Under after their last four regular-season games went Over. The Under also is 5-1 in Creighton’s last six. Combined, these teams are 40-23-1 to the Under this season.
San Diego State opened as a 2.5-point favorite at BetMGM, and that point spread is unchanged. The early action favors the favorite, as 62% of tickets and 76% of money is on the Aztecs. Not surprisingly given the teams’ strong Under tendencies this season, the total is down a point from 120.5 to 119.5, with 61% of tickets/54% of cash on the Under.
No. 16 Texas Southern vs. No. 1 Kansas
Game information: 9:57 p.m. ET Thursday, at Fort Worth, Texas (TruTV)
UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Shortly before game time, WynnBet has Kansas a 22.5-point chalk, after opening -21.5. The Jayhawks are nabbing 61% of spread tickets, but 52% of spread cash is on big underdog Texas Southern. The total is up to 145.5 from a 143.5 opener, with ticket count dead even and 84% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: Kansas opened as a 22.5-point favorite at BetMGM, then toggled between 21.5 and 22.5. The spread is back to 21.5, with 52% of tickets and 58% of money on the Jayhawks. The total opened at 145.5, went to 144.5, then back to 145.5. Early action is leans toward Kansas (52% wagers/58% cash) and the Under (65% bets/85% money).
UPDATE 4:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Kansas opened as a 21.5-point favorite at PointsBet over Texas Southern after the Tigers won their First Four game Tuesday. The line quickly ticked down to -21, then up slightly to -21 (-115). Most of the action is on the underdog, at 71% of tickets and 73% of money. The total opened at 145.5, then went down to 145 (Under -115). A slight majority of the action is on the Under, at 66% of tickets/68% money.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: Kansas (28-6 SU, 17-16-1 ATS) received the automatic bid from the Big 12 by rolling through the conference tournament over the weekend. The Jayhawks covered all three games, including a 74-65 victory over Texas Tech as a 2.5-point favorite in the final. Throw in a 70-63 overtime victory against Texas as a 6.5-point favorite in the regular-season finale, and the Jayhawks enter the tournament on a season-best 4-0 ATS hot streak.
The Jayhawks lost in the second round in their past two NCAA Tournament appearances, but they reached the Final Four and two Elite Eights in the three before that. Not including the 2020 season, when the Tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas has been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed 10 times in the last 12 events.
Texas Southern (19-12 SU, 17-13-1 ATS) earned a date with the Jayhawks by knocking off Texas A&M-Corpus 76-67 Christi as a 3.5-point favorite in Tuesday’s First Four game. The Tigers have won five in a row and 14 of their last 16 SU. They’ve also followed a 4-10 ATS slump with a 3-0-1 ATS surge, and they’re 9-2 ATS in their last 11 as an underdog.
The Over is 6-2 in Texas Southern’s last eight overall, 7-2 in its last nine NCAA Tournament games, and 6-0-1 in Kansas’ last seven March Madness outings.
No. 13 South Dakota State vs. No. 4 Providence
Game information: 12:40 p.m. ET Thursday, at Buffalo, N.Y. (TruTV)
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET THURSDAY: Providence hit BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds board as a 2.5-point favorite, went down to -1.5 (-115), then back to -2.5. That said, 55% of tickets and 60% of money on South Dakota State. The total opened at 149.5 and went down to 148.5, with 63% of tickets and 85% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 4:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: This line has been on the move since opening at Providence at -2.5 at PointsBet. The spread pinged several times between -2.5 (-115) and -3 (-105), then dropped as low as -1.5 (-115) before going back to -2.5 (-105) on Wednesday. Current bet splits were unavailable. The total opened at 149 and moved to 149.5 (Under -115) with 53% of tickets and 71% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: Providence (25-5 SU, 17-13 ATS) won its first-ever Big East regular-season title by percentage points over Villanova. However, the Friars got trounced 85-58 by Creighton in the conference tournament semifinals as a 2.5-point chalk. The Friars failed to cover in both their Big East tournament games after cashing in three straight (2-1 SU) to end the regular season.
Despite its stellar record, Providence doesn’t score well in the analytics sector. In fact, among the 68 teams in the March Madness field, the team sits 49th in the KenPom rankings, behind eight double-digit seeds. The Friars are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. They have lost eight of nine Tournament games since reaching the Elite Eight in 1997, and they’re 0-5 ATS in their last five.
South Dakota State (30-4 SU, 17-14-1 ATS) went 18-0 in the Summit League then won the conference tournament to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Jackrabbits advanced despite covering only one of their three games in the Summit tourney, after ending the regular season on a 5-2 ATS run. South Dakota State, whose current 21-game SU winning streak is the longest in the nation, is seeking its first NCAA Tournament victory after five defeats.
The Friars are 6-2 to the Over in their past eight games, and the Over is 7-3 in the Jackrabbits’ last 10 on a neutral court.
The poor perception of Providence was reflected in the opening line and movement on BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds menu. The Friars opened as only 2.5-point favorites against their 13th-seeded foe, and that line is holding firm. However, 62% of the early wagers and 74% of early money were on the underdog. The total also is holding at the opening number of 149.5, although 73% of tickets and 83% of dollars are on the Under.
No. 12 Richmond vs. No. 5 Iowa
Game information: 3:10 p.m. ET Thursday, at Buffalo, N.Y. (TruTV)
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Iowa landed on BetMGM’s Midwest Region odds board as a 10.5-point favorite but has been bouncing back and forth between -9.5 and -10.5. About 45 minutes before tipoff, the Hawkeyes are back to -9.5 at BetMGM, as 52% of tickets and 60% of money are on the favorite. The total opened at 151.5 but is now 150.5, with the Under taking 52% of tickets and 60% of money.
UPDATE 4:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Iowa has risen to -10.5 after opening at -9.5 at PointsBet. The line made stops at -9.5 (-105), -10 (-130) and -10 (-120) along the way. Notably, the line has risen despite Richmond attracting 66% of money; 58% of tickets are on Iowa. The total opened at 151.5 and was down to 150.5 on Wednesday, hitting 151 (Under -120) in between. PointsBet reported 63% of tickets and 65% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 10 P.M. ET MONDAY: Iowa (26-9 SU, 22-13 ATS) won four games in as many days to claim the Big Ten tournament title, culminating with Sunday’s 75-66 upset of Purdue as a 2.5-point underdog. The Hawkeyes are widely seen as underseeded in the NCAA Tournament field after their recent hot streak. Details of that hot streak: Iowa is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games and 10-3 ATS in its last 13.
The Hawkeyes are seeking their first Sweet 16 since 1999. They have lost in the second round in their past four NCAA Tournament appearances, including last year’s 95-80 second-round loss to Oregon as a No. 2 seed. Including that setback, Iowa is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 March Madness contests.
Richmond (23-12 SU, 17-18 ATS) earned the last spot in the NCAA Tournament field Sunday, beating Davidson 64-62 in the Atlantic 10 final as a 3.5-point underdog for its third straight upset. The “bid thief” Spiders would not have made the field of 68 otherwise, and they knocked conference rival Dayton out of the Big Dance in the process.
Richmond was in a 2-7 ATS funk before cashing in its final three Atlantic 10 tourney contests. The Spiders are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011, when they advanced to the Sweet 16 before bowing out against No. 1 seed Kansas.
Iowa, which was 22-13 to the Over this season, has topped the total in three of its last four games on the heels of a 5-1 Under stretch. The Under is 12-4-1 in Richmond’s last 17 contests.
Iowa opened -10.5 at BetMGM, took a tumble to -9.5, but is now back at the opening number. It’s solid two-way early action on the spread, with 54% of bets on the Hawkeyes and 52% of money on Richmond. The total opened at 151.5 and quickly moved down to 150.5, where it remains on betting splits of 89% tickets/92% money on the Under.