First Four predictions, picks for 2025 March Madness games today
The full frenzy of March Madness won't be felt until Thursday, when the first round of the NCAA Tournament tips off and a handful of games are taking place at the same time.
On Tuesday, though, men's college basketball fans across the country will get their first taste of win-or-go-home games that will devour their lives over the next three weeks.
The First Four begins Tuesday with a pair of games at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, the traditional home of the NCAA Tournament's opening matchups.
In the first game, No. 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis (Pa.) will square off, with the winner advancing to take on No. 1 overall seed Auburn on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky. Following that, North Carolina, after its controversial and much-debated selection to the tournament field, will take on fellow No. 11 seed San Diego State. The winner of that meeting will move on to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Though the Alabama State-Saint Francis winner is highly unlikely to get any further than the first round — a No. 16 seed has toppled a No. 1 seed only twice since the tournament field expanded to 68 teams in 1985 — Thursday's winner between the Tar Heels and Aztecs could make some noise beyond Dayton. North Carolina and San Diego State have both made the national championship game in the past three years, though their respective squads this year don't appear to be nearly as formidable.
Who will come out on top in each contest? Here's a look at predictions from various experts on who will win Tuesday in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, as well as information on how to watch the games:
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Expert picks for First Four games Tuesday
No. 16 Alabama State vs. No. 16 Saint Francis
- Jeff Borzello, ESPN: Alabama State 74, Saint Francis 72
- Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report: Alabama State
- Fox Sports: Alabama State 73, Saint Francis 70
- Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: Saint Francis
- Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama State
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Alabama State 71, Saint Francis 69
- Dimers: Alabama State 72, Saint Francis 69
No. 11 San Diego State vs. No. 11 North Carolina
- Jeff Borzello, ESPN: North Carolina 71, San Diego State 64
- Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report: North Carolina
- Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina 75, San Diego State 69
- Fox Sports: North Carolina 73, San Diego State 72
- Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: San Diego State
- Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News: San Diego State
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: North Carolina 77, San Diego State 70
- Dimers: North Carolina 72, San Diego State 68
Watch First Four games live with Sling TV
How to watch Tuesday's First Four games
No. 16 Alabama State vs. No. 16 Saint Francis (Pa.)
- Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- TV: truTV
- Streaming: Sling TV
No. 16 San Diego State vs. No. 16 North Carolina
- Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
- TV: truTV
- Streaming: Sling TV
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