March Madness: Betting Lines, Predictions & Picks for All 8 Games on Saturday, March 21

(AsiaGameHub) –   The action of March Madness continues as the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32 begins Saturday at noon Eastern Time. Our coverage includes the odds, predictions, and picks for all eight matchups, with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Game Odds at DraftKings

Prepare for a full day of college basketball and potential bracket upsets by reviewing the odds for every contest at DraftKings. Our predictions and selections are detailed below.

No. 1 Michigan (-12.5, 161.5) vs. No. 9 St. Louis

CBS: 12:10 p.m. ET

All signs point to an OVER in this matchup. Although Michigan surrendered 80 points to Howard in the first round, they still secured a decisive 101-80 victory.

St. Louis also had a high-scoring start, erupting for 102 points in its opening win against Georgia. The Wolverines would benefit from the defensive skills of LJ Cason in this game, but his season concluded with a torn ACL in late February.

Pick: OVER 161.5

No. 3 Michigan State (-4.5, 151.5) vs. No. 6 Louisville

CBS: 2:45 p.m. ET

Louisville will once again be without the output of freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. (18.2 ppg), who continues to sit with a back injury. The Cardinals will depend on leading scorer Ryan Conwell (18.7 ppg) to face an assertive Michigan State defense led by 6’10” senior Jaxon Kohler.

Kohler is a dominant rebounder, averaging 9.1 per game. The center can also hit from beyond the arc and contributes 12.6 points per game. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who leads the country with 9.2 assists per game, runs the Spartans’ offense, but his scoring output (15.4 ppg) is expected to be the deciding factor.

Pick: MSU -4.5

No. 1 Duke (-11.5, 139.5) vs. No. 9 TCU

CBS: 5:15 p.m. ET

Duke came into the tournament as the top overall seed but was given a significant challenge by No. 16 seed Siena in the first round. That close call should act as a warning for the Blue Devils, who anticipate the return of center Patrick Ngongba (foot) for this contest.

Duke’s size inside will be crucial, especially against a TCU team that has difficulties defending the paint (ranking 200th nationally in two-point field goal percentage). Look for another strong performance from Carlos Boozer, who leads our NCAA Tournament MVP betting list.

Pick: OVER 139.5

No. 2 Houston (-10.5, 142.5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M

TNT: 6:10 p.m. ET

This contest presents a clash of playing styles: Texas A&M’s fast-paced offense against Houston’s more methodical, slower approach. The key question is whether the Aggies can force Houston to play at a quicker speed.

Texas A&M generated 18 turnovers in its opening victory against St. Mary’s. If the Aggies can produce a similar defensive performance against Houston and control the game’s pace, we favor Texas A&M to cover the point spread.

Pick: Texas A&M +10.5

More Madness: Biggest Upsets in NCAA Tournament History | Best Bets on Upset, Final Four & Buzzer-Beater Prop

No. 3 Gonzaga (-6.5, 146.5) vs. No. 11 Texas

TBS: 7:10 p.m. ET

Gonzaga senior forward Graham Ike primarily scores in the post, which is a hallmark of the Bulldogs’ entire offensive scheme. Texas’s weakness in defending the interior could be a major issue in this game.

Defensively, Gonzaga is ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation for both two-point and three-point percentage defense. We also give the coaching edge to Mark Few over Sean Miller.

Pick: Gonzaga -6.5

No. 3 Illinois (-11.5, 151.5) vs. No. 11 VCU

CBS: 7:50 p.m. ET

This is another matchup where the OVER seems to be the best bet. Illinois scored 105 points in its first-round win against Penn. The KenPom rankings place the Illini as the nation’s best team in adjusted offensive efficiency.

VCU also possesses a potent offense, demonstrated by its remarkable comeback victory over UNC on Thursday. In that game, the Rams shot 42.3% from three-point range, connecting on 11 three-pointers to secure an 82-78 overtime win.

Pick: OVER: 151.5

No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt (-2.5, 146.5)

TNT: 8:45 p.m. ET

Nebraska celebrated its first NCAA Tournament victory ever by defeating Troy 76-47 on Thursday. Vanderbilt represents a considerably tougher challenge for the Huskers.

Vanderbilt features one of the elite guard duos in the country. Tyler Tanner (19.3 ppg) and Duke Miles (16.4 ppg) are both high-volume scorers. Strong guard play is often essential for postseason advancement, and we believe the Commodores will win and cover the spread as a result.

Pick: Vanderbilt -2.5

No. 4 Arkansas (-11.5, 168.5) vs. No. 12 High Point

TBS: 9:45 p.m. ET

This game features a very high point total, the largest on Saturday’s schedule. High Point demonstrated its offensive capability by beating Wisconsin 83-82 on Thursday, with Rob Martin contributing 23 points. The Panthers average 90 points per game, which ranks third in the country.

Which team ranks fourth? Arkansas, with 89.9 points per game. The Razorbacks had scored 82 or more points in their last five games before the tournament and then put up 97 points in Thursday’s win over Hawaii.

Freshman standout Darius Acuff Jr. paced the team with 24 points, and all five starters finished the game in double figures.

Pick: OVER 168.5