March Madness tips off tonight with the first two play-in games for the NCAA tournament. We also get a few solid NIT first-round match ups mixed in to make for a solid night of college hoops. Consider this an appetizer for the basketball meal that we’ll be getting from Thursday through Sunday. We’ve got projections live, and you know what that means. We’re building an Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry. No days off…even in March. We’ve got at trio of projections that you’ll want to take for tonight’s action.
Keep in mind that playing all three legs of our plays in Underdog Fantasy could win you 6X your money on a single entry. Let’s dig into tonight’s plays and remember to let it ride!
Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Picks March 18
Matt Dewoskin Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Pick Em Record (Est 11/4/2024)
All Pick Em Selections: 189-161-4
Perfect 3-0 Pick Em Entries: 20-98
Valentino Pinedo Higher Than 4.5 Rebounds
St. Francis (PA) meets Alabama State in an NCAA tournament play-in game tonight.
Alabama State enters this game as one of the worst rebounding teams in the nation. The Hornets allow opponents to average 39.8 rebounds per game this year. That’s 356th in the nation. Let’s ride with Red Flashes forward Valentino Pinedo to go higher than 4.5 rebounds.
Pinedo enters this game averaging 6.5 rebounds per game this year. He’s gone higher than 4.5 boards in six of his last nine games played. He did end up lower than 4.5 rebounds in each of his last two games, but he was facing Long Island and Central Connecticut State for the third time this year. They were able to get a body in front of him. Alabama State doesn’t get bodies in front of anyone.
Pinedo averages 27.8 minutes per game this year, and should play over 30 minutes as long as he stays out of foul trouble. Alabama gets killed on the offensive and defensive sides of the glass. That should mean that Pinedo gets plenty of chances to grab a few boards. Lock up Pinedo to go higher than 4.5 rebounds in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
Nick Boyd Higher Than 16.5 Points
San Diego State faces off against North Carolina in the second NCAA tournament play-in game tonight. The Tar Heels enter this game allowing teams to average 75.0 points per game. That’s 244th in the nation. Aztecs guard Nick Boyd should eat in this match up.
Boyd enters this game averaging 13.4 points per game this year. However, he’s gone higher than 16.5 points in seven of his last nine. He’s become the main scorer for the Aztecs offense, and he should get a ton of chances against North Carolina.
Boyd is also solid from range and makes his free throws. The Tar Heels allow opponents to shoot 33.5% from beyond the arc. That’s 161st in the nation. They also allow opponents to average 18.5 free throw attempts per game.
There are a lot of ways for Boyd to go higher than 16.5 points in this game. Going higher on his 1.5 made three’s is also in play here, but let’s ride with the points. He should play close to 35 minutes here, and get a ton of chances to score. Lock up Boyd to score at least 17 points in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
Tyeree Bryan Higher Than 1.5 3-Pointers Made
Santa Clara draws UC-Riverside in a first round NIT match up tonight. The Broncos and Highlanders faced off once this year. The Highlanders lost by 42 points at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, CA. They return to the Leavey Center tonight.
UC-Riverside enters this game allowing opponents to shoot 34.4% from beyond the arc this year. That’s 216th in the nation. They also allowed Santa Clara to shoot 54.5% from deep in the early season match up.
Santa Clara guard Tyeree Bryan comes into this match up averaging 2.0 made three-pointers per game at home. Bryan has also seen a recent increase in usage rate in the stretch run of the season. He’s played more than 30 minutes in four of his last six games. He’s also made at least two three-pointers in five straight games.
Santa Clara should absolutely torch UC-Riverside tonight, and Tyeree Bryan should bang in at least two three-pointers. He’s in his home gym, and has a tasty match up against a team he’s had success against. This is a solid play on a night with a short slate. Let’s take Bryan to go higher than 1.5 3-pointers made in our Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2024-25 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
