March Madness has arrived, and Auburn holds the prestigious position as the No. 1 overall seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament.
This cherished annual spectacle begins this week, with basketball enthusiasts across the nation completing brackets in hopes of winning their office pools or at the very least gaining some bragging rights.
As the tournament gets underway, with the First Four tipping off on Tuesday and the first round commencing on Thursday, the question on everyone’s mind is: who will emerge victorious?
The top seeds this year are Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston, but in the unpredictable world of March Madness, anything is possible.
Notable matchups include Big Ten champion Michigan, a No. 5 seed, who opened as only a 2.5-point favorite against No. 12 seed UC San Diego according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Meanwhile, No. 8 seed Louisville, which had one of the most impressive late-season runs in the ACC, faces a challenging game against Big East powerhouse Creighton.
Additionally, No. 8 seed UConn begins its quest for a third consecutive national title as a 4.5-point favorite against 9-seed Oklahoma.
Wondering where to catch all the basketball action? Every game from the men’s tournament will be broadcasted across CBS, TBS, TNT, or TruTV, as well as their respective digital platforms, including Paramount+.
CBS will have the honors of televising the Final Four and the national championship game.
Additionally, the NCAA will offer streaming through its March Madness Live portal.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the betting favorites entering the tournament are Florida, Duke, Auburn, and Houston, in that order.
The tournament field is filled with 31 automatic bids earned through league tournaments, complemented by 37 at-large selections made by the NCAA selection committee.
All the anticipated matchups were revealed on Sunday’s bracket announcements.
The excitement kicks off in Dayton, Ohio, with the First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday. First- and second-round games will follow on Thursday and Friday, spanning locations from Providence, Rhode Island, to Seattle.
The Sweet 16 will take place during the weekend of March 27-30, with regional games hosted in Newark, New Jersey; Atlanta; Indianapolis; and San Francisco.
Ultimately, the Final Four is slated for San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, with the championship game set for the evening of Monday, April 7.
