ncaa tournament odds-picks-predictions-friday-march-17-2023

NCAA Tournament Odds, Picks: Friday’s 4 Sharpest First Round Bets

Day 1 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament is in the books, but what makes March Madness so great is that we get to do it all over again on Friday!

Bettors have had an extra day to examine and get down on today’s games, and according to the latest NCAA Tournament odds and Action Network’s PRO betting tools, Friday’s four smartest picks come via these three games:

  • Vermont vs. Marquette (2:45 p.m. ET)
  • Drake vs. Miami (7:45 p.m. ET)
  • Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis (9:20 p.m. ET)

So let’s go ahead and dive right into Friday’s sharpest NCAA Tournament picks.

NCAA Tournament Odds, Picks

*Odds as of Friday morning

Vermont vs. Marquette Pick

2:45 p.m. ET | CBS

Vermont vs. Marquette is so interesting that sharps are betting both the spread and over/under.

Let’s start with the spread.

The Catamounts opened as 11.5-point underdogs against the Golden Eagles and pros quickly pounced on the points in this matchup.

Sharps have steamed Vermont multiple times thus far, pushing this spread down to a consensus of +10.5.

But wait, there’s more!

Wiseguys also took a position on the Vermont vs. Marquette under, slamming the total down from 146.5 to 144.

PRO picks: Vermont +10.5 | Under 144

What is QuickSlip?

QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.


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Drake vs. Miami Pick

7:45 p.m. ET | TBS

While the Drake vs. Miami spread is much shorter than that of Vermont vs. Marquette, the betting action is quite similar.

After opening at +3.5, the majority of bettors — 56% to be exact — are backing the Bulldogs, including the wiseguys.

Action Labs’ Bet Signals are reporting five separate waves of market-moving action flowing on Drake throughout the week, leaving little doubt regarding why this spread has dipped to +2 heading into Friday night’s game.

PRO pick: Drake +2

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Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis Pick

9:20 p.m. ET | TNT

Do you like short underdogs attracting smart money? Then can I interest you in Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis?

The Owls initially hit the market at +2.5 before ticking up to +3 in some spots, and this is when sharp bettors struck.

The action has been all Florida Atlantic ever since, convincing oddsmakers to react by kicking this line down to +1.5.

In addition, Action Network’s college basketball public betting data shows the Owls have garnered 52% of the money wagered on this spread, but on just 29% of the tickets, confirming where the largest wagers are landing in this matchup.

PRO pick: Florida Atlantic +1.5

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