With Selection Sunday out of the way college basketball fans can now concentrate on making their NCAA Tournament betting picks. Who will emerge from the play-in games? Which of the top seeds will make the Final Four? And who will become Cinderella?
The field of 68 teams will be reduced to 64 after the First Four takes place in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday night and Wednesday night this week, with Middle Tennessee vs. Saint Mary's, Liberty vs. North Carolina A&T, Boise State vs. La Salle, and James Madison vs. Long Island. Check out the betting odds for those basketball betting contests.
The madness really begins on Thursday and Friday, with 32 games on the schedule and a wide assortment of NCAA Tournament prop bets at sportsbooks like . The 64 teams are cut down to 32 for the weekend, and then to the Sweet 16 for the second week of March Madness betting action. The Final Four is on April 6, with the title game on April 8.
Here's a look at the complete bracket for the NCAA Tournament for this season:
11 Middle Tennessee
11 Saint Mary's
16 Liberty
16 North Carolina A&T
13 Boise State
13 La Salle
16 James Madison
16 Long Island
Midwest Regional – Indianapolis, Indiana
01 Louisville
16 Liberty/North Carolina A&T
08 Colorado State
09 Missouri
05 Oklahoma State
12 Oregon
04 Saint Louis
13 New Mexico State
06 Memphis
11 Middle Tennessee/Saint Mary's
03 Michigan State
14 Valparaiso
07 Creighton
10 Cincinnati
02 Duke
15 Albany
South Regional – Arlington, Texas
01 Kansas
16 WKU
08 North Carolina
09 Villanova
05 VCU
12 Akron
04 Michigan
13 South Dakota State
06 UCLA
11 Minnesota
03 Florida
14 Northwestern State
07 San Diego State
10 Oklahoma
02 Georgetown
15 Florida Gulf Coast
East Regional – Washington, DC
01 Indiana
16 James Madison/Long Island
08 NC State
09 Temple
05 UNLV
12 California
04 Syracuse
13 Montana
06 Butler
11 Bucknell
03 Marquette
14 Davidson
07 Illinois
10 Colorado
02 Miami
15 Pacific
West Regional – Los Angeles, California
01 Gonzaga
16 Southern
08 Pittsburgh
09 Wichita State
05 Wisconsin
12 Mississippi
04 Kansas State
13 Boise State/La Salle
06 Arizona
11 Belmont
03 New Mexico
14 Harvard
07 Notre Dame
10 Iowa State
02 Ohio State
15 Iona
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Selection Sunday is gone and the 2012 March Madness bracket is alive. Bracket contest gurus and college basketball bettors now have a slew of 36 games to handicap.
From the First Four play-in games on Tuesday and Wednesday to tipoff on Thursday and Friday, all the matchups are set. And by Monday, March Madness odds on every game will be available as well.
Do you like Western Kentucky or Mississippi Valley State in the first play-in game? How about Cal or South Florida in the final play-in game? And what about NCAA Tournament props? There are literally thousands of them available to spice up your Madness wagering.
FIRST FOUR (Dayton)
Tuesday, March 13
Mississippi Valley State vs. Western Kentucky
BYU vs. Iona
Wednesday, March 14
Lamar vs. Vermont
California vs. USF
SOUTH (Atlanta)
Louisville
Thursday, March 15
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky winner
No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Connecticut
Portland
Thursday, March 15
No. 5 Wichita State vs. No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 New Mexico State
Albuquerque
Thursday, March 15
No. 6 UNLV vs. No. 11 Colorado
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 South Dakota State
Greensboro
Friday, March 16
No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Xavier
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh
WEST (Phoenix)
Columbus
Friday, March 16
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 16 LIU Brooklyn
No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Saint Louis
Portland
Thursday, March 15
No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 12 Long Beach State
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 13 Davidson
Louisville
Thursday, March 15
No. 6 Murray State vs. No. 11 Colorado State
No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 14 BYU/Iona winner
Omaha
Friday, March 16
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia
No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 15 Norfolk State
EAST (Boston)
Pittsburgh
Thursday, March 15
No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 16 UNC-Asheville
No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Southern Miss
Albuquerque
Thursday, March 15
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Harvard
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Montana
Nashville
Friday, March 16
No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 11 Texas
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 14 St. Bonaventure
Pittsburgh
Thursday, March 15
No. 7 Gonzaga vs. No. 10 West Virginia
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Loyola (MD)
MIDWEST (St. Louis)
Greensboro
Friday, March 16
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Lamar/Vermont winner
No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Alabama
Nashville
Friday, March 16
No. 5 Temple vs. No. 12 California/USF winner
No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 13 Ohio
Columbus
Friday, March 16
No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 NC State
No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 14 Belmont
Omaha
Friday, March 16
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Purdue
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 Detroit
