2026 March Insanity picks: Predictions towards the unfold, odds for first-round video games Wednesday

The 2026 NCAA Event schedule has reached the primary spherical and first full day of motion. It is the purpose that everybody appears ahead to all 12 months spherical. The primary Thursday afternoon, when March Insanity actually begins, is on our door step and all that is left is to lock in all of your remaining Bracket Video games picks and switch your consideration to a game-by-game breakdown of what is forward within the coming days. 

The afternoon slate will likely be highlighted by some nice storylines like Nebraska’s shot at a first-ever NCAA Event win and the event debut for No. 1 general seed Duke. Then within the night we are going to see future NBA Draft star AJ Dybantsa make his NCAA Event debut with BYU, see if North Carolina can keep away from an upset alert towards VCU and see how high groups like Michigan, Houston, Illinois and Gonzaga fare as heavy favorites towards lesser seeds. 

Comply with stay scores and updates from the primary spherical of 2026 March Insanity

We will likely be right here every day to get you set for the NCAA Event slate with a group of our favourite picks. We have chosen six video games from the 16-game slate on Thursday to highlight, with choices that vary from towards the unfold to totals and even group totals. However don’t be concerned, if straight up picks are extra your taste we have these as properly, courtesy of our panel of CBS Sports activities consultants. 

Final 2026 NCAA Event cheat sheet: March Insanity stats and information earlier than you lock in your bracket picks

Matt Norlander

(1) Duke vs. (16) Siena 

2:50 p.m. on CBS | March Insanity Dwell 

Siena already performs sluggish and now the group faces a protection that will likely be by far its largest problem of the season going up towards the most effective defensive groups within the nation. Gerry McNamara may throw in a schematic wrinkle however even the motivation to maintain this sport aggressive factors to limiting the possessions. It is potential Duke will get pulled down right into a lower-scoring sport as properly if Riley Mulvey and Siena’s entrance courtroom can do a great job of defending the rim with out fouling. The Blue Devils’ offensive outcomes are a bit tougher to foretell (aside from advancing), however the defensive id will present a steadiness because the No. 1 seed will get their event run underway. Decide: Siena Group Whole Below 53.5  

(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) McNeese 

3:15 p.m. on truTV | March Insanity Dwell 

Mark Byington ought to have Vanderbilt well-equipped to take care of the disruptive defensive stress of McNeese, because the Commodores have handled related challenges situationally in SEC play and grade out as a group that is well-equipped to maintain the basketball. When McNeese performed Michigan earlier this 12 months and could not get its regular food plan of turnovers the outcome was giving up 112 factors in an 83 possession sport. Whereas the Commodores shouldn’t be in comparison with Michigan’s type round Christmas, they’re actually able to placing up their fair proportion of factors on this matchup. Decide: Vanderbilt Group Whole Over 81 

(4) Arkansas vs. (13) Hawaii 

4:25 p.m. on TBS | March Insanity Dwell 

Hawaii has spectacular dimension that ought to be capable to preserve Arkansas off the boards and away from the rim, turning the Hogs right into a taking pictures group. That is not superb in a fast turnaround from chopping down nets in Nashville on Sunday to tipping it off in Portland on Thursday afternoon, the place usually you’d wish to depend on simple buckets to get into the circulate of the sport. And whereas Hawaii has dimension, its ball-handlers could possibly be overwhelmed by Arkansas’ athleticism on protection. Each groups enjoying with tempo on the 12 months have this whole above 160, however with empty possessions within the forecast the sting is to the beneath. Decide: Below 160.5  

(6) BYU vs. (11) Texas 

7:25 p.m. on TBS | March Insanity Dwell 

Texas could be buzzing off its game-winner in Dayton, however climbing out to Portland for a fast prep on stopping AJ Dybantsa doesn’t sound like a ton of enjoyable. The Longhorns confirmed with their very own irritating inconsistencies within the win why they have been a bubble group to start with, whereas BYU discovered some juice late within the season with a victory over Texas Tech and a few Large 12 Event wins. 

Texas may get a leap on the Cougars early for “relaxation vs. rust” causes, however over the course of 40 minutes I don’t see the Longhorns protection having sufficient solutions to win this sport. BYU’s combo of Dybantsa and Rob Wright give them the 2 greatest gamers on the ground and if the Cougars decide to getting stops and defending the rim on protection, its ceiling exceeds its seed. Decide: BYU -2.5

(4) Nebraska vs. (13) Troy 

12:40 p.m. on truTV | March Insanity Dwell 

Nebraska’s protection has been excellent this season, with Fred Hoiberg getting whole-team buy-in on a philosophy that wrecked store within the Large Ten. The Cornhuskers rated first within the convention play in defensive effectivity and did with a superb mixture of guarding-without-fouling and forcing opponents into dangerous pictures. That was an enormous increase when Nebraska’s offense would undergo taking pictures slumps, which might occur occasionally. 

Troy performs with one of many 10 slowest tempos within the event and whereas they shoot the three-pointer willingly the Trojans rank 219th nationally making them (33.2%). If Nebraska can drive Troy to take a number of 3-pointers and the Trojans miss roughly 65% of these pictures the Cornhuskers will safe the varsity’s first-ever NCAA Event win. Talking of, there’s a vibes side of this decide that’s eyeing the anxiousness of ending the March Insanity drought and questioning if possibly Nebraska is not a little bit bit tight down the stretch. Decide: Below 137.5  

(6) Louisville vs. (11) South Florida 

1:30 p.m. on TNT | March Insanity Dwell 

Bryan Hodgson has carried out a terrific job coming over from Arkansas State to flip the change for the Bulls and recently-crowned AAC Participant of the 12 months Izaiyah Nelson is an enormous cause why this group will not be intimidated by Louisville’s energy convention bona fides. USF employs an attacking fashion that may arrange a matchup with Louisville positive to contain large swings for every group and doubtlessly a detailed sport once we get to the ultimate moments. There is a chance for the Playing cards to answer what seems to be widespread disrespect on this spot for the way they’re projected to deal with the Bulls given their present damage points, however the play right here is to again the group that’s 14-1 in its final 15 video games. Decide: South Florida +4.5