Note: This post is from 2009. To view our 2010 March Madness coverage, use the following links:
- March Madness 2010 Schedule, Sites, and Tickets
- MSF Bracket Challenge
- Mens NCAA Tournament Bracket, TV Schedule, Announcers, Spreads
- Midwest Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
- East Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
- South Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
- West Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
- History of Final Four in Indianapolis
- Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule, Sites, Tickets
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It’s here.
Did anyone else wake up feeling like it’s Christmas morning? I sure as heck did. After waiting almost 11 months since the scintillating title game last year between Kansas and Memphis, the first round of the NCAA Tournament is set to begin today (sorry Alabama St-Morehead St.).
As we will do every morning of the tournament here at MSF, we get you ready for the day’s games with our Viewers Guide, so you have all the information you need to watch, record, cheer, and even bet on the games (should you choose to do so.)
Real quick before we hop into the First Round Thursday Viewer’s Guide, a few quick links:
- You still have 4 (or so) hours! Join the MSF NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge
- Still need tickets? NCAA Tournament schedule and ticket breakdown by site and region
- Need last minute bracket help? JRod’s game-by-game bracket predictions
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s break down the Thursday games. All times are
ET, spreads are provided by BetUs.com and are of course subject to change, and don’t forget that you can watch all of the NCAA Tournament games online at March Madness On Demand.
(FYI: for the first and second rounds, my picks are all based off of the 2009 NCAA Tournament bracket I published here a few days ago. Obviously once all of those picks turn out to be horribly wrong, I will stick pick the games but will not be beholden to my flawed bracket any longer.)
First Block of First Round Thursday Games:
South #8 LSU v South #9 Butler
- Time: 12:20 PM
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
- Point Spread: LSU -2/12
- Over-Under: 127
- My pick (straight-up): Butler
West #2 Memphis v West #15 Cal State Northridge
- Time: 12:25 PM
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Announcers: Tim Brando and Mike Gminski
- Point Spread: Memphis -19/12
- Over-Under: 131 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): Memphis
West #8 BYU v West #9 Texas A&M
- Time: 12:30 PM
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Announcers: Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas
- Point Spread: BYU -3/12
- Over-Under: 139 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): Texas A&M
Second Block of First Round Thursday Games:
West #5 Purdue v West #12 Northern Iowa
- Time: 2:30 PM
- Location: Portland, OR
- Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner
- Point Spread: Purdue -8/12
- Over-Under: 124
- My pick (straight-up): Purdue
South #1 North Carolina v South #16 Radford
- Time: 2:50 PM
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
- Point Spread: North Carolina -25 1/2
- Over-Under: 162 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): North Carolina
West #7 California v West #10 Maryland
- Time: 2:55 PM
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Announcers: Tim Brando and Mike Gminski
- Point Spread: California -1 1/2
- Over-Under: 140 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): California
West #1 UConn v West #16 Chattanooga
- Time: 3:00 PM
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Announcers: Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas
- Point Spread: UConn -20 1/2
- Over-Under: 145
- My pick (straight-up): UConn
Third Block of First Round Thursday Games:
West #5 Washington v West #12 Mississippi State
Note: I believe, and someone can correct if I’m wrong on this, that this game will be shown live in local markets, but that most markets will get local and national news coverage, with Tournament coverage picking back up again in the 7:00 hour.
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Portland, OR
- Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner
- Point Spread: Washington -6 1/2
- Over-Under: 148 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): Washington
Fourth Block of First Round Thursday Games:
South #7 Clemson v South #10 Michigan
- Time: 7:10 PM
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Announcers: Tim Brando and Mike Gminski
- Point Spread: Clemson -5 1/2
- Over-Under: 138
- My pick (straight-up): Clemson
East #7 Texas v East #10 Minnesota
- Time: 7:10 PM
- Location: Greensboro, NO
- Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
- Point Spread: Texas -4 1/2
- Over-Under: 136 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): Texas
East #3 Villanova v East #14 American U.
- Time: 7:20 PM
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Announcers: Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas
- Point Spread: Villanova -16 1/2
- Over-Under: 129
- My pick (straight-up): Villanova
South #4 Gonzaga v South #13 Akron
- Time: 7:25 PM
- Location: Portland, OR
- Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner
- Point Spread: Gonzaga -13 1/2
- Over-Under: 133
- My pick (straight-up): Gonzaga
Fifth Block of First Round Thursday Games:
East #2 Duke v East #15 Binghamton
- Time: 9:40 PM
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
- Point Spread: Duke -21 1/2
- Over-Under: 137
- My pick (straight-up): Duke
South #2 Oklahoma v South #15 Morgan State
- Time: 9:40 PM
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Announcers: Tim Brando and Mike Gminski
- Point Spread: Oklahoma -16 1/2
- Over-Under: 135 1/2
- My pick (straight-up): Oklahoma
East #6 UCLA v East #11 VCU
- Time: 9:50 PM
- Location: Philadelphia
- Announcers: Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas
- Point Spread: UCLA -7 1/2
- Over-Under: 136
- My pick (straight-up): UCLA
South #5 Illinois v South #12 Western Kentucky
- Time: 9:55 M
- Location: Portland, OR
- Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
- Point Spread: Illinois -5 1/2
- Over-Under: 125
- My pick (straight-up): Illinois
Best of luck to everyone in your brackets. Enjoy your Thursday of blowing off work to watch basketball. On deck tomorrow: Bill Raftery and…GUS JOHNSON!
About Jerod Morris
