My initial reaction to the NCAA Tournament draw: Kansas got a raw deal. Houston is the No. 2 overall seed and gets a far more favorable draw in the Midwest region than the No. 3 Jayhawks.
NCAA Tournament odds are out, and my numbers are matched up with them. I'll be making player prop picks throughout the tournament and will unveil my bracket before games tip off.
Now, here are my projected spreads for the first round!
West Region No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Howard Koerner's Projected Spread Kansas -23.9 Actual Spread Kansas -21.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 142.4 Actual Over/Under 145.5 Odds via FanDuel .
No. 8 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Illinois Koerner's Projected Spread Arkansas -2.5 Actual Spread Arkansas -2 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 140.5 Actual Over/Under 145.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 5 Saint Mary's vs. No. 12 VCU Koerner's Projected Spread Saint Mary's -8 Actual Spread Saint Mary's -5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 123.3 Actual Over/Under 120.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 13 Iona Koerner's Projected Spread UConn -13.5 Actual Spread N/A Koerner's Projected Over/Under 142.5 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via bet365 .
No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 Arizona State/Nevada No odds available.
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Grand Canyon Koerner's Projected Spread Gonzaga -19 Actual Spread Gonzaga -14.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 154 Actual Over/Under 156.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Boise State Koerner's Projected Spread Boise State -1 Actual Spread Boise State -1.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 127.7 Actual Over/Under 128.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 UNC Asheville Koerner's Projected Spread UCLA -21 Actual Spread UCLA -19.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 132.8 Actual Over/Under 134.5 Odds via bet365 .
VIDEO
East Region No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Texas Southern/Farleigh Dickinson No odds available.
No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic Koerner's Projected Spread Memphis -1.7 Actual Spread Memphis -2.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 147.1 Actual Over/Under 151,5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 5 Duke vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts Koerner's Projected Spread Duke -7 Actual Spread Duke -7.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 143.9 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via bet365 .
No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Louisiana Koerner's Projected Spread Tennessee -17.5 Actual Spread Tennessee -10 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 135.9 Actual Over/Under 136 Odds via bet365 .
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence Koerner's Projected Spread Kentucky -3.5 Actual Spread Kentucky -3.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 147.5 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via bet365 .
No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 Montana State Koerner's Projected Spread KSU -13.5 Actual Spread KSU -9.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 135.8 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via FanDuel .
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC Koerner's Projected Spread MSU -2 Actual Spread MSU -1.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 137.9 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via FanDuel .
No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont Koerner's Projected Spread MU -13 Actual Spread MU -11 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 146.7 Actual Over/Under 145.5 Odds via bet365 .
Midwest Region No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky Koerner's Projected Spread Houston -25.5 Actual Spread Houston -20 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 126.7 Actual Over/Under 121.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Auburn Koerner's Projected Spread Auburn -2 Actual Spread Auburn -1 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 150.9 Actual Over/Under 153 Odds via bet365 .
No. 5 Miami (FL) vs. No. 12 Drake Koerner's Projected Spread Miami -5.5 Actual Spread Miami -4 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 145.1 Actual Over/Under 147.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Kent State Koerner's Projected Spread Indiana -4.5 Actual Spread Indiana -4 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 137.5 Actual Over/Under 140.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State/Pittsburgh No odds available.
No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State Koerner's Projected Spread Xavier -14 Actual Spread Xavier -11.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 151.2 Actual Over/Under 155.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Penn State Koerner's Projected Spread Texas A&M -4.5 Actual Spread Texas A&M -2.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 141.6 Actual Over/Under 133.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Colgate Koerner's Projected Spread Texas -16.5 Actual Spread Texas -13 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 149 Actual Over/Under 147.5 Odds via bet365 .
South Region No. 1 Alabama vs. TBD Odds not available.
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 West Virginia Koerner's Projected Spread Pick'em Actual Spread WVU -1.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 141.2 Actual Over/Under 140.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 Charleston Koerner's Projected Spread SDSU -8.5 Actual Spread SDSU -4.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 139.5 Actual Over/Under 141.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Furman Koerner's Projected Spread Virginia -8.8 Actual Spread Virginia -5.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 138.4 Actual Over/Under 133.5 Odds via bet365 .
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 NC State Koerner's Projected Spread Creighton -7 Actual Spread Creighton -4.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 144.2 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via bet365 .
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara Koerner's Projected Spread Baylor -13.4 Actual Spread Baylor -10.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 147.4 Actual Over/Under N/A Odds via FanDuel .
No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State Koerner's Projected Spread Utah State -3.5 Actual Spread Utah State -1.5 Koerner's Projected Over/Under 159.5 Actual Over/Under 154 Odds via bet365 .
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Princeton Odds not available because of New Jersey betting regulations.
About the Author
Sean is The Action Network's Director of Predictive Analytics. He was named the No. 1 fantasy football draft ranker of 2019 by FantasyPros, where he's also finished as the top in-season ranker in three of the past five seasons
Follow Sean Koerner @The_Oddsmaker on Twitter/X .
This site contains commercial content . We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
