March Madness Kicks Off with Underdog Showdowns

0:00On March 17th, March Madness kicks off Tuesday evening with the first four games, deciding the last four spots in the 64-team bracket for the first round. The night starts with the UMBC retrievers facing the Howard Bison at 6.40pm, Eastern Time on True TV. The winner moves on to play Michigan. Later, at 9.15pm, Eastern Time on the same channel, the Texas Longhorns take on the NC State Wolfpack with the Victor Drawing BYU next. These teams sit lower in the national rankings, with NC State at 40th Texas, at 43rd, UMBC at 60th, and Howard at 65th. They are seen as underdogs, but could surprise in the early going. An AI prediction has UMBC and NC State advancing, and both are 1.5 point favorites at BEDMGM heading into tip-off. Fans are gearing up for these tune-up matchups, setting the stage for the full tournament chaos ahead. Made in AI.