Thursday 1st Rd – Most Intriguing Match-ups

No. 8 Iowa State vs No. 9 Connecticut (South Region)

Connecticut (20-13) posted a lackluster 8-10 Big East record, which was good enough for 10th place in the 16 team league, but it did play well down the stretch, winning three straight games before losing to Syracuse 55-58 in the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Cyclones, other than an ugly showing opposite Texas in the Big 12 Tournament, have played well of late too. Iowa State won four of its last five games before biting the dust against the Longhorns, and two of those wins came against NCAA Tournament teams in Kansas State and Baylor. The Huskies should control the boards, but they had better hope the Cyclones are having an off day from beyond the arc.

No. 7 Gonzaga vs No. 10 West Virginia

The Bulldogs finished second to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference and they lost to Gaels in the conference tournament, but they do carry some momentum into this game. Gonzaga won eight of nine games before falling to St. Mary’s last week and it has faced tournament competition in teams like Notre Dame, Michigan State, Xavier, and St. Mary’s. West Virginia (19-13), conversely, has not played well recently, losing eight of its last 12 games. The Moutaineers, however, will present a physical challenge that the Bulldogs are not used to, and that could make the difference come Thursday.

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NCAA Bracket Picks 2012 Thursday 1st Rd: Provided by TopBet.com

Thursday, March 15th 1st Rd Games -

South Region

No. 1 Kentucky (NA) vs No. 16 Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky

No. 9 Connecticut (-2.5) vs No. 8 Iowa State

No. 5 Wichita State (-6)  vs No. 12 VCU

No. 4 Indiana (-6.5) vs No. 13 New Mexico State

No. 6 UNLV (-4.5) vs No. 11 Colorado

No. 3 Baylor (-8) vs No. 14 South Dakota State

East Region

No. 1 Syracuse (-17) vs No. 16 UNC-Asheville

No. 8 Kansas State (-6) vs No. 9 Southern Miss

No. 5 Vanderbilt (-6.5) vs No. 12 Harvard

No. 4 Wisconsin (-9.5) vs No. 13 Montana

No. 7 Gonzaga (0) vs No. 10 West Virginia

No. 2 Ohio State (-18) vs No. 15 Loyola-Maryland

West Region

No. 5 New Mexico (-4.5) vs No. 12 Long Beach State

No. 4 Louisville (-7) vs No. 13 Davidson

No. 6 Murray State (-3.5) vs No. 11 Colorado State

No. 3 Marquette (NA) vs No. 14 BYU/Iona