Expert Picks: Top Bets and Eliminator Strategies for the Men’s NCAA Tournament First Round

College Sports · By Sarah Mitchell · March 17, 2026
Expert Picks: Top Bets and Eliminator Strategies for the Men’s NCAA Tournament First Round

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is set to begin, and fans are already poring over brackets and scouting for betting edges. ESPN College Sports has released its top six first-round bets along with key insights for the debut of the tournament’s new Eliminator game, offering guidance for both seasoned and novice bettors as the action gets underway.

The introduction of the NCAA’s Eliminator game adds a fresh layer of strategy to March Madness. Unlike traditional brackets, the Eliminator challenges fans to pick one team per round to win — with the catch that each team can only be picked once throughout the tournament. This twist means early-round selections can have ripple effects deep into March, making opening-round picks more crucial than ever.

  • Bets cover a range of spreads and totals, leveraging matchups where ESPN analysts see value based on team form, injuries, and historical trends.
  • The Eliminator pick recommendation is backed by analysis of first-round matchups and potential tournament trajectories, aiming to balance early-round safety with long-term upside.
  • ESPN’s six best bets mix favorites and underdogs, reflecting both statistical models and matchup-specific insights.

Fans can expect a focus on games with high upset potential, as well as matchups featuring teams that have outperformed or underperformed expectations late in the season. The Eliminator pick, meanwhile, is selected not just for its likelihood to advance in the opening round but also for its potential to preserve top-seeded teams for later rounds, maximizing flexibility as the tournament progresses.

For those seeking more details on the specific picks, spreads, and Eliminator strategies, ESPN’s full article provides actionable advice as the first round approaches. With tipoff imminent, the combination of betting analysis and Eliminator guidance offers a comprehensive playbook for maximizing enjoyment and potential returns during March Madness.

Sources

  1. [1]ESPN College Sports