Get ready for plenty of NCAAB picks and parlays in the days ahead, as March Madness kicks off with the First Four matchups taking place on March 19 and 20. On Selection Sunday, NCAA hopefuls such as Seton Hall and Indiana State just missed out the Big Dance, while Colorado State and Virginia were among the teams that made it into the 68-team field.

Best College Basketball Parlays Today – Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20: 4-Leg Parlay Picks (+1360)

Leg 1 Parlay Pick: Howard to win (-167)

Leg 2 Parlay Pick: Colorado State -2.5 (-105)

Leg 3 Parlay Pick: Grambling State to win (+150)

Leg 4 Parlay Pick: Colorado vs Boise State over 139.5 Points (-115)

MARCH MADNESS PARLAY PICK @ (+1360): Bet $10 to Win $146

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Best March Madness First Four Bets Today

Wagner vs. Howard Prediction and Pick

Both the Wagner Seahawks and Howard Bison might feel a little slighted by having to take part in the First Four rather than getting direct bids into the first round. Both teams are riding three-game winning streaks, but on Tuesday night they must face each other for the chance to take their shot at No. 1 seed North Carolina two days later.

Wagner has one of the nation’s top defensive teams, as the Seahawks allow just 62 points per game. Howard, meanwhile, boasts a better offensive scheme with its efficient scoring and reliable shooters. This game's outcome will depend on which team can better impose its style of basketball, as this shapes up to be a clash of offense vs. defense.

Although I really like Wagner’s defense, I believe Howard has better options on the offensive end of the floor. If Bison players such as junior Bryce Harris and volume 3-point shooter Marcus Dockery get hot from behind the arc, then this win is Howard’s to claim. 

The Pick: Howard to win (-167)

Colorado State vs. Virginia Prediction and Pick

Colorado State, which made it into the NCAA Tournament with a 24-10 record, went all the way to the Mountain West Conference Tournament final before losing to New Mexico. The Rams made up for a stretch of four losses in five games toward the end of the season by winning four in a row, including their two victories in the conference tournament.

Everything runs through senior guard Isaiah Stevens, who is averaging 16.5 points per game and seven assists for Colorado State this season. He is the team’s primary ball-handler, but he has been dealing with a calf issue that forced him off the court temporarily just a couple of days ago. He has since said he’s good to go, and his status will be crucial if the Rams are going to muster any March Madness momentum.

Virginia will have a point to prove, since the Cavaliers sparked controversy when they were picked for the tournament. Some fans feel other teams were more deserving of Virginia’s spot, and perhaps the Cavs were favored by the selection committee because they play in the ACC, rather than one of the country’s less prominent conferences.

The Cavaliers were 23-10 this season, but they were beaten convincingly, 73-48, by Duke late in the year, and they also lost to North Carolina by 10 points. Virginia then scraped past Boston College in the ACC Tournament before falling to a much-lower ranked NC State team that went on to win it all. At the time of its loss to the Wolf Pack, Virginia’s March Madness hopes were very much in doubt.

If the Rams’ Stevens is healthy and able to play, then I have Colorado State winning this game and covering the spread for the second leg of my CBB parlay picks.

The Pick: Colorado State -2.5 (-105)

Grambling State vs. Montana State Prediction and Pick

Grambling State is arguably the biggest snub in terms of teams that were forced to play their way into the tournament’s first round. Despite having had a superb run late in the season that saw them win nine of their last 10 games, the Tigers must now take part in the First Four just to continue playing later in the week. Their only loss in those last 10, by the way, was a high-scoring double-OT thriller in the regular-season finale vs. Alabama State.

Grambling then coasted through the SWAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, claiming the title while doing everything it could to secure a spot in March Madness.

The Tigers’ First Four opponent is Montana State, which went only 17-17 on the season but put together an impressive run to claim the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship. The Bobcats didn’t just win the title game, they did it convincing fashion with a 15-point victory over Montana, which was the higher-seeded team.

This is the toughest First Four matchup when it comes to picking an outright winner in my college basketball parlay picks today. Montana State has some great talent, particularly in guard Robert Ford III, who averages 15.9 points per game and shoots 42 percent from 3-point range. However, Grambling State has been on a hot streak of late, and even though the Tigers are the underdog, my moneyline bet here is on them.

The Pick: Grambling State to win (+150)

Colorado vs. Boise State Prediction and Pick

Colorado is a slight favorite going into its First Four matchup against Boise State. The Buffaloes’ 24-10 record gave them a third-place finish in this season’s Pac-12. They then reached the Pac-12 Tournament final against Oregon, a team they had beaten late in the regular season. Unfortunately, they couldn’t beat the Ducks in the rematch.

Colorado junior guard KJ Simpson led the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting percentage by connecting at a 45.3 percent rate from downtown this season, and the All-Pac-12 star could lead the Buffaloes on a run in this year’s March Madness tournament. Forward Tristan da Silva is averaging 15.8 points per game, and Colorado is a team that can easily overwhelm an opponent with its impressive shooting and ability to tighten up defensively.

Boise State, however, will pose a serious threat to the Buffaloes in what could be the most entertaining First Four matchup on Wednesday night.

Broncos forward Tyson Degenhart is dangerous, averaging 17 points per game this season after scoring 20 or more in four of his last six games. If he can continue this outstanding level of play, Colorado will need to have an answer for him.

Since I expect this game to be a high-scoring affair, I'm picking the over in the last of my NCAAB parlay picks for the First Four games.

The Pick: Over 139.5 points (-115)

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