March Madness Odds For Today's NCAA Tournament First Round Games: Thursday, March 20

The latest odds for every March Madness Round 1 matchup — from the biggest favorites to the teams on upset alert.

Jared Hochman - Content Manager at Covers.com
Jared Hochman • Content Manager
Mar 20, 2025 • 10:44 ET • 4 min read
R.J. Luis St. John's Red Storm
Photo By - Imagn Images. St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) drives to the basket during the Big East Tournament.

The Big Dance tips off today and we're looking at the March Madness odds for every one of Thursday's Round 1 matchups.

We've got the latest odds for each of those 16 games, with no shortage of intrigue for potential Cinderellas, teams looking to turn First Four wins into deep tournament runs, and favorites looking to take care of business.

First Round Odds Thursday, March 20 (early games)

The early slate of Thursday's games features No. 1 seeds Houston and Auburn, both around 30-point favorites, along with popular upset picks High Point (vs. Purdue) and McNeese (vs. Clemson).

Creighton vs. Louisville odds

12:15 p.m. ET | Lexington, KY | CBS

  • Spread: Creighton +2.5 (-105) | Louisville -2.5 (-115)
  • Total: Over 145.5 (-110) | Under 145.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Creighton +125 | Louisville -150

High Point vs. Purdue odds

12:40 p.m. ET | Providence, RI | truTV

  • Spread: High Point +8.0 (-110) | Purdue -8.0 (-110)
  • Total: Over 154.0 (-110) | Under 154.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: High Point +280 | Purdue -360

Montana vs. Wisconsin odds

1:30 p.m. ET | Denver, CO | TNT

  • Spread: Montana +17.0 (-110) | Wisconsin -17.0 (-110)
  • Total: Over 153.0 (-110) | Under 153.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Montana +1200 | Wisconsin -2400

SIU Edwardsville vs. Houston odds

2:00 p.m. ET| Wichita, KS | TBS

  • Spread: SIU Edwardsville +28.5 (-110) | Houston -28.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 126.5 (-110) | Under 126.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: SIU Edwardsville +2500 | Houston -10000

More college basketball odds from Covers


Alabama State vs. Auburn odds

2:50 p.m. ET | Lexington, KY | CBS

  • Spread: Alabama State +32.5 (-110) | Auburn -32.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 149.5 (-110) | Under 149.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Alabama State +2800 | Auburn -20000

McNeese vs. Clemson odds

3:15 p.m. ET | Providence, RI | truTV

  • Spread: McNeese +7.5 (-105) | Clemson -7.5 (-115)
  • Total: Over 133.5 (-110) | Under 133.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: McNeese +275 | Clemson -350

VCU vs. BYU odds

4:05 p.m. ET | Denver, CO | TNT

  • Spread: VCU +2.5 (-115) | BYU -2.5 (-105)
  • Total: Over 146.5 (-110) | Under 146.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: VCU +110 | BYU -135

Georgia vs. Gonzaga odds

4:35 p.m. ET | Wichita, KS | TBS

  • Spread: Georgia +6.5 (-110) | Gonzaga -6.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 151.0 (-110) | Under 151.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Georgia +240 | Gonzaga -300

Expert March Madness picks

Looking for the best bets to make this March? Covers has you, well, covered with all our free expert March Madness picks — from Round 1 to the National Championship!

First Round odds for Thursday, March 20 (late games)

Thursday's evening session features a couple of No. 2 seeds (Tennessee and St. John's), as well as upset alert games in Yale vs. Texas A&M, Drake vs. Missouri, and UC San Diego vs. Michigan.

Wofford vs. Tennessee odds

6:50 p.m. ET | Lexington, KY | TNT

  • Spread: Wofford +19.0 (-110) | Tennessee -19.0 (-110)
  • Total: Over 133.5 (-110) | Under 133.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Wofford +1550 | Tennessee -4000

Arkansas vs. Kansas odds

7:10 p.m. ET | Providence, RI | CBS

  • Spread: Arkansas +5.0 (-110) | Kansas -5.0 (-110)
  • Total: Over 145.5 (-110) | Under 145.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Arkansas +185 | Kansas -225

Yale vs. Texas A&M odds

7:25 p.m. ET | Denver, CO | TBS

  • Spread: Yale +7.5 (-110) | Texas A&M -7.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 139.0 (-110) | Under 139.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Yale +275 | Texas A&M -350

Drake vs. Missouri odds

7:35 p.m. ET | Wichita, KS | truTV

  • Spread: Drake +6.5 (-110) | Missouri -6.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 133.0 (-110) | Under 133.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Drake +220 | Missouri -270

More March Madness picks from Covers


Utah State vs. UCLA odds

9:25 p.m. ET | Lexington, KY | TNT

  • Spread: Utah State +5.5 (-110) | UCLA -5.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 144.0 (-110) | Under 144.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Utah State +195 | UCLA -240

Omaha vs. St. John's odds

9:45 p.m. ET | Providence, RI | CBS

  • Spread: Omaha +18.5 (-110) | St. John's -18.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 148.0 (-110) | Under 148.0 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Omaha +1500 | St. John's -3500

UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds

10:00 p.m. ET |Denver, CO | TBS

  • Spread: UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 142.5 (-110) | Under 142.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: UC San Diego +120 | Michigan -140

UNC Wilmington vs. Texas Tech odds

10:10 p.m. ET | Wichita, KS | truTV

  • Spread: UNC Wilmington +14.5 (-110) | Texas Tech -14.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 142.5 (-110) | Under 142.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: UNC Wilmington +950 | Texas Tech -1700

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Jared Hochman Content Manager at Covers.com
Content Manager

Before Jared Hochman joined the Covers team in 2020, he worked for newspaper outlets such as the Chronicle Herald and The Coast, worked in marketing for SkipTheDishes and Vivid Seats, and previously ran a magazine. A journalism graduate from the University of King's College in, Halifax, N.S., "Hoch" brings more than a decade of experience in sports betting, having worked as a freelance handicapper, making appearances on Monumental Sports Network and the Sharp 600 podcast, and now also filling in occasionally as host of Covers' NHL Puck Props. 

Awarded Covers' company MVP for 2023, Jared is an avid bettor of MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA, while also wagering on some soccer and WNBA. His best advice for sports bettors? Price shop — something he does daily across 10 different sportsbook apps.

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