March Madness 2012 Schedule: Epic Thursday Clashes That Are Must-See TV

It's Christmas Eve for just about every last hoops fan in the world. The questions is, what gift will you open first? Here are the best games on the Thursday. 

This is a brief snapshot of the games that will matter on the first day that truly matters. The First Four will soon be just a memory, and we will be knee-deep in games that feature close calls and buzzer-beaters. 

Here are the games that will dominate discussions on Twitter and excite even the most fair-weather of basketball fans. 

Don't miss these instant classics. 

No. 13 Montana vs. No. 4 Wisconsin—2:10 pm ET, TNT

Upset alert. This is the perfect game to kick off the proceedings for most fans.

Wisconsin has a dynamic offense that can get hot in an instant, but can run just as cold. Their inconsistent returns means an underrated Montana team has the perfect chance to delight with a close game.

This one is going down to the wire. 

No. 12 Long Beach St. vs. No. 5 New Mexico—4:10 pm ET, TBS

I love Long Beach State and had this as an upset in the making. There is no way to get past the fact that Larry Anderson will either be out of the game or rusty from his layoff for a knee injury. 

New Mexico looked to be in fine form in their MWC finals against San Diego State. This will be a gritty match that the Lobos will take late. 

No. 12 VCU vs. No. 5 Wichita St.—7:15 pm ET, CBS

These are two great mid-majors that would normally be on the winning end facing nearly any other team. The winner will move on past the next round, making this the best game of the day. 

Wichita State is a deeper and older team, and they are my pick in what should be an aggressive match from start to finish. 

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