March Madness 2015 Bracket: Latest Picks, Odds Advice Before Thursday's Round 2

The next two days are among the most exciting on the American sports calendar. Although the 2015 NCAA tournament technically got underway on Tuesday with the play-in games, the action really begins to heat up with the round of 64.

Games start shortly after noon on both Thursday and Friday. By the time the dust settles at day's end it's usually after midnight. The nonstop basketball normally leads to incredible individual efforts, memorable upsets and, in a more general sense, a lot of fun.

That's why March Madness gives off such a unique vibe. There are no shortage of other tournaments and playoffs, but none quite like this. So let's check out all of the important information, followed by the odds for Thursday's games and some picks for the top contests.

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2015 March Madness Bracket

Thursday's Games and Odds

Time (ET)	Favorite	Underdog	Line
12:15 p.m.	(3) Notre Dame	(14) Northeastern	-12.5
12:40 p.m.	(3) Iowa State	(14) UAB	-13.5
1:40 p.m.	(3) Baylor	(14) Georgia State	-9
2:10 p.m.	(2) Arizona	(15) Texas Southern	-23.5
2:45 p.m.	(11) Texas	(6) Butler	-1.5
3:10 p.m.	(6) SMU	(11) UCLA	-3.5
4:10 p.m.	(6) Xaxier	(11) Ole Miss	-3
4:40 p.m.	(10) Ohio State	(7) VCU	-4
6:50 p.m.	(1) Villanova	(16) Lafayette	-23
7:10 p.m.	(9) Purdue	(8) Cincinnati	-2
7:20 p.m.	(4) North Carolina	(13) Harvard	-11
7:27 p.m.	(5) Utah	(12) Stephen F. Austin	-6.5
9:20 p.m.	(8) NC State	(9) LSU	-2
9:40 p.m.	(1) Kentucky	(16) Hampton	-32.5
9:50 p.m.	(5) Arkansas	(12) Wofford	-7.5
9:57 p.m.	(4) Georgetown	(13) E. Washington	-7

Picks for Top Matchups

(6) Butler Bulldogs vs. (11) Texas Longhorns

Texas went into Selection Sunday on the bubble. The Longhorns are a team with a lot of talent that didn't live up to preseason expectations. They went 6-9 over their final 15 games, which would have left little reason for argument if the committee left them out.

They ended up making the field and now they'll probably emerge as a tough out. Not only because of the Isaiah Taylor and Myles Turner tandem, but also due to the fact it's like they have been given a second chance. Comments from Turner on social media definitely give off that feeling:

Texas represents a bad matchup for Butler. The Bulldogs can get stagnant on offense at times, relying on a lot of one-on-one basketball to create looks (259th in assists per game). That's not ideal against a team that closes down the paint and rebounds as efficiently as the Longhorns.

It creates a situation where Butler will likely be forced into a lot of jump shots. If it can get hot from the field, there's a chance to advance. But it's tough to play that style for 40 minutes and succeed. Eventually the shots stop falling. When that happens, the Longhorns will take advantage.

Prediction: Texas by 6

(6) SMU Mustangs vs. (11) UCLA Bruins

Think UCLA is tired of hearing about how it didn't belong in the field yet? Once the bracket was released, the selection committee received criticism for choosing the Bruins over other bubble teams—their records against the RPI top 50 and away from home being the main points of contention.

That can be a rallying cry for any squad. There's no doubt they will want to come out and prove they belong in the Big Dance. Alas, the matchup isn't a great one for them as the Bruins face off with an undervalued SMU side. ESPN Stats and Info highlighted the clash:

The Mustangs only 3-5 against fellow tournament teams. Yet, they went a combined 5-0 against Temple and Tulsa—RPI top 50 teams—and went 17-2 over their final 19 games. They are showcasing top form at the perfect time.

This has the feel of a game that will go right down to the final possession. UCLA isn't going down without a fight after barely sneaking into the field and then hearing about how it didn't earn the spot. But SMU is the better overall team and should pull out the victory in the end.

Prediction: SMU by 2

(7) VCU Rams vs. (10) Ohio State Buckeyes

Once you get into these middle-seed matchups, the seeds don't mean a whole lot. VCU was viewed more favorably by the selection committee, but as illustrated in the odds chart above, the oddsmakers don't agree. Ohio State is the favorite to advance.

One thing that's always important this time of year is a go-to scorer. Somebody who can step up in the final minutes and deliver key buckets. The Buckeyes have that in D'Angelo Russell. Perhaps that's part of the reason they received some high-profile support, as noted by Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors:

Make no mistake, VCU is a scrappy bunch under Shaka Smart. The Rams turn up the pressure, attempt to force opponents into mistakes and turn those into easy points. The problem is the Buckeyes have a backcourt group that should be able to handle the press.

Ohio State rates 24th in assists per game and 11th in field-goal percentage. Those two numbers suggest VCU's approach won't rattle the No. 10 seed and it will take advantage of the open looks that come from breaking the traps. That should be enough to score a narrow victory.

Prediction: Ohio State by 3