1st Round Betting Picks for the 2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament: March 18th 2010

Below are free 1st Round 2010 NCAA basketball tournament betting picks and predictions for March 18th 2010 from Touthouse.com handicappers. If you are looking for free NCAA basketball picks on a daily basis or march madness picks from our college basketball betting experts visit Touthouse.com each day.

Free Pick: UTEP +2.5 (Jimmy Boyd)
I believe UTEP is the better team from the better conference, and losing the C-USA tourney title game to Houston is going to have the Miners really fired up for this one. I like the fact that the Miners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog. I also like the fact that the Bulldogs are just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games. Just shooting the ball well against UTEP isn’t enough. In fact, UTEP is 7-1 ATS versus good shooting teams, making 45% or more of their shots, after 15+ games this season, winning these games by an average score of 76.6 to 65.8. Plus, UTEP is 13-3 ATS when playing away from home versus poor pressure defensive teams, forcing 14 or fewer turnovers per game, over the last 2 seasons, winning these games by an average score of 75.7 to 68.9. If Butler isn’t able to force UTEP into a lot of mistakes, which is not the defensive personality of the Bulldogs, the Miners will have an excellent opportunity to win this game, which I think they will. Take the points.

Free Pick: Texas -5 (Tony George)
I watched Texas play twice last week in Kansas City. They have a good team. Although I continue to scratch my head everytime I see this team that is LOADED with talent and they continue to flater, I think they have the horses both at guard and in the paint with Pittman to get over on an inconsistent Wake team who was destroyed my Miami in the ACC tourney in the first round as a favorite. Wake has dropped by 5 out of 6 and really I was surprised they made the tourney to be honest. Texas has the offense to outpace Wake here, and if they play to 90% of their potential with their bench and James plays well at guard, this should be an 8-10 point win by Texas, then an early exit in round 2 for them.

Free Pick: Tennessee -3 (Craig Trapp)
Two teams coming off very different conference tourney experiences. TENN needs to put a blowout to UK behind them whereas SDS is looking to keep their Championship form for one more week at least. The difference in this one is the taller more athletic TENN guards. Prince, Mays and Hopson can really play and even though they did not play well verse UK they will bounce back. Hopson for us will be the difference as he will go both inside and outside scoring at least 20. Chism also will play very well as he has had a ton of Tourney experience which is so valuable. Close early but late TENN is just too much.

Free Pick: Northern Iowa +1 (Jeff Alexander)
Good defense and experience wins a lot of games this time of year and the Northern Iowa Panthers have been blessed with the good fortune of having both on their side. The Panthers allow a ridiculous 54.3 ppg. I expect this suffocating defense to be the difference. Northern Iowa is 10-1 ATS in road games versus good teams, outscoring their opponents by 4+ points/game, after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons, winning in these spots by an average score of 63.6 to 58.9. I also like the fact that N. Iowa is 7-1 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season, winning these games by an average score of 63.1 to 55.3. We’ll take the Panthers.

Free Pick: Georgetown -13 (John Martin)
Ohio’s miracle run comes to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown saved their best basketball for last, making it all the way to the Big East Championship game, losing by just 2 points to WVU on a game-winner by De’Sean Butler. Georgetown is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games, and 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games. Ohio is just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Big East conference. Ohio has really struggled shooting the ball this season, hitting just 40.3% of their shots on the road this year. Georgetown is an excellent defensive team, and will make life very difficult for the Bobcats. Georgetown gives up just 64.6 points/game and 40.4% shooting on the road this year. The Hoyas are very efficient on the offensive end as well, scoring 73.2 points/game on 49.8% shooting. I see no way the Hoyas don’t win this game by at least 15 points Thursday.