Thursday’s odds for the Sweet 16
 
Thursday’s odds for the Sweet 16

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament continues Thursday with a rematch of last year’s national title game.

Gonzaga Wins WCC Tournament, Defeats Saint Mary’s 84-66
 
Gonzaga Wins WCC Tournament, Defeats Saint Mary’s 84-66

The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated Saint Mary’s to win the WCC Tournament and to advance to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Gonzaga has won the WCC crown seven times in their last eight appearances and is their 17th tournament championship with Mark Few coaching the team. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis
 
Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis

Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis The social media site will also be hosting Watch Parties for the National Championship Game on Monday. Twitter describes them as a “live social-viewing experience,” comprised of analyst commentary, reactions and highlights. The Final Four Watch Parties will stream live on Twitter starting Saturday, March 31, at 6 p.m. ET to coincide with the first game of the evening — Michigan vs. Loyola Chicago. Following the first game of the night, two, No. 1 seeds battle as Kansas takes on Villanova. TBS is broadcasting Saturday’s semifinals and the April 2 National Championship.

UMBC’s upset over Virginia means free Little Caesars pizza
 
UMBC’s upset over Virginia means free Little Caesars pizza

UMBC’s upset over Virginia means free Little Caesars pizza. 16-seed UMBC upset one-seed Virginia, the first time a one-seed was upset in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Little Caesars is capitalizing on the crazy by offering a free pizza lunch. The “If Crazy Happens” promotion offers a free lunch combo to every customer, which includes one personal, four-slice deep dish pizza and one 20-ounce Pepsi drink.

Superbook Madness
 
Superbook Madness

By 5 a.m. Thursday, about 150 people had staked out territory in the 400-seat at the sports book at Westgate Las Vegas, ready to watch and bet on the first day of the men’s NCAA Tournment. (Max Michor/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Barack Obama Gives His March Madness Picks
 
Barack Obama Gives His March Madness Picks

Barack Obama Gives His March Madness Picks The former president revealed his picks on Twitter Wednesday for both the men and women’s NCAA tournament. Just because I have more time to watch games doesn’t mean my picks will be better Obama selected Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan State and Villanova, going Michigan State over Virginia in the national championship game. In the women’s tournament, he’s taking UConn, Mississippi St, Louisville and Notre Dam in the Final Four, with the Huskies winning the title.

Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA South Bracket
 
Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA South Bracket

Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA South bracket.

Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA East Bracket
 
Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA East Bracket

Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA east bracket.

Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA West Bracket
 
Sports Betting Spotlight: NCAA West Bracket

Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA west bracket.

Americans are Expected to Bet Over $10 Billion on March Madness
 
Americans are Expected to Bet Over $10 Billion on March Madness

Americans are Expected to Bet Over $10 Billion on March Madness The numbers come from estimates released by the American Gambling Association (AGA). According to ESPN, who reported the numbers, only three percent of all betting is expected to take place legally. The AGA reports that last year, 24 million people participated in NCAA Tournament pools, submitting over 60 million brackets. Many Americans take part in paid-entry pools which, according to the AGA, are actually illegal in most states. Our current sports betting laws are so out of touch with reality that we’re turning tens of millions of Americans into criminals for the simple act of enjoying college basketball. The NCAA Tournament kicks off on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:40 p.m. on TruTV.

NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises
 
NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises

NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises Surprise: Oklahoma (18-13) Snub: Oklahoma St. (19-14) Surprise: Syracuse (20-13) Snub: Saint Mary’s (28-5) Surprise: Arizona St. (20-11) Snub: Notre Dame (20-14) Surprise: UCLA (21-11) Snub: University of Southern California (23-11) The first round of the NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 13 on TruTV.

Westgate contest covers first two days of NCAA Tournament
 
Westgate contest covers first two days of NCAA Tournament

The first two full days of the NCAA Tournament are arguably the best two days on the sports calendar. For the first time, the Westgate sports book is offering a contest that covers only the opening two days of the tourney on March 15 and 16. (Todd Dewey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained
 
The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained

The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is single-elimination, The term March Madness was popularized by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939, but it was Brent Musburger who used it during coverage of the 1982 tournament. The winner of the tournament for the 32 Division I conferences receives an automatic bid. The selection committee also decides which school among non-qualifiers has the pedigree to earn an invite to the tournament. Selection Sunday on March 11 March Madness officially begins March 11 and runs through April 2, when the NCAA men’s basketball championship takes place.