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Who is favored to win March Madness 2024? NCAA experts share their bracket predictions ahead of the tournament
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It’s beginning to look a lot like March Madness! Brackets are in the air and the First Four are set and ready to play. For college basketball fans, now is the time to set your picks for the 2024 NCAA tournament winners.
To help, we consulted the experts at SportsLine for their picks for which teams could win the Big Dance. Keep reading for our experts’ top March Madness picks — and for all the information you need to watch every March Madness game this year.
Note: CBS Essentials, CBS, Paramount+ and Sportsline are all subsidiaries of Paramount. CBS is one of the broadcast homes of the 2024 men’s March Madness tournament.
Who will win March Madness 2024? Experts sound off
Need help filling out your March Madness bracket? We asked the college basketball experts at SportsLine to share their top picks to win the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament.
Bruce Marshall‘s pick to win: Tennessee
“The Vols have always bumped their heads into the ceiling at the Sweet 16 for Rick Barnes, and UT is still to reach a Final Four in its hoops history. So why can these Vols do what some of the past Knoxville contenders coached by Ray Mears, Don DeVoe, Bruce Pearl (and previous to this year, Barnes) couldn’t?
“It’s a unique personnel mix boosted by Northern Colorado transfer wing Dalton Knecht (21.1 ppg), who flourished when surrounded by better athletes than he was paired with in the Big Sky. Knecht’s versatility added a very sharp edge to a lineup that is customarily rugged in the paint and also features a veteran PG in Zakai Zeigler. Finishing atop the regular-season table in the rugged SEC while beating every contender in the loop, with many of those wins on the road, further suggests the Vols are built for an extended run in March. The early exit at the tourney in Nashville might prove a blessing in disguise, as UT was spared extra wear and tear last weekend.
“The Vols will never have a better chance than right now for their fans to sing Rocky Top at the Final Four and finally kick down that championship door.”
Eric Cohen‘s pick to win: UConn
“There has been no better team in college basketball this season than UConn, who at 31-3, looks well-positioned to repeat as National Champions for the first time since Florida in 2006-2007. The Huskies rank 15th nationally in points against (64.4) while averaging 81.5 on offense (22nd).
“Their draw is somewhat tricky with potential matchups against 2023 Final Four member Florida Atlantic in the second round, SEC Tournament Champion, Auburn in the Sweet 16, and Big 12 Tournament Champion Iowa State in the Elite Eight. But with strong guard play from Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, it would be a minor surprise if they didn’t advance to the Final Four and beyond in 2024.”
Thomas Casale‘s pick to win: North Carolina
“I have been a fan of this Carolina team all season. I think they are on a mission after laying an egg last year. The thing I like most about the Tar Heels is they can adapt and win games in multiple different ways. That’s important in the tournament because when one thing doesn’t work, teams need to be able to adapt.
“North Carolina’s resurgence starts on the defensive end. Last season there were too many games where the Tar Heels played with little emotion on defense and it cost them. Hubert Davis fixed those issues in the offseason. UNC enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 6 in defensive efficiency on KenPom.
“I bet North Carolina a while back at +3000 but I still think they are worth a look at their current number. They would have to get by a potential matchup with UConn in the Final Four but if there is one team that can end the Huskies’ run at a repeat, I believe it’s UNC.”
Bob Konarski‘s pick to win: Houston
“Looking at the regions, Houston may have one of the easiest paths to the Final Four out of the number one seeds. The East Region with Connecticut is stacked with conference winners, like Auburn, Iowa State, and Drake, that can give the Huskies a run for their money. Houston may not be tested until the Sweet 16 when they could have a matchup against the Duke Blue Devils, then a possible matchup with Marquette if Tyler Kolek returns healthy.
“Houston has the top-rated defense in the country and that is something you want to look for in a team when attempting to make a run in March. The Cougars win the defensive battle first then capitalize on offense. Jamal Shead is one of the best leading point guards in the country and paired with LJ Cryer, makes them a lethal backcourt. They have the discipline, physical players and a great coach to make a run in March.”
How do experts predict who will win March Madness?
The experts at SportsLine have years of experience evaluating lines, teams, coaching styles, offensive trends, defensive trends and opponent tendencies. They assess the strength of each team’s regular season schedule, how each team fared during the season against common opponents and the team’s tournament history, to bring you a full picture of each team’s potential in this year’s NCAA tournament.
What teams are in March Madness this year?
A total of 68 schools have punched a ticket to 2024 March Madness, including UConn, USC, Tennessee, Houston, Gonzaga and UNC. The pool will be whittled down to 64 teams after the First Four play-in round.
Who won March Madness 2023 last year?
The winner of the 2023 NCAA tournament was UConn, who beat San Diego State 76-59.
When is March Madness 2024?
- The men’s tournament will be played March 19, 2024 – April 8, 2024.
- The women’s tournament will be played March 20, 2024- April 7, 2024.
How to watch March Madness 2024
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Men’s March Madness 2024, including the Final Four, will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.
Women’s March Madness 2024, including the Final Four, will air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.
How to watch March Madness 2024 without cable
If you’ve given up your cable subscription, or your cable provider doesn’t include the channels carrying March Madness this year, you can subscribe to one of the streaming or live TV platforms featured below.
How to watch March Madness 2024: Paramount+ with Showtime
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CBS will play host to some of this year’s men’s March Madness games, which means Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers can stream CBS-aired men’s March Madness games live.
The streamer offers access to all college basketball games locally and nationally televised on CBS on all its subscription tiers. In addition, you can watch top-tier soccer like the Champions League live and SEC college football games, plus popular shows such as “Survivor” and “NCIS.”
A subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime is $11.99 per month. The streamer offers a seven-day free trial. (You won’t be able to stream men’s March Madness live with a Paramount+ Essential subscription.)
Stream March Madness: Paramount + with Showtime free on Amazon Prime Video
Paramount+ content, including men’s March Madness 2024, is available to stream on Amazon Prime via a Paramount+ on Prime Video add-on subscription. Prime Video also carries some of the best sports documentaries, including “Kelce,” which chronicles former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce’s last season in the league.
Amazon is offering a seven-day free trial of Paramount+ with Showtime. Tap the button below to start your trial and start streaming now for free. After the free trial period ends, a subscription to the Paramount+ with Showtime tier is $11.99 per month.
Watch March Madness free with Fubo
If you’re new to streaming sports, you should know about Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to every March Madness game airing on network and cable TV, plus your local TV affiliates, hundreds of cable TV channels and 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage. Another great reason to love Fubo is its lookback feature, which lets you watch sporting events up to 72 hours after they air live.
Start watching NCAA basketball on Fubo and also get access to network-aired NFL, NBA and MLB games by starting a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. Fubo starts at $80/month for the Pro tier, which includes over 184 channels, but the streamer is currently offering the first month for $60.
What you’ll get with Fubo Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with Fubo — you can cancel at any time.
- The Pro tier includes over 184 channels, including NFL Network.
- Fubo includes all the channels you’ll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS.
- In addition to NFL football, Fubo offers MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games.
- All Fubo tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone and mobile devices.
Save $40 on Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream March Madness 2024
If you have don’t have cable TV that includes TNT, TBS and ESPN, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream March Madness games this year is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to your local network affiliate’s live feed (excluding CBS) and also includes the NFL Network and ESPN with its Orange tier plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all the season’s top NFL matchups.
That plan normally costs $40 per month, but the streamer is currently offering Sling Orange for $120 for four months when you prepay. That’s $30 per month, a saving of $40.
Note: Because men’s March Madness 2024 will broadcast on CBS, you won’t be able to watch all men’s March Madness 2024 with a Sling TV subscription. If you’re looking to stream the men’s tournament, we suggest a subscription to one of the other platforms featured here.
Top features of Sling TV Orange tier:
- There are 32 channels to watch in total, including ESPN, TNT and TBS. (where available).
- You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games next season at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
ESPN+: How to watch the women’s Final Four
ESPN+ is ESPN’s subscription streaming platform. It offers exclusive live events, original studio shows and top-tier series that aren’t accessible on the ESPN networks. To watch the women’s Final Four, simply sign into the ESPN app. You’ll watch college basketball at no extra charge. You can stream ESPN+ through the ESPN app on your favorite mobile device and ESPN.com. It’s also available as an app through major smart TV streaming platforms and gaming consoles such as the PS5.
Keep in mind there are some blackouts prohibiting you from watching certain in-market games with ESPN+, even if they’re nationally televised. If you’re looking to avoid those blackouts, we suggest subscribing to the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle featured above.
It is important to note that ESPN+ does not include access to the ESPN network. It is a separate sports-centric service, with separate sports programming.
An ESPN+ subscription costs $10.99 per month, or save 15% when you pay annually ($110). ESPN+ is also currently offering a cost-saving bundle. Get ESPN+ (with ads), Disney+ (with ads) and Hulu (with ads) for $14.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle: The one way to stream every March Madness game
You can watch March Madness 2024, including both the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. The bundle features 95 channels, including ESPN, ABC and CBS, and includes ESPN+, so you’ll be able to watch every game of both tournaments. The women’s Final Four will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every March Madness game on every network this season with Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It’s priced at $77.
Watch March Madness live with a digital HDTV antenna
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You can also watch March Madness on TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here’s the kicker: There’s no monthly charge.
For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal — or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch March Madness without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.
This amplified digital antenna with a 250-mile range can receive hundreds of HDTV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox and Univision and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV and top-tier sound. It comes with an 18-foot digital coax cable.
Key dates for the 2024 NCAA men’s college tournament
Below are key dates for March Madness 2024.
- First Four: Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, 2024
- First round: Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22
- Second round: Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24
- Sweet 16: Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31
- Final Four: Saturday, April 6 (TBS)
- National championship: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (TBS)
Key dates for the 2024 NCAA women’s college basketball tournament
- First Four: Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, 2024
- First round: Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23
- Second round: Sunday, March 24 and Monday, March 25
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30
- Elite Eight: Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1
- Final Four: Friday, April 5 (ESPN+)
- National championship: Sunday, April 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio (ABC)
CBS News
Tajikistan nationals with alleged ISIS ties removed in immigration proceedings, U.S. officials say
When federal agents arrested eight Tajikistan nationals with alleged ties to the Islamic State terror group on immigration charges back in June, U.S. officials reasoned that coordinated raids in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia would prove the fastest way to disrupt a potential terrorist plot in its earliest stages. Four months later, after being detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, three of the men have already been returned to Tajikistan and Russia, U.S. officials tell CBS News, following removals by immigration court judges.
Four more Tajik nationals – also held in ICE detention facilities – are awaiting removal flights to Central Asia, and U.S. officials anticipate they’ll be returned in the coming few weeks. Only one of the arrested men still awaits his legal proceeding, following a medical issue, though U.S. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive proceedings indicated that he remains detained and is likely to face a similar outcome.
The men face no additional charges – including terrorism-related offenses – with the decision to immediately arrest and remove them through deportation proceedings, rather than orchestrate a hard-fought terrorism trial in Article III courts, born out of a pressing short-term concern about public safety.
Soon after the eight foreign nationals crossed into the United States, the FBI learned of the potential ties to the Islamic State, CBS News previously reported. The FBI identified early-stage terrorist plotting, triggering their immediate arrests, in part, through a wiretap after the individuals had already been vetted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News in June.
Several months later, their removals following immigration proceedings mark a departure from the post-9/11 intelligence-sharing architecture of the U.S. government.
Now facing a more diverse migrant population at the U.S.-Mexico border, a new effort is underway by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and the Intelligence Community to normalize the direct sharing of classified information – including some marked top-secret – with U.S. immigration judges.
The more routine intelligence sharing with immigration judges is aimed at allowing U.S. immigration courts to more regularly incorporate derogatory information into their decisions. The endeavor has led to the creation of more safes and sensitive compartmented information facilities – also known as SCIFs – to help facilitate the sharing of classified materials. Once considered a last resort for the department, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has sought to use immigration tools, in recent months, to mitigate and disrupt threat activity.
The immigration raids, back in June, underscore the spate of terrorism concerns from the U.S. government this year, as national security agencies point to a system now blinking red in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, with emerging terrorism hot spots in Central Asia.
A joint intelligence bulletin released this month, and obtained by CBS News, warns that foreign terrorist organizations have exploited the attack nearly one year ago and its aftermath to try to recruit radicalized followers, creating media that compares the October 7 and 9/11 attacks and encouraging “lone attackers to use simple tactics like firearms, knives, Molotov cocktails, and vehicle ramming against Western targets in retaliation for deaths in Gaza.”
In May, ICE arrested an Uzbek man in Baltimore with alleged ISIS ties after he had been living inside the U.S. for more than two years, NBC News first reported.
In the past year, Tajik nationals have engaged in foiled terrorism plots in Russia, Iran and Turkey, as well as Europe, with several Tajik men arrested following March’s deadly attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow that left at least 133 people dead and hundreds more injured.
The attack has been linked to ISIS-K, or the Islamic State Khorasan Province, an off-shoot of ISIS that emerged in 2015, founded by disillusioned members of Pakistani militant groups, including Taliban fighters. In August 2021, during the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, ISIS-K launched a suicide attack in Kabul, killing 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians.
In a recent change to ICE policy, the agency now recurrently vets foreign nationals arriving from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, detaining them while they await removal proceedings or immigration hearings.
Only 0.007% of migrant arrivals are flagged by the FBI’s watchlist, and an even smaller number of those asylum seekers are ultimately removed. But with migrants arriving at the Southwest border from conflict zones in the Eastern Hemisphere, posing potential links to extremist or terrorist groups, the White House is now exploring ways to expedite the removal of asylum seekers viewed as a possible threat to the American public.
“Encounters with migrants from Eastern Hemisphere countries—such as China, India, Russia, and western African countries—in FY 2024 have decreased slightly from about 10 to 9 percent of overall encounters, but remain a higher proportion of encounters than before FY 2023,” according to the Homeland Threat Assessment, a public intelligence document released earlier this month.
A senior homeland security official told reporters in a briefing Wednesday, that the U.S. is engaged in an “ongoing effort to try to make sure that we can use every bit of available information that the U.S. government has classified and unclassified, and make sure that the best possible picture about a person seeking to enter the United States is available to frontline personnel who are encountering that person.”
Approximately 139 individuals flagged by the FBI’s terror watchlist have been encountered at the U.S.‑Mexico border through July of fiscal year 2024. That number decreased from 216 during the same timeframe in 2023. CBP encountered 283 watchlisted individuals at the U.S.-Canada border through July of fiscal year 2024, down from 375 encountered during the same timeframe in 2023.
“I think one of the features of the surge in migration over recent years is that our border personnel are encountering a much more diverse and global population of individuals trying to enter the United States or seeking to enter the United States,” a senior DHS official said. “So, at some point in the past, it might have been primarily a Western Hemisphere phenomenon. Now, our border personnel encounter individuals from around the world, from all parts of the world, to include conflict zones and other areas where individuals may have links or can support ties to extremist or terrorist organizations that we have long-standing concerns about.”
In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that human smuggling operations at the southern border were trafficking in people with possible connections to terror groups.
“Looking back over my career in law enforcement, I’d be hard-pressed to think of a time when so many different threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once, but that is the case as I sit here today,” Wray, told Congress in June, just days before most of the Tajik men were arrested.
The expedited return of three Tajiks to Central Asia required tremendous diplomatic communication, facilitated by the State Department, U.S. officials said.
Returns to Central Asia routinely encounter operational and diplomatic hurdles, though regular channels for removal do exist. According to agency data, in 2023, ICE deported only four migrants to Tajikistan.
Robert Legare and
contributed to this report.
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