March 19, 2026, 11:19 a.m. ET
The excitement of March Madness is here.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday, with the initial round featuring 16 games scheduled to be played continuously throughout the day nationwide.
St. John’s enters this year’s competition as a No. 5 seed in the East Region, fresh off securing their second consecutive Big East title. They achieved this with a decisive 72-52 triumph over UConn in the championship game at Madison Square Garden last Saturday.
The Red Storm experienced an early exit from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, having been upset by Arkansas in the second round last year.
So, when will St. John’s play in the first round of this year’s tournament?
Here is the crucial information you need to know about St. John’s inaugural matchup against No. 12 Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament:
When is the No. 5 St. John’s vs No. 12 Northern Iowa NCAA Tournament Game?
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 7:10 p.m.
Which Channel Will Broadcast No. 5 St. John’s vs No. 12 Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament?
TV channel: CBS
How to Stream the No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa NCAA Tournament Game
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Stream St. John’s vs Northern Iowa live on Fubo
Is No. 5 St. John’s Favored to Win the NCAA Tournament Game? See the Odds
Odds provided by BetMGM as of Thursday, March 19:
Spread: St. John’s favored by 9.5 points
Over/under: 131.5 points
Moneyline: St. John’s (-550), Northern Iowa 4/1 (+400)
Who is Playing in the NCAA Tournament Today? View the First Round Schedule
Here is the complete Thursday schedule for all 16 games in the NCAA Tournament’s first round:
Odds provided by BetMGM as of Thursday, March 19:
No. 8 Ohio State vs No. 9 TCU March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:15 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Stream Ohio State vs TCU live on Fubo
Spread: Ohio State favored by 2.5 points
Over/under: 146.5 points
Moneyline: Ohio State (-145), TCU (+120)
No. 4 Nebraska vs No. 13 Troy March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:40 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Nebraska vs Troy live on Sling
Spread: Nebraska favored by 12.5 points
Over/under: 137.5 points
Moneyline: Nebraska (-1100), Troy (+650)
No. 6 Louisville vs No. 11 South Florida March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 1:30 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Louisville vs South Florida live on Sling
Spread: Louisville favored by 4.5 points
Over/under: 164.5 points
Moneyline: Louisville (-200), South Florida (+165)
No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 12 High Point March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 1:50 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Wisconsin vs High Point live on Sling
Spread: Wisconsin favored by 10.5 points
Over/under: 163.5 points
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-500), High Point (+375)
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 2:50 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Stream Duke vs Siena live on Fubo
Spread: Duke favored by 28.5 points
Over/under: 135.5 points
Moneyline: Duke (-10000), Siena (+3300)
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 3:15 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Vanderbilt vs McNeese live on Sling
Spread: Vanderbilt favored by 11.5 points
Over/under: 150.5 points
Moneyline: Vanderbilt (-750), McNeese (+525)
No. 3 Michigan State vs No. 14 North Dakota State March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Michigan State vs North Dakota State live on Sling
Spread: Michigan State favored by 16.5 points
Over/under: 143.5 points
Moneyline: Michigan State (-2000), North Dakota State (+950)
No. 4 Arkansas vs No. 13 Hawai’i March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 4:25 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Arkansas vs Hawai’i live on Sling
Spread: Arkansas favored by 15.5 points
Over/under: 160.5 points
Moneyline: Arkansas (-1600), Hawai’i (+850)
No. 6 North Carolina vs No. 11 VCU March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 6:50 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream North Carolina vs VCU live on Sling
Spread: North Carolina favored by 2.5 points
Over/under: 152.5 points
Moneyline: North Carolina (-150), VCU (+125)
No. 1 Michigan vs No. 16 Howard March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: Midwest
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Stream Michigan vs Howard live on Fubo
Spread: Michigan favored by 30.5 points
Over/under: 151.5 points
Moneyline: Michigan (N/A), Howard (N/A)
No. 6 BYU vs No. 11 Texas March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:25 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream BYU vs Texas live on Sling
Spread: BYU favored by 2.5 points
Over/under: 159.5 points
Moneyline: BYU (-150), Texas (+125)
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs No. 10 Texas A&M March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:35 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Saint Mary’s vs Texas A&M live on Sling
Spread: Saint Mary’s favored by 3.5 points
Over/under: 146.5 points
Moneyline: Saint Mary’s (-170), Texas A&M (+140)
No. 3 Illinois vs No. 14 Pennsylvania March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 9:25 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Illinois vs Pennsylvania live on Sling
Spread: Illinois favored by 24.5 points
Over/under: 150.5 points
Moneyline: Illinois (-10000), Pennsylvania (+2500)
No. 8 Georgia vs No. 9 Saint Louis March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 9:45 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: Midwest
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Stream Georgia vs Saint Louis live on Fubo
Spread: Georgia favored by 2.5 points
Over/under: 169.5 points
Moneyline: Georgia (-145), Saint Louis (+120)
No. 3 Gonzaga vs No. 14 Kennesaw State March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 10 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Gonzaga vs Kennesaw State live on Sling
Spread: Gonzaga favored by 21.5 points
Over/under: 154.5 points
Moneyline: Gonzaga (-10000), Kennesaw State (+1650)
No. 2 Houston vs No. 15 Idaho March Madness Game Time, Channel, and Odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 10:10 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Stream Houston vs Idaho live on Sling
Spread: Houston favored by 23.5 points
Over/under: 137.5 points
Moneyline: Houston (-10000), Idaho (+2500)