LSU vs. Rice NCAA Tournament Round 1: How to watch, odds and predictions for March Madness

Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers head back to the NCAA Tournament to defend their 2023 National Title. This year the Tigers come in as a 3-seed in what is probably the toughest region in the women's tournament with heavy hitters like UCLA, Kansas State, and the team they defeated to get their title, Iowa.

The Tigers are coming off a loss in the SEC Championship to South Carolina where tensions arose and even exploded late in the game resulting in the teams needing to be pulled apart and ejections given. Ultimately, LSU wasn't able to get in done in the end, but that loss could end up being a blessing in disguise.

When a team has a game like what LSU had, a physical matchup between two top teams, a loss like that can fuel you for future games. LSU is going to come in hungry to defend thier title and I for one would not want to stand in their way.

How to watch Team vs. Team in the NCAA Tournament Round 1

Date: Friday, March 22
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live I fuboTV

Team vs. Team NCAA Tournament Round 1 odds

LSU is a huge favorite in this game and it comes as no surprise. What I am surprised by is the over/under on this game. It seems like oddsmakers think it will be a high-scoring blowout, or LSU is going to score that many points to cover.

Team vs. Team NCAA Tournament Round 1 prediction

LSU is going to come into this game with a head full of steam and Rice is simply just going to have to get out of the way. This will be a game to get shooting right for the Tigers and give them momentum going forward.

The game also being at home for LSU will be a big boost. They get to play in the comfort of their own arena and sleep in their own beds, everything is in LSU's favor here.