Northern Iowa Basketball: All You Need to Know for the 2026 NCAA Tournament

March Madness is here, and the excitement is building! The 2026 NCAA Tournament kicks off on Thursday with a full slate of games, but all eyes are already turning to key matchups like the one featuring Northern Iowa. This year’s tournament promises thrilling upsets and unforgettable moments, and the Panthers are looking to make their mark.

St. John’s vs. Northern Iowa: A First-Round Clash

Northern Iowa enters the tournament as a No. 12 seed, facing a tough challenge against the No. 5 seeded St. John’s Red Storm. St. John’s is coming off a dominant performance in the Big East Championship, securing their second consecutive title with a 72-52 victory over UConn. However, their 2025 tournament run was cut short by an upset loss to Arkansas in the second round, fueling their determination this year.

Key Matchup Details

• Date: Friday, March 20
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: CBS
• Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo

Betting Odds: St. John’s Favored, But Can Northern Iowa Pull Off an Upset?

According to BetMGM (as of Thursday, March 19), St. John’s is a 9.5-point favorite. Here’s a breakdown of the key betting lines:

• Spread: St. John’s -9.5
• Over/Under: 131.5 points
• Moneyline: St. John’s (-550), Northern Iowa +400

While St. John’s is heavily favored, a No. 12 seed pulling off an upset is a classic March Madness storyline. Northern Iowa will need a strong performance to challenge the Red Storm.

Thursday’s Full Tournament Schedule & Odds

Here’s a look at the complete schedule for Thursday’s first-round games, with odds courtesy of BetMGM:

• Thursday, March 19, 12:15 p.m. ET (CBS): Ohio State vs. TCU (Ohio State -2.5, O/U 146.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 12:40 p.m. ET (truTV): Nebraska vs. Troy (Nebraska -12.5, O/U 137.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 1:30 p.m. ET (TNT): Louisville vs. South Florida (Louisville -4.5, O/U 164.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 1:50 p.m. ET (TBS): Wisconsin vs. High Point (Wisconsin -10.5, O/U 163.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 2:50 p.m. ET (CBS): Duke vs. Siena (Duke -28.5, O/U 135.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 3:15 p.m. ET (truTV): Vanderbilt vs. McNeese (Vanderbilt -11.5, O/U 150.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 4:05 p.m. ET (TNT): Michigan State vs. North Dakota State (Michigan State -16.5, O/U 143.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 4:25 p.m. ET (TBS): Arkansas vs. Hawai’i (Arkansas -15.5, O/U 160.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 6:50 p.m. ET (TNT): North Carolina vs. VCU (North Carolina -2.5, O/U 152.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 7:10 p.m. ET (CBS): Michigan vs. Howard (Michigan -30.5, O/U 151.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 7:25 p.m. ET (TBS): BYU vs. Texas (BYU -2.5, O/U 159.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 7:35 p.m. ET (truTV): Saint Mary’s vs. Texas A&M (Saint Mary’s -3.5, O/U 146.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 9:25 p.m. ET (TNT): Illinois vs. Pennsylvania (Illinois -24.5, O/U 150.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 9:45 p.m. ET (CBS): Georgia vs. Saint Louis (Georgia -2.5, O/U 169.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 10 p.m. ET (TBS): Gonzaga vs. Kennesaw State (Gonzaga -21.5, O/U 154.5)
• Thursday, March 19, 10:10 p.m. ET (truTV): Houston vs. Idaho (Houston -23.5, O/U 137.5)

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