These plays will help you CYA on Bracket Day

March Madness is here! We hope you've gotten your work done early and have your screens set up, because starting at 12:15 p.m. ET, we will be couch-bound with a libation in our hands taking in all the hoops we can. 

There are many varying ways to play the board in the NCAA Tournament. If you ask this writer, he likes to fade his own bracket and bet against any unusual team he's put in the Elite Eight or further to help lessen the pain should his bracket get busted on day one. For those asking, the system plays there include Charleston +5, Princeton +15, Illinois +2 and Penn State +2.5. Consider doing this as well. It can help alleviate your feelings of failure should you lose a Final Four team by Thursday afternoon.

With that being said, we've found a few betting angles worth backing today, so pick and choose what resonates with you, and have fun today — it's one of the best sporting days of the year!

Arkansas -2

This Illinois-Arkansas 8-9 game figures to be an exciting matchup between two teams that earlier in the season were viewed as potential title contenders. Our choice here starts with coaching and team success in the tournament. The Illini have had no success at all in the tournament the past few years as a No. 1 and No. 4, failing to make the Sweet 16 in both tourneys. Arkansas and Eric Musselman, meanwhile, have been to two straight Elite Eights. The Razorbacks have a bevy of NBA prospects on their team, and we're backing Musselman to continue his March dominance.

Oral Roberts +6

Prior to the bracket release we were all geared up to send Duke through its region, fresh off an ACC title. Then we saw the draw, and we're sorry to say but Oral Roberts has our vote here. Just two years ago, Oral Roberts as the 15 seed advanced to the Sweet 16, and four players from that team, including top scoring guard Max Abmas, remain. That's experience we'd like to back. For as good as Duke looked winning the ACC, it's worth noting that the conference was far from its elite self this season. Oral Roberts has lost just once since Nov. 22. Abmas is averaging 22.2 points per game and has drained the fourth-most three-pointers in the nation this year. Expect to hear his name early and often as No. 12 Oral Roberts looks to author another Cinderella run.

Texas A&M -2.5

Of the teams in this tournament, it's Texas A&M who has been the most profitable betting team against the spread this year at 23-10-1. The Aggies play smothering defense, rebound well and make their free throws. That's the type of profile we can get behind. Texas A&M has solid guard play and finished the regular season on a 16-3 run. Personally, we like the Aggies to advance to the Sweet 16, so we'll be taking them here to advance past Penn State.

In the news ...

Ja Morant suspended eight games — The NBA concluded its investigation into the video Ja Morant recently shared on social media of him wielding a firearm and handed down an eight-game suspension for the Grizzlies star guard. The suspension will be retroactive, meaning that the games Morant has already missed since the incident will count. Morant is eligible to return to the Memphis lineup on Monday. The Grizzlies are currently second in the Western Conference and are +900 to make the Finals.

Latest QB news for Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield — The speculation and rumors have been rampant, and it's now been confirmed from the man himself: Aaron Rodgers intends to play for the Jets in 2023. All that's left is for compensation to be worked out between the teams, something Green Bay is very willing to get done. We took a look at how this news impacted the betting markets, including Packers and Jets futures and MVP odds for Rodgers and Jordan Love. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield signed with Tampa Bay and looks likely to compete for a starting job there with Kyle Trask.

Mets star closer Edwin Diaz injures leg at World Baseball Classic — New York Mets star closer Edwin Diaz left the field in a wheelchair following Puerto Rico's 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic Wednesday night. The injury occurred while Diaz was celebrating the win with his teammates. The Mets had their druthers about Diaz pitching in the WBC, telling him he could not pitch in consecutive days. Now it appears they may have lost their closer for a significant amount of time just as the season is about to begin. The Mets are currently +750 to win the World Series, the second-best odds behind the Astros.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll