No. 3 Baylor vs No. 14 New Mexico State preview: Game time, broadcast, betting line, prediction

The 3rd-seeded Baylor Bears (25-7) take on the No. 14 seed New Mexico State Aggies (28-5) in the first round of the East Region. The game will be played at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Friday. Tip is at 12:40 p.m. E.T.

Preview: Baylor started 20-1 and was ranked No. 1 earlier this season. The Bears lost their Big 12 Tournament opener to Kansas State and enter the tournament having lost four of seven. Baylor is led by forward Johnathan Motley (17.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg).

NMSU won the WAC by beating Cal State-Bakersfield in the conference title game. Senior guard Ian Baker (16.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.1 apg) and sophomore forward Eli Chuha (12.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg) are their top players.

You can check out the entire NCAA Tournament bracket ere. You can also see how the committee ranked the teams 1-68 here.

Date: Friday, March 17

Time: 12:40 p.m. E.T.

TV Channel: truTV

Location: BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Dana Jacobson

Opening Betting Line: Baylor -13, via OddsShark

Baylor is making its 11th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, and its seventh under head coach Scott Drew. Last year, the Bears were a No. 5 seed but were upset by 12th-seeded Yale.

This is New Mexico State's 18th time in the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies have made it five of the last six years, but last won a tourney game in 1993 when they beat 10th-seeded Nebraska.

Prediction: New Mexico State always seems on the verge of pulling an upset in the NCAA Tournament before falling shot. We expect that to happen again.

Baylor just has too much size, length and athleticism for the Aggies to handle. Baylor advances.

The post No. 3 Baylor vs No. 14 New Mexico State Preview: Game Time, Broadcast, Betting Line, Prediction appeared first on The Spun.