The 2011 NCAA Tournament gets underway today and tomorrow with three separate play-in games. The traditional 16 vs. 16 play-in game features UNC-Asheville and Arkansas-Little Rock. Today we also get the first of two play-in games that are part of the “First Four.” Today’s matchup features No. 12 UAB and No. 12 Clemson. Both matchups will take place in Dayton, Ohio and we’ve got some early tournament odds for you.

The 16 vs. 16 play-in games feature the annual patsies that advance to face the top number one seeds. The winner of UNC-Asheville and Arkansas-Little Rock will advance to face Pittsburgh on Thursday in Washington, DC. As of this post UNCA is approximately a 3 1/2 point favorite with the spread swinging as far as 4 1/2. Thus far this season UNC-Asheville has only been available for wager four times and is 3-1 against the spread. Arkansas-Little Rock is 13-14 against the spread according to Odds Shark.

In tonight’s 12 vs. 12 matchup, the Clemson Tigers are anywhere from a 4 1/2 to 5 point favorite against the UAB Blazers. The Tigers are 13-13-2 against the spread while the Blazers are 17-11-1. The winner of this matchup will advance to face the fifth seeded West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday in Tampa.

We’ll be back tomorrow with odds for Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State and USC vs. VCU.