BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- March Madness gets under way for real today, with the first of 16 first-round games in Buffalo, New York.

Maryland takes on Davidson in the N-C-A-A Midwest Regional. Boston College meets Texas Tech at about the same time in the East Regional at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. And Louisville plays Stanford in the South Regional at Lexington, Kentucky.

Buffalo civic leaders say they're excited to be hosting the men's basketball tournament for the third time in seven years. The old rust-belt economy is hanging tough in town, and they say it's good to have restaurants busy and hotels sold out.

The day's biggest games have North Carolina -- the top seed in the East -- playing Eastern Kentucky, while Ohio State -- top seed in the South -- takes on Central Connecticut State.

All this leads up to the Final Four meeting March 31st in Atlanta.