Why is Jason Benetti calling March Madness games? Explaining why NBC baseball announcer is on loan to CBS

CBS is already down one commentator for the Round of 64. Brian Anderson was sidelined due to an illness he battled through during Tuesday's First Four coverage.

Despite working at NBC, Jason Benetti will fill in for Anderson on Thursday.

Benetti will join the broadcasting crew calling the game between No. 11 seed South Florida and No. 6 Louisville. He’ll work alongside color commentator Jim Jackson and sideline reporter Allie LaForce.

Here’s what you need to know about Anderson's absence and when to expect him back.

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Why is Jason Benetti calling March Madness games?

While Anderson was originally slated to cover some of Thursday's Round of 64 games, he has fallen ill and will be out of the booth on Thursday. Benetti, who is currently under contract at NBC, will fill in.

Many sports fans are delighted to hear of Benetti's inclusion in the March Madness booth. Benetti has thorough commentating experience, and his inclusion in CBS's NCAA Tournament team will cross another major network off his long list.

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Why is Jason Benetti allowed to be on CBS despite contract with NBC?

While Benetti is currently under contract at NBC, he will be able to join the CBS table at March Madness.

Benetti also works for Westwood One. Both NBC and Westwood One have granted CBS and TNT permission to bring him on staff for Thursday’s slate of games.

What illness does Brian Anderson have

It is unknown at the moment what specific illness Anderson has that caused him to hit the bench for Thursday's Round of 64 matchups, for which he was originally slotted to cover.

During Tuesday's coverage at the First Four matchups, Anderson had a raspy voice and was visibly under the weather.

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How long is Brian Anderson out?

Despite being unable to commentate on the first day of the Round of 64 matchups, Anderson is not expected to be out long. The commentator hopes to be back on Saturday for the Round of 32.

What does Jason Benetti usually call?

Benetti is well-liked for his Detroit Tigers commentary. Along with this, Benetti is also slated to call national MLB games for NBC this season. He plans to commentate on Sunday Night Baseball, doing play-by-play.

In his experiences, Benetti has also covered college football, college basketball, and the Olympics, but baseball is his main forte.