NCAA Sweet 16 Odds & Preview: Lines, Picks for Every Game
Sweet Sixteen Showdown: Arizona, Michigan Lead the Way in NCAA Tournament
With the first two rounds of March Madness in the books, the Sweet Sixteen is set to deliver a thrilling slate of games. As of , Arizona has emerged as the favorite to win the men’s NCAA Tournament at DraftKings Sportsbook, with odds of +350. Michigan follows closely behind at +330, even as Duke sits at +380. The action tips off tonight with four contests, followed by another four games on .
Thursday’s Slate: Razorbacks Challenge Wildcats, Illini Face Cougars
The first game on Thursday features a clash between No. 4 Arkansas and No. 1 Arizona. Arizona is currently a 7.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -375. Arkansas comes in at +295 on the moneyline. The over/under is set at 164.5. While Arizona secured a dominant win against Long Island in the first round (92-58), their second-round matchup against Utah State (78-66) was tighter, covering by only half a point. Arkansas advanced with victories over Hawai’i (97-78) and High Point (94-88). Arizona has covered the spread in six of eleven games this season when favored by fewer than 10 points.
The second game pits No. 3 Illinois against No. 2 Houston. Houston is a 2.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -155, while Illinois is at +130. The over/under is 140.5. Houston has been impressive in the tournament, winning both their games by a margin of 31 points – a 78-47 victory over Idaho and an 88-57 win against Texas A&M. Their success has been built on strong defense, preventing both opponents from reaching 30 points in any half. Illinois also covered in both of their tournament wins, defeating Penn (105-70) and VCU (76-55).
Late Night Thrillers: Texas Tests Purdue, Iowa Battles Nebraska
Rounding out Thursday’s action, No. 11 Texas will face No. 2 Purdue. Purdue is favored by 7.5 points, with a moneyline of -375, while Texas is at +295. The over/under is 147.5. Purdue appears to be hitting its stride at the right time, having won the Big Ten title and then comfortably defeating Queens U (104-71) and Miami FL (79-69) in the tournament. Texas, meanwhile, has been on an unexpected run, upsetting NC State in the First Four (68-66), followed by wins against BYU (79-71) and Gonzaga (74-68). Both teams have covered the spread in each of their tournament games.
The final game of the night sees No. 9 Iowa take on No. 4 Nebraska. Nebraska is a slight 1.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -130, while Iowa is at +110. The over/under is 131.5. Iowa pulled off a major upset, defeating defending champion Florida in the Round of 32 (73-72) as a 10.5-point underdog. They also covered in their first-round game against Clemson (67-61). Nebraska covered in both of their tournament games, beating Troy (76-47) and Vanderbilt (74-72). These two teams split their season series, with Iowa winning at home (57-52) and Nebraska winning on its home court (84-75).
Friday’s Games: Duke, Michigan, UConn and Iowa State in Action
Friday’s schedule begins with a matchup between No. 5 St. John’s and No. 1 Duke. Duke is a 6.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -285, while St. John’s is at +230. The over/under is 141.5. Duke overcame a shaky first-round performance against Siena, winning 71-65 after being favored by 28.5 points, and then defeated TCU (81-58) in the second round. St. John’s had covered six straight games before narrowly beating Kansas (67-65) as a 3.5-point favorite.
Next up, No. 4 Alabama will face No. 1 Michigan. Michigan is a 9.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -485, while Alabama is at +370. The over/under is 172.5. Michigan dominated Howard (101-80) and Saint Louis (95-72) in their first two tournament games, but only covered in the second-round win. Alabama secured victories over Hofstra (90-70) and Texas Tech (90-65), covering in both games.
The third game on Friday features No. 3 Michigan State against No. 2 UConn. UConn is a 1.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -130, while Michigan State is at +110. The over/under is 134.5. UConn, aiming for their second championship in three years, beat Furman (82-71) and UCLA (73-57) in the tournament. Michigan State cruised past North Dakota State (92-67) and Louisville (77-69), covering in both contests. This matchup is expected to be closely contested.
Finally, No. 6 Tennessee will battle No. 2 Iowa State. Iowa State is a 3.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -185, while Tennessee is at +154. The over/under is 140.5. Iowa State has been dominant in the tournament, defeating Tennessee State (108-74) and Kentucky (82-63). Tennessee upset Miami OH (78-56) and Virginia (74-68), covering in both games. Iowa State has covered in six consecutive games, with five of those resulting in wins by 19 or more points.