The NCAA basketball tournament will soon be getting into the nitty gritty as the Sweet 16 will be played later this week. Below we will look at the Sweet 16 schedule with TV channel and start time information along with odds for each game. The largest point spread on the docket is Creighton -10 favored over Princeton +10. There are plenty of narrow lines, of course, highlighted by Gonzaga +2 versus UCLA -2.
Sweet 16 odds
Sweet 16 odds are now available to bet on. Here are the NCAA basketball tournament lines that are currently available at top sportsbooks. Make moneyline bets, point spread wagers and totals bets.
Michigan State vs. Kansas State
A massive disparity in coaching experience will be on display when Tom Izzo’s Spartans take on Jerome Tang and Kansas State in the Sweet 16. In his first year as head coach, Tang improbably led the Wildcats to a 23-9 record before beating Montana State 77-65 and upsetting Kentucky 75-69. On the other hand, Izzo is in his 28th season at Michigan State, which includes eight trips to the Final Four and one National Championship.
Michigan State handled its business winning 72-62 in the opening round vs. USC before dispatching Marquette 69-60. The Spartans opened as 1-point favorites and early money has moved the spread to -2. The total opened at 140.5 and swiftly dropped to 137.5 points.
Arkansas vs. UConn
Arkansas and Connecticut have taken two divergent paths to their Sweet 16 matchup. While UConn has cruised to double-digit victories over Iona and Saint Mary’s, Arkansas took down 1-seed Kansas 72-71 after outlasting 9-seed Illinois, 73-63. The Huskies opened as a 4-point favorite but early money brought the spread down to -3.5. The total has also ticked down a touch from 140 to 139.5 points.
UConn has won seven of its last eight games with the only loss coming by two points to Marquette in the Big East tournament. On the other hand, Arkansas is 4-4 in its last eight, but finally features a healthy roster that might be gelling at the perfect time. The Razorbacks fought through injuries during the regular season and lost Travon Brazile in December. Star freshman Anthony Black has been dealing with a foot injury but is expected to be available against UConn.
Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee
Florida Atlantic received a gift in its second-round matchup, which came against 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson who previously upset 1-seed Purdue. FAU punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 78-70 win over FDU in a game they led most of the way. In their opening-round matchup, the Owls battled back and forth with 8-seed Memphis and pulled out a 66-65 win with seconds remaining.
Tennessee opened as a 4-point favorite after beating Duke 65-52 in the second round. Tennessee’s first matchup was much closer as the Volunteers edged out Louisiana Lafayette 58-55. Early money is backing Teneesee, moving the spread from -4 to -5.5 as of Monday afternoon. Tennessee has the No. 1 defense in the country per BartTorvik’s adjusted efficiency metrics, while FAU boasts a balanced attack, ranking 40th on defense and 39th on offense. The total opened at 133.5 and has been bet down to 130.5.
Gonzaga vs. UCLA
Gonzaga vs. UCLA is the marquee matchup of the Sweet 16 as both teams rank in the top 10 of most power ratings. The game opened at pick before money came in on UCLA, moving the spread to a juiced -1.5. The total opened at 146.5 and was bet down to 145.5 as of Monday afternoon.
Gonzaga has won 11 straight games but have failed to cover the spread in each of its two NCAA tournament games. UCLA had won 12 in a row before falling to Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament. The Bruins covered the 17.5-point spread in their first matchup vs. UNC Asheville but failed to cover the 7.5-point spread against Northwestern.
SDSU vs. Alabama
After barely beating College of Charleston and improbably covering -5.5, San Diego State routed Furman to reach the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, Alabama covered -8.5 in round two after a 21-point win in round one that did not quite cover the 24.5-point spread. Bama opened as 6-point favorites in this matchup and early action has them up to -7.
The total opened at 139 and has fallen more than any other game in the Sweet 16 to 135. San Diego State games have gone under in ten straight, while Alabama games have gone under in five of the last six.
Miami vs. Houston
Miami has covered the spread in its first two games after failing to cover in four straight leading up to the tournament. Meanwhile, Houston easily covered its second-round matchup in an 81-64 blowout of Auburn but failed to cover -19.5 against Northern Kentucky.
The Cougars opened as -6.5 favorites and early action has them up to -7 on the spread. The total opened at 139.5 and has been bet down to 137 as of Monday afternoon. As the number one overall seed in the tournament, Houston went 33-3 during the regular season with losses to Alabama, Temple, and Memphis. The 5-seed Hurricanes have won 11 of their last 13 games and have covered in eight.
Princeton vs. Creighton
The largest spread of the Sweet 16 is Creighton laying ten points to Princeton. The spread opened at -10.5 so very early action is on the Ivy Leaguers who have won and covered in six straight games. Princeton upset Arizona 59-55 in the opening round before waxing Missouri 78-63 as a six-point underdog.
Creighton has covered as a favorite in each of its first two games, beating NC State 72-63 and Baylor 85-76. The total in this matchup opened at 140.5 and nudged down to 140 on Monday. Both of Princeton’s first two games went under the total and four of its last six have gone under after a stretch of seven straight overs. Creighton games are 6-4 to the over in the last ten games.
Xavier vs. Texas
A common thread among all Sweet 16 games this year is a total that has dropped from the opening number. And it’s no different in the Xavier vs. Texas game, which has the highest total of the eight games at 147.5, down from 148.5. Xavier has won seven of its past eight games but is 4-4 ATS in that stretch with five overs and three unders.
Texas opened as a -3.5 favorite and early money has moved the spread to -4. Texas has won six straight and the total has gone under in its past seven games. The Longhorns are also 6-1 ATS in that stretch.
Sweet 16 schedule
Here is the Sweet 16 schedule with TV channel and start time information. Third round games will be played on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24.
- Michigan State vs. Kansas State Thursday, March 23: 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS
- UConn vs. Arkansas: 7:15 p.m. ET, CBS
- Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee: 9 p.m. ET, TBS
- Gonzaga vs. UCLA: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
- San Diego State vs. Alabama Friday, March 24: 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS
- Miami vs. Houston: 7:15 p.m. ET, CBS
- Princeton vs. Creighton: 9 p.m. ET, TBS
- Xavier vs. Texas: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
The locations for third round NCAA basketball tournament games have already been determined. Madison Square Garden in New York City will host the East third round games and the East Regional Final. West Region games will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Midwest Region Sweet Sixteen contests will take place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. And the South Region third round games will be played at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville.
The West and East Regions will play on Thursday, March 23. Midwest and South games will be held on Friday, March 24.
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