The March Madness 2017 field has been cut to 16 teams, and soon only eight will be fighting to win college basketball’s national championship. Three No.1 seeds are still in the hunt, but a few second-round upsets have ruined many Final Four predictions.
Below are picks against the spread for every Sweet 16 game in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, as well as updated betting odds at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks. Betting lines and trends are courtesy of OddsShark.
Thursday, March 23
No.7 Michigan (-1) vs. No.3 Oregon
The Wolverines are the lower seed, but they are probably the better team at the moment. Michigan has won seven straight games, including five in a row against tournament teams. Junior Forward D.J. Wilson has scored at least 17 points in each of the last three games on 56 percent shooting, while Derrick Walton Jr. is playing like one of the nation’s top point guards. Oregon fought hard to reach the Sweet 16, but the loss of Chris Boucher will be felt against one of college basketball’s best offensive teams.
Prediction ATS: Michigan
No.4 West Virginia (+3) vs. No.1 Gonzaga
The Mountaineers rode their press to the Sweet 16, forcing the normally sure-handed Fighting Irish to turn the ball over 14 times in the second round. Gonzaga, however, should be able to overcome West Virginia’s defense with an experienced backcourt and avoid the mistakes that could lead to an upset. The Bulldogs might be the most complete team in the tournament, and they usually don’t have much trouble against inferior teams, going 20-7-1 against the spread in their last 28 games as a favorite.
Prediction ATS: Gonzaga
No.4 Purdue (+5) vs. No.1 Kansas
Kansas looks like the best team in the tournament. It’s why they are the new favorites to win the national championship, having blown out Michigan State by 20 points in the Round of 32. Josh Jackson is playing like a top NBA prospect, and Frank Mason has posted at least 20 points and five assists in five straight games. Caleb Swanigan could put up big numbers, but the big man alone won’t be enough to get the Boilermakers into the Elite Eight. Purdue has lost seven straight games as an underdog.
Prediction ATS: Kansas
No.11 Xavier (+7.5) vs. No.2 Arizona
The Wildcats could very well go on to cut down the nets on April 3, but they won’t have an easy time getting to the West regional final. Xavier has overcome the odds to reach the Sweet 16, and they won’t go down without a fight. The Musketeers have defeated a No.6 and a No.3 seed by double digits, and Trevon Bluiett is leading an offense that’s playing at a very high level. The junior guard has totaled 50 points and eight three-pointers in the tournament, and he’ll keep Xavier in Thursday’s game until the very end.
Prediction ATS: Xavier
Friday, March 24
No.4 Butler (+7.5) vs. No.1 North Carolina
North Carolina is fortunate to still be alive in March Madness, coming from behind late in their second round game to defeat No.8 Arkansas. The Bulldogs won’t let the Tar Heels off the hook if they take a late lead. North Carolina should get the win because they have the significant edge in talent, but Butler hasn’t lost any games by double-digits and will be competitive throughout. Butler has just one loss against the spread in their last eight games as an underdog.
Prediction ATS: Butler
No.7 South Carolina (+3.5) vs. No.3 Baylor
A team seeded No.7 or lower has reached the Final Four in each of the last four seasons, and South Carolina has a real chance to continue that trend. The Gamecocks made it to the tournament because of an elite defense, but they are proving they can score with top offensive teams. They’re averaging 90.5 points in two tournament games, and they should be able to find some success against Baylor with senior guard Sindarius Thomas scoring at least 22 points in four of his last five games.
Prediction ATS: South Carolina
UCLA has a good chance to defeat Kentucky straight up and against the spread in March Madness 2017. Pictured: Ike Anigbogu reacts after a dunk against Cincinnati during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 19, 2017 in Sacramento, California. Photo: Getty Images
No.3 UCLA (-1) vs. No.2 Kentucky
This should be the most entertaining game in the Sweet 16. UCLA has the nation’s top offense, led by the best NBA prospect in the tournament. Kentucky freshmen Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox will be lottery picks, and they are performing like experienced players now that they have more than 30 games under their belt. It’s a game that could go either way, but Lonzo Ball and the Bruins might have the slight edge because of their ability to put up points.
Prediction ATS: UCLA
No.8 Wisconsin (+2) vs. No.4 Florida
It might not be the prettiest game on the schedule. Florida held Virginia to 39 points in the second round, and Wisconsin ranks in the top 20 in defensive efficiency. The Badgers proved that they are better than a No.8 seed with their win over No.1 overall seed Villanova, and experienced players like Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig have a real chance to get Wisconsin back to the Final Four.
Prediction ATS: Wisconsin
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