We’re onto the Elite 8 of March Madness, which features four intriguing matchups.
We’ve got No. 9 Iowa trying to keep its Cinderella run going against No. 3 Illinois, followed by No. 2 Purdue vs No. 1 Arizona on Saturday. Then on Sunday, it’s No. 6 Tennessee vs No. 1 Michigan, followed by No. 2 UConn vs No. 1 Duke.
I’ve been posting my March Madness best bets on X throughout the tournament, focusing on one spread pick for each game. So far, my record is 35-21 (+11.65 units).
With that in mind, you’re going to want to read my best college basketball bets today as we head into the Elite 8 for March Madness.
March Madness Elite 8 Best Bets
All college basketball odds used for these Elite 8 predictions are current as of Saturday, March 28, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Illinois -6.5 (-115) vs Iowa
Illinois has been terrific all tournament, coming off an impressive upset win over Houston. Forward David Mirkovic has been a problem, racking up double-doubles in two of three games.
While Iowa has had an amazing run highlighted by its shocking win over Florida, it’s likely to have a tough time containing this Fighting Illini offense, which ranks second in the country per KenPom.
Illinois has won by 7+ points in each game in this tournament, and I expect the same to happen here. Ride with Illinois in our college basketball bet of the day.
Arizona -5.5 (-108) vs Purdue
Arizona has been virtually unstoppable in the tournament so far, blowing out Arkansas (109-88), taking care of business vs Utah State (78-66), and crushing LIU (92-58). Overall, the Wildcats have now won 12 games in a row.
This is the second-ranked team per KenPom, ranking fourth on offense and third on defense. That’s the kind of balance that could make it tough for Purdue to pull off the upset.
While the Boilermakers are a battle-tested group with a win over No. 1 Michigan on their resume, I’m riding with the Wildcats to win by 6+ points here. Purdue could have easily lost to Miami or Texas in this tourney run.
Michigan -7.5 (-112) vs Tennessee
Michigan is the top-ranked team in the tournament per KenPom. The Wolverines are living up to lofty expectations, with a 90-77 win over Alabama and blowout wins over Saint Louis and Howard.
Tennessee impressively handled Iowa State in the Sweet 16, limiting them to 38% shooting, showcasing how tough the Vols are defensively.
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But it feels like Tennessee won’t be able to generate enough offense to keep pace with Michigan. The Wolverines have the top-ranked defense in the country, according to KenPom.
Look for that to be the difference here.
Duke -5.5 (-105) vs UConn
Duke was able to squeak out a win over St. John’s in the Sweet 16. The Blue Devils also had a tough time against Siena, so it hasn’t been an easy path to this point, unlike for other No. 1 seeds like Michigan and Arizona.
However, Duke has now won 14 games in a row, so it absolutely deserves to be here. Isaiah Evans and Cameron Boozer continue to show why they’re such a terrific duo, combining for 47 points in the win over St. John’s.
UConn knocked off Michigan State to get here, but the Huskies are in tough against the Blue Devils, who are second in defensive rating per KenPom. Bet on Duke to win by 6+ points here.
