The Sweet 16 is here.
As the NCAA Tournament field continues to shrink, we share our March Madness best bets.
Here is a closer look at what to expect as play resumes on Thursday.
March Madness Sweet 16 Best Bets
All college basketball odds used for these Sweet 16 predictions are current as of Wednesday, March 25, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Purdue -7.5 (-105) vs Texas
Texas has been one of the surprises of the tournament, but this is where its run ends.
The 11th-seeded Longhorns don’t have the offensive versatility to keep up with the Boilermakers, nor do they have Braden Smith.
The Purdue senior is primed to bounce back after an uncharacteristically sloppy performance (3-of-12 shooting, eight turnovers) last round against Miami.
Purdue has covered its last three games and four of the past five. I’m backing the Boilermakers to cover the spread as one of my best college basketball bets today.
Nebraska -1.5 (-112) vs Iowa
Nebraska and Iowa split a pair of regular-season meetings, with the Hawkeyes winning 57-52 on Feb. 17 and the Cornhuskers returning the favor with an 84-75 overtime victory on March 8.
The Hawkeyes pulled off the upset of the tournament, knocking off defending champion and No. 1 seed Florida in the Round of 32, but the Cornhuskers are the better, more versatile team. They will lock down Bennett Stirtz and Co. when it matters most.
This makes Nebraska one of the best March Madness bets for the Sweet 16.
St. John’s +6.5 (-108) vs Duke
Duke is far from whole but finds itself in the Sweet 16 for the 29th time since the tournament field expanded in 1985.
St. John’s may not have the firepower to beat Duke, but its physical style of play is likely to keep the East’s top seed in check.
- Sign up for The Game Day Newsletter to get the latest bet tips and sportsbook promos.
The Red Storm held Kansas star Darryn Peterson to 5-of-15 shooting.
Look for them to have similar success against presumptive National Player of the Year Cam Boozer.
UConn -1.5 (-112) vs Michigan State
UConn isn’t as dominant as its recent National Championship teams, but it’s dangerous to bet against Dan Hurley in March.
The Huskies are 15-1 against the spread in their last 16 NCAA Tournament games, including covering as 5.5-point favorites in the Round of 32 against UCLA.
- See where UConn sits in the latest March Madness winner odds.
While Michigan State may give the Huskies fits on the glass, its penchant for turnovers could prove costly.
Look for Tarris Reed Jr. and the Huskies’ defense to contain the Spartans and punch their ticket to another Elite Eight.
