Sweet 16 Thursday Betting Preview

The Madness resumes on Thursday with four Sweet 16 games on the schedule starting in the East Region with the No. 3 Kansas State Wildcats vs the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans.

At Bovada Sportsbook, the Spartans are a surprise 2-point favorite. Michigan State got through the second round by upsetting the No. 2 Marquette Golden Eagles 69-60 as a 3.5-point underdog. When favored in the tournament, the Spartans are 4-2 straight up and 3-3 against the spread in their last six, and 3-6 ATS in their last nine.

The Wildcats got past Kentucky 75-69 as 3-point underdogs in the second round. As an underdog in the tournament, Kansas State has won three in a row. In the last 10 No. 3 vs No. 7 matchups, the No. 3 seed is 6-4 SU and ATS.

Vols have been a bad bet as chalk in March Madness

Also in the East on Thursday, the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers face the No. 9 Florida Atlantic Owls as 5.5-point favorites.

Tennessee upset the Duke Blue Devils 65-52 as a 3.5-point underdog in the second round. The Volunteers have been a bad bet as a tournament favorite with a 1-7 ATS record in their last eight games.

Florida Atlantic knocked off giant killers Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 as a 16-point favorite in the second round. That was the Owls’ ninth straight win during which they’re 6-3 ATS. As an underdog, the Owls are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games.

A No. 9 vs a No. 4 is a rare matchup with only two recent occurrences, with each seed winning one game SU and ATS.

Arkansas coming off upset victory over No. 1 Kansas

In the West Region on Thursday, the No. 4 Connecticut Huskies face the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks as 3.5-point favorites.

The Huskies breezed past the Saint Mary’s Gaels 70-55 as 4-point favorites in the second round. Connecticut is 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in its last nine games, and when favored the Huskies are 11-1 SU and 9-3 ATS in their last 12.

Arkansas shocked the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks 72-71 as a 4-point underdog in the second round. The Razorbacks were 3-8 SU and 5-6 ATS as an underdog this season.

In the last eight matchups between No. 4 and No. 8 seeds, the No. 8 seed has held the advantage at 5-3 SU and 5-2-1 ATS.

Bruins, Bulldogs square off in rematch of 2021 classic

Finishing off Thursday’s action in the West are the No. 2 UCLA Bruins vs the No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs as 2-point favorites.

UCLA is 14-1 SU and 8-5-2 ATS in its last 15 games following a 68-63 win over the Northwestern Wildcats as a 7.5-point favorite in the second round. In the tournament, the Bruins are 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six games as a favorite.

Gonzaga failed to cover in its 84-81 win over the TCU Horned Frogs as a 4.5-point favorite in the second round. In the tournament as an underdog, the Bulldogs have lost three in a row SU and ATS, and they’re 3-11 SU and 6-8 ATS in their last 14.

UCLA and Gonzaga met up in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and the Bulldogs won 93-90 in overtime as 14.5-point favorites.