2024 NCAA Tournament Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sweet 16 (Thursday)
That first weekend was absolutely exciting, and we saw big moments and even bigger upsets. Let’s hope the final 16 teams can make it just memorable.
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2024NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Best Bets (Thursday)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Connecticut Huskies (-10.5) / O/U 136 (-110/-110)
UConn was the underdog everyone rooted for last year, but now they’re the top dog. They easily went through last weekend with a 92-51 win over Stetson and a 75-58 win over Northwestern. There are so many ways the Huskies can beat you, and they showed that by going 3-for-22 from three against Northwestern. They were able to adjust and still win by double-digits for the eighth consecutive time in the NCAA Tournament, one shy of the record.
For SDSU, their first game was a little tougher as they played a close game against UAB and narrowly won 69-65 then they took out the other Connecticut team, easily handling Yale 85-57. The Huskies have defended so well in the post, but this will be one of their biggest challenges handling Jaedon LeDee, who’s averaging 29 points and 8.5 rebounds in the tournament. The Aztecs still have a few players from last year’s team who remember their Cinderella run coming up short in the National Championship game against the Huskies.
This is a very good defensive San Diego State squad, especially in the backcourt, and it will put pressure on UConn throughout this game. Connecticut is better defensively, and against LeDee, Donovan Clingan should get more time on the court to post up against them. San Diego State will make UConn sweat for likely the first half, but Dan Hurley is one of the best at making adjustments, and later on, their scheme and overall talent will help them take this game.
Pick: Connecticut (-10.5)
Clemson Tigers vs. Arizona Wildcats (-7.5) / O/U 152.5 (-112/-108)
People kept counting Clemson out, but they proved the doubter wrong last weekend by beating New Mexico and Baylor. They’ve been playing much better than they did down the stretch and in the ACC Tournament, one thing they’ve improved on is their defense, holding New Mexico to 29.7% from the floor and Baylor to 38.7%.
Arizona needed to come strong in the first weekend after being bounced out of the PAC-12 Tournament early, and they did so with wins over Long Beach State and Dayton. The Wildcats will work fast and move the ball around, so it will be up to Clemson to try and keep up.
Clemson will do its best to slow down the Wildcats, but they can score from anywhere on the floor. If Arizona hits its shots, then this game could be over quickly, but in the battle of Clemson’s PJ Hall and Arizona’s Oumar Ballo, Ballo is a force down low and has double-digit rebounds in 13 of his last 15. Still, this spread is a little too high against the Tigers, who are playing at the level of their opponent, and the Wildcats are known to go cold for stretches.
Pick: Clemson +7.5 (-112)
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (-4.5) / O/U 173.5 (-110/-110)
Alabama is one of the country’s best and most impressive offenses, as their 90.2 points per game is second in the nation. They move quickly and wear you down for 40 minutes. They don’t worry about playing any sort of defense, as they allow 80 points per game and, in several games, allowed their opponent to hit the century mark.
Don’t count out North Carolina, which has plenty of firepower and plays just as fast. Occasionally, they’ll have moments of regression when shooting the ball, but they aren’t afraid to keep going, and they’re still averaging 81 points per game. There isn’t a spot where they can’t score; they attack the rim or just fire from the perimeter.
If you’re looking for an offensive battle, you will get one. Both teams will go on runs, and both are confident enough in their offense that they won’t need the strongest defense.
Pick: Over 173.5 Total Points (-110)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: