Shoot The Rock – Betting College Basketball for the Sweet 16/Elite 8

How to Bet the Sweet 16 & Elite 8 – Expert Picks & Insights

For this NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, there’s been a dearth of upsets, with all 16 bids coming from four power conferences. Social media chimed in and was generally unhappy, yet this sets up that no champion will be allowed to catch a major break and will have to earn it.

Here is a look at the odds to win each region, and we will break it all down.

Duke Dominates the East: Men’s East Region Betting Preview and Final Four Outlook

Duke -185   Alabama +400   BYU +700   Arizona +750

There is a belief in the betting world and college basketball that Duke is starting to resemble the path Connecticut took to two championships the past two years. The Blue Devils were thoroughly dominant.

Arizona has the talent to stay with Duke in the Elite 8, however, its flaws will emerge, and coach John Scheyer’s squad will take advantage of it.

We’ve talked about BYU having Elite 8 ability, and if the Cougars can rebound on the defensive glass, Alabama is loose in its play, and BYU could set a match with the Dukies.

Maybe in another region, BYU could reach the Final Four. Duke has too much talent on offense and defense. BYU can stay within range for 30 minutes with the Dukies, nevertheless, the Blue Devils are playing with the confident arrogance of past Durham squads.

Midwest Region Showdown: Houston, Tennessee, and the Battle for the Final Four

Houston -130   Tennessee +215   Kentucky +700   Purdue +750

The sense is that Houston beats Purdue by 8 or 18. The Boilermakers lack much inside scoring; thus, look for the Cougars to attack the Boilers on the perimeter with their physical double teams to make shooting tough.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky is an old-school rivalry of neighbors that hate each other. The Wildcats won both matchups by shooting 12 of 24 behind the arc in each skirmish. That gives confidence to Big Blue to, at worst, have a real shot at covering against Tennessee, if not win. The Volunteers cannot have scoring droughts, or it will be another Rick Barnes exit when it matters.

Regardless of who Houston plays, with the Cougs’ ability to score in the paint in the half-court offense and make deep shots, they are the choice to advance.

Auburn’s Road to the Final Four: Men’s South Region Betting Preview

Auburn -135   Michigan State +250   Michigan +700   Ole Miss +800

This is the only region with two conference clashes in the Sweet 16. Auburn came into the tournament not playing like the overall #1 seed. The Tigers, to this point, more resembled the club we’d seen all year. Michigan is on a 5-0 SU and ATS run and will have to deal with Auburn, who has the size to compete with the Wolverines and a quickness edge. It could be quite interesting.

Michigan State doesn’t overwhelm you live or in replay; they just win, often convincingly. Ole Miss jumped on North Carolina and Iowa State and didn’t let up until late. The spread is close, making for a fascinating matchup. The probable difference, Sparty +9 on the glass, the Rebels -3.

If the two top seeds meet, Auburn should win, but Tom Izzo in March is a thing.

Florida Favorites in Men’s West Region: Betting Odds and Team Breakdown

Florida -130   Texas Tech +320  Maryland +450   Arkansas +850

Coming into the tournament, many “experts’ believed Florida was the team to beat. That thinking has shifted slightly after two non-covers by the Gators, but they are still strong favorites to reach the Final Four.

Maryland needed some magic to reach this point, and they have enough talent to compete with Florida. Watch for the kind of effort the Gators show, because it has not been all-in thus far playing in spurts, Nonetheless, Florida’s depth should matter.

Arkansas has come a long way since beginning SEC play 0-5. Turns out, John Calipari didn’t forget how to coach, and they will push Texas Tech, but likely come up just short.

Florida is still the most complete squad, which can play different ways and has a great defense. That should be enough to knock off the Red Raiders or Razorbacks.

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