The Sweet 16 is upon us, and with that we should preview each game, and see what's going down for every team.
Loyola Chicago (-7) vs. Oregon State (O/U 127)
These two teams come together after beating some tough competition. Loyola Chicago took down Georgia Tech, then steamrolled No. 1 seeded Illinois to advance. On the other side, Oregon State took down No. 5 Tennessee, before rolling on to beat No. 4 Oklahoma State. Oregon State is led by their leading scorer Ethan Thompson (15.3 PPG) and they are starting to heat up, shooting 40% from beyond the arc in their last 5 games, excluding the game against Oklahoma State. Their defense is very capable of making plays, so make sure not to count them out of the equation. Loyola Chicago is led by their stifling defense (Rated No. 1 by KenPom) and their leading scorer Cameron Krutwig (14.9 PPG).
What to expect: Expect this to be a defensive game, along with a lot of balanced scoring. Both Loyola Chicago and Oregon State are capable of scoring inside of the paint, from beyond the arc, and through post-ups.
Outcome: I have Loyola Chicago winning this one, but it will be a tough one to win. Expect a close game.
Villanova vs. Baylor (-6.5) (O/U 137.5)
Villanova closed out their season in a shaky way, eventually losing in the Big East tournament to eventual conference champions Georgetown. Many sportscasters had them losing in the first round to No. 12 Winthrop, considering that they were a depleted team and the fact that Winthrop was 23-1. That did not stop Villanova, who steamrolled Winthrop, then got the best of North Texas in a blow out contest. Baylor on the other hand, blasted both Hartford and Wisconsin, both wins by double digits. Jared Butler is averaging 17 points a game, alongside the fact that Baylor averages 17 assists a game.
What to expect: Expect this game to be in Baylor's favor, however, I expect it to be closer than their previous games. Baylor is a top team offensively, and a better team defensively.
Outcome: Baylor will win, and it will never truly be too close.
Arkansas (-11) vs Oral Roberts (O/U 159.5)
Oral Roberts is one true Cinderella Story. Beating Ohio State and Florida as a 15 seed, they have shattered expectations (and brackets) this year. However, Arkansas will be a tough, tough test for them. Arkansas is a solid offensive team, led by Moses Moody (17.2 PPG) and Justin Smith (13.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG), and as a team, is averaging 82.5 points per game, along with 14.8 assists per game. Oral Roberts is not to be left in the dust, however. They are averaging 81.5 points per game, with their top scorer being Max Abmas (24.4 PPG). Oral Roberts has also played great defense in the past two games, forcing 36 turnovers, and forcing a 12-45 mark from downtown in the two games so far.
What to expect: This game will be a fun one. Lots of scoring, lots of defense from Oral Roberts. Expect this one to be a close game throughout.
Outcome: Arkansas barely squeaked by Texas Tech, however, I believe they will be able to beat Oral Roberts. Expect a close game nonetheless.
Syracuse vs. Houston (-7) (O/U 139.5)
Syracuse is trying to make their 4th Final Four appearance under Jim Boeheim, and they have been doing good so far. After blowing up No. 6 San Diego State in the opening round behind Buddy Boeheim's 30 points, the Orange got another solid win over No. 3 West Virginia. Syracuse has been lights out shooting so far in the Big Dance, not only converting 50 percent of their shots from the field but also 50 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. Houston on the other hand is a more defensive and rebounding team. They average an astounding 41.1 rebounds per game, but their struggles come from beyond the arc, where they shoot only 35 percent. Houston makes up for this by defending the rim and the field at a nice rate. They allow 43.3 percent from the field, and only 29.3 percent of opponents 3's go down.
What to expect: Expect a high octane shooting attack from Syracuse, but don't expect the shots to do go down at a high clip like before. Houston will be rebounding quite a bit.
Outcome: Houston will win, but it will be close. They will have to make sure to keep Syracuse in check, along with making sure they can score.
Creighton vs. Gonzaga (-13.5) (O/U 158.5)
Creighton opened up their March Madness campaign with a rocky win over UC Santa Barbra but was able to get back on their feet and take down the University of Ohio. Their next matchup is more than a tough one. Gonzaga is the number one team in the country by far, and their offensive attack is evidence of that. Team leader Corey Kispert is averaging 19.3 points per game, rookie phenom Jalen Suggs has been putting up astounding numbers, and overall Gonzaga is a very solid team with a lot of scoring options. Gonzaga is also known for getting to the charity line quite a bit. Against Oklahoma, they hit 23-26 on free throws, which helped them with their blasting of the Sooners. Don't sleep on Creighton however, as they themselves are a very balanced scoring team, with team leader Marcus Zegarowski averaging 15.6 points per game. Creighton also held Ohio to just 31.5 percent shooting from the field.
What to expect: Expect Creighton to put up a fight, but do not expect it to be enough. Gonzaga is No. 1 for a reason, their offensive attack averaged 90+ points in the regular season, and it is a very good and balanced system.
Outcome: Gonzaga will win, most likely by double digits. Creighton will put up a fight, but it will never be enough.
Florida State vs. Michigan (-3) (O/U 145.5)
Florida State has been a solid team this year, they shoot approximately 38 percent from downtown. FSU got solid wins over 13. UNC Greensboro and No. 5 Colorado. Their leading scorer, M.J Walker, is averaging 12.5 points a game while shooting 43 percent from not only the field but also from three. Michigan is led by center Hunter Dickinson (14.3 ppg) and as a team, they are one of the most well-rounded teams. They can defend, they can be efficient offensively, and overall everything is going well for them.
What to expect: This game is one of the closer games in the Sweet 16, so expect it to be a fun one. Lots of good shooting and defense.
Outcome: Michigan will snag a win over FSU, in a close game that will be fun to watch.
UC Los Angeles vs. Alabama (-5) (O/U 144)
UCLA started off their campaign with a convincing win over BYU, then continued the roll win a stomping of Abilene Christian. Johnny Juzang is averaging 15 points per game, and on top of that, 5 scorers for UCLA are averaging 10 points a game. UCLA has a large assortment of guards and backcourt players, but one thing they can manage is rebounds. They will need that to be a very big factor against the Crimson Tide, who is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. Alabama is the second-best team in the nation when it comes to defense, but don't count out their offense. Their top two scorers, Jaden Shackelford and John Petty Jr. combined for 41 points on 15-26 shooting in their routing of Maryland. Alabama has a stifling defense that can take opponents out of the game quickly.
What to expect: Expect Alabama to show up big. Lots of rebounds, lots of scoring, and lots of defense.
Outcome: Alabama will get the win by an easy margin, propelling them into the Elite 8.
Oregon vs. the University of Southern California (-1.5) (O/U 138)
Oregon's start to the Big Dance was an interesting one, as their opponent, VCU, had to step away due to COVID-19 protocols. Due to this technicality, Oregon won the game 2-0 and moved on. Oregon however did something unexpected, as they blasted Iowa out of the water and back to their homes. Oregon's specialty is balanced shooting, as they have 5 players averaging 10+ points a game, along with several players shooting 45+ percent from the field. USC is not to be slept on, however, as they are one of the better defensive teams, holding their opponents to just 39 percent from the field. USC absolutely destroyed Kansas 85-51 thanks to center Evan Mobley's great defensive effort and scoring. USC also has several other shooters that can drain baskets in good fashion.
What to expect: Expect a shooting barrage. USC and Oregon will both be shooting quite a bit, so expect a solid offensive game, with a hint of defense from USC.
Outcome: USC will get the win, but it will be close.
Tons of fun games are to be watched this weekend as the Big Dance rolls on, and it all depends on how teams decide to play if they want to cash their ticket to the Elite 8.
Statistics and betting lines were provided by DraftKings sportsbooks. The lines may not be the same for every betting service.
