It was a wild and crazy first week in March Madness, but we’re down to 16 teams. Here is how to bet on the East Sweet 16 bracket.
NCAA Sweet 16 Bracket Betting
#1 Kansas Jayhawks vs #5 Clemson Tigers
- When: March 23, 2018, 7:07 PM ET
- Where: CenturyLink Center-NE
- Spread: Kansas -4.5
- Over/Under: 143
Betting on Kansas
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Though the Jayhawks did away with Penn pretty easily, it struggled to win over Seton Hall in the second round. They now face a pumped-up Clemson that just upset No.4 Alabama.
The Jayhawks are counting on their 29th ranked offense to put up points, but it’ll be up to defense if they want to slow down Clemson that put up 84 points in the 31-point beatdown of Auburn.
Kansas’ bench came up big after Devonte’ Graham stalled; at least four teammates scored 10 points with Malik Newman putting up 28.
Despite the pressure, Kansas is in familiar territory having passed through to the Elite Eight is the past two seasons.
If Kansas can bog down Clemson’s offense, they should be able to win and continue on the road to their second national championship in three years.
Betting on Clemson
Though the Tigers finished third in the ACC this season, they pretty much flew under the radar until they tore apart Auburn. Now they’re considered as legitimate contenders for a national championship.
Clemson went into the half behind a 25-4 run and led at the break 43-19. The Tigers finished the game easily with a 84-53 win albeit as the 2-point underdog.
Defense has been key for this Clemson team; on average, the Tigers have held opponents to under 65 points per game this season.
The Tigers have shown they have enough grit to make it through to the next round. Though it’s been a tough road, Clemson has been relentless.
Their offense is pretty good, too, and holds the fifth position in adjusted offensive efficiency in the country, according to kempom.com.
The Tigers have, perhaps, their most difficult opponent ahead of them but if they play defense as well as they did against Auburn, they might be able to pull another upset.
Pick: Look for an upset; Clemson wins.
#11 Syracuse Orange vs #2 Duke Blue Devils
- When: March 23, 2018, 9:37 PM ET
- Where: CenturyLink Center-NE
- Spread: Duke -11.5
- Over/Under: 133.5
Betting on Syracuse
In one of the biggest upsets of this tournament, the Syracuse Orange defeated Michigan State to make it to the Sweet 16.
Tyus Battle hit an incredible, hair-raising three with 47 seconds left on the clock.
Though the Orange barely made the tournament, they nevertheless tore through Michigan State, a team considered by many one of the best teams ever coached by Tom Izzo.
The Orange put on a stifling defense that kept the Spartans to 53 points, their lowest output this season, and dominated the game’s outcome.
Jim Boeheim and his players will attempt to pay back Duke for a previous defeat earlier this season.
The first time around, neither squad shot very well and couldn’t figure out each team’s zone defenses. But, Duke sensation Marvin Bagley III dominated in the paint and led the Blue Devils to the win.
If the Orange can slow Bagley this time around, they’ll have a decent shot at winning.
Betting on Duke
Duke finds itself in an enviable position now that two number ones have been knocked out. Instead of facing Michigan State, they now go up against a team which they’ve already beaten this year.
However, the Blue Devils cannot afford to rest on their laurels; if anything, Duke should be weary of the Orange considering how they demolished the Spartans.
Though the Blue Devils have been pretty good on offense, it’s their defense that will have to work hard to push Syracuse’s offense to breaking. The Orange finished the regular season with one of the word offenses in the country and it’s definitely a weak point Duke should attack.
The Blue Devils hold the sixth-best scoring attack in the country, one that averages over 84 points per game. And, they keep on improving on defense, too.
Pick: The Orange will fight, but Duke will win in the end.