We had ourselves a memorable first two days of NCAA Tournament betting with the parlay picks combining for an 8-4 ATS showing. Thursday winners included San Diego State, Furman – hopefully you sprinkled some kizash on the moneyline as well – Penn State, and Maryland. Friday saw us cash tickets with St. Mary’s, Michigan State, Florida Atlantic $-Line, and Creighton. Of the four losers, Drake proved to be the toughest to swallow with the other three never standing a chance. Either way, we added to the bankroll at the online sportsbook and I’m here to help continue stockpiling profits with some Sweet 16 parlay picks broken down in each of the four regions.
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NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen Parlay Picks
Parlay #1
Tennessee -235
Kansas State +115
Payout: $100 to win $206
While I’d like to think this FAU run can continue into the Elite Eight, the Owls will be up against it versus a stout Tennessee defense that’s going to test Dusty May’s kids unlike they’ve been tested all season long. I only hesitate laying the neutral court chalk with the Vols since it’s more in Rick Barnes’ wheelhouse to come through when dogged much like in the Round of 32 against Duke. In the end, Tennessee’s physical defense will prove to be too much for Johnell Davis and Co. propelling the Vols into the Elite Eight for the time since 2010.
I think the wrong team is favored in this 7/3 showdown between Michigan State and Kansas State. While fading Tom Izzo this time of year is always risky, I don’t for one second believe the Spartans are a better team than the Wildcats. As great a job Izzo has done with Sparty at the tail end of the year, Jerome Tang has had a special thing going in Manhattan all season long. I don’t foresee it ending to tip-off Thursday night’s slate either with Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson the two best players on the court.
Parlay #2
UConn -170
Gonzaga +115
Payout: $100 to win $241
UConn is a team I attached my bandwagon to long ago, and I don’t plan on jumping ship anytime soon. The Huskies last three losses came by a grand total of eight points, and they just got done mopping the floor with Iona and St. Mary’s en route to punching a ticket back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since winning it all back in 2014. The defense is relentless in allowing fewer than 65.0 points per game, and allows nothing near the rack which will make the going incredibly rough for an Arkansas offense that depends on scoring in the paint. A perimeter oriented Hogs attack doesn’t stand a chance in this matchup with Adama Sanogo, Alex Karaban, and Donovan Clingan clogging the paint. Sharpie Jordan Hawkins and Co. into the next round!
Had the Bruins entered this game with a clean bill of health, I’d have no reservations laying the chalk against what I deem to be an overrated Gonzaga Bulldogs outfit. That however isn’t the case with Jaylen Clark out for the season, David Singleton listed as questionable after suffering what looked to be a horrible late-game ankle injury versus Northwestern, and Adem Bona a shell of his former self wearing a mask and being one bad movement away from reaggravating his shoulder injury. As great Jaime Jacquez and Tyger Campbell are, they’ll be up against it in this ultimate revenge bout with the Zags.
Parlay #3
Houston -7
Texas -195
Payout: $100 to win $206
After disposing of Indiana with relative ease in the Round of 32, it might seem a bit rich for No. 1 seed Houston to be laying an impost like this. However, the Hoosiers don’t possess nearly the interior defense as that of the Cougars (No. 3) and that’s going to make for an extremely long evening for the Hurricanes. Even if it’s working early on for Isaiah Wong and Co., the Coogs have shown time and time again that they can just flip the switch and dominate – much like they did in the second half against Auburn outscoring the Tigers 50-23 to cruise to the 81-64 win and cover. Then there’s the advantage Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead will have running up against Miami’s porous defense (No. 233). Much like last season, The U’s season will end with a loss and non-cover against the region’s top seed.
I’ve got mad respect for Souley Boum, Colby Jones, Jack Nunge, and Adam Kunkel, but I think they’re running into a buzz saw at the worst possible time in this Sweet 16 throw down with Texas. The Longhorns have been running extremely well since toppling the Kansas Jayhawks at home in the regular season finale. Since then, they extended the win streak to six games by throttling Colgate in the Round of 64 and followed it up with a dismissal of the white hot Penn State Nittany Lions to advance to the region semis. They just won the Big 12 tournament on the T-Mobile Center hardwood, and will have a large contingent of burnt orange in attendance for this tilt. I got this pegged as being the spot the X-Men sorely miss Zach Freemantle’s services with Timmy Allen and Dylan Disu likely to wreak havoc in the paint. The collision course is set for Sunday: Texas vs. Houston with a trip to the Final Four on the line!
Parlay #4
Alabama -370
Creighton -10
Payout: $100 to win $137
This is an extremely tough call as I feel San Diego State challenges the Crimson Tide in a big way. For years, the Aztecs have marched one of the nation’s best defenses onto the hardwood. Its main issue came at the other end of the court. However, this year’s installment looks to be the best the offense has been since the Kawhi days. That being said, I don’t think Matt Bradley can Co. will be able to deal with Bama’s size for a full 40 to get out of the KFC Yum! Center with the dub in tow. As an aside, I’ll be playing the Aztecs for the first half plus the points. Should they lead or keep it competitive come halftime, I’ll look to back Brandon Miller and his mates over the final 20 minutes. Either way, the Tide “rolls” into the Elite Eight.
So who had the Princeton Tigers pegged as the only double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16? If your hands up, you’re either enrolled at or alumni of Princeton or a bold faced liar! As it is, the Bluejays enter the second week of NCAA Tournament betting the biggest favorite on the board. I don’t know squat about Princeton and won’t pretend I do. What I do know is that I already hold Creighton stock winning the whole enchilada and love that their path was made just a bit easier. While these teams matchup favorably against one another on paper, the Tigers stats came largely against inferior competition to the Bluejays. The Big East having three members in the Sweet 16 is no joke as stacked that conference was this year. I’ll bank on Ryan Kalkbrenner and Co. making enough shots to advance and cover this one by margin.
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