2023 Men’s Sweet 16 Odds and Prop Bets

The opening weekend of the NCAA Men’s Tournament is in the books after the Round of 32 concluded on Sunday. Although we predicted a wide-open tournament, there was still plenty of surprises and upsets over the first two rounds.

If the first two rounds of the tournament were any indication, the Sweet 16 is going to be filled with excitement and drama. You can find all of the NCAAM Sweet 16 tournament odds and prop bets at the top March Madness betting sites.

Sweet 16 Schedule and How To Watch

The Sweet 16 of the NCAAM Tournament is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. There are four games on Thursday, and then another four the following evening on Friday. The action will begin at 6:15 p.m. EST Thursday and Friday on TBS.

The 6:15 p.m. EST and 8:45 p.m. EST matchups can be found on TBS. The 7:00 p.m. EST and 9:30 p.m. EST Sweet 16 games will be live on CBS¹.

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Sweet 16 Betting Odds

The following men’s college basketball odds are courtesy of Bovada:

South Region Sweet 16 Odds

San Diego State Aztecs (No. 5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 1)

San Diego State runs into the tallest assignment in the Sweet 16. Scheduled for the Friday slate, San Diego State will not have it easy against the Crimson Tide.

Alabama appears like the most complete team on both ends of the floor. They are big, athletic, and can win with offense or defense.

The Aztecs will have to turn this game into a defensive slugfest. If they can slow down the Alabama offense, then there might be a chance to sneak up in the final seconds for an upset.

The Aztecs are 25th in the NCAA with 63.1 points against per game². They held Charleston to 57 points in a 63-57 win in the opening round. In the Round of 32, the Aztecs followed up with a 75-52 win over Furman for another solid defensive performance.

THIS SEQUENCE FROM BRANDON MILLER 😱#MarchMadness @AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/NhUxH5VQMH

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2023

Those were quality wins, but how much confidence do we have in this happening against Alabama?

The Crimson Tide are fifth in the nation with 82.3 points scored per game. Superstar forward, Brandon Miller, leads Alabama with an average of 19.1 points a game³.

Alabama isn’t elite defensively, but if it comes down to a defensive game, they can grind out a victory. The Aztecs are 178th with 71.9 points per game⁴. They don’t win games getting into high-scoring shootouts.

Expect San Diego State to be competitive early on, but this should slip away from them in the second half. Back Alabama to win and cover 7.5 points.

Princeton Tigers (No. 15) vs. Creighton Bluejays (No. 6)

Does the slipper fit? Princeton is looking to complete a Cinderella story as the No. 15 seed in the South Region. There is a little bit more work required, but they are already playing with house money.

No one gave Princeton much of a chance against Arizona in the First Round. However, they won straight up for a 59-55 win.

Tosan Evbuomwan had a standout performance, as he scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the frontcourt⁵. It wasn’t as close in the Second Round for Princeton.

The Tigers pulled away for a 78-63 win behind a strong performance from guard Ryan Langborg. For the second consecutive game in the NCAA Tournament, the Princeton defense was outstanding.

SWEET 16 BOUND!

The Tigers overcame No. 7 seed Missouri in the largest ever win by a No. 15 seed, 78-63!#MakeShots 🐯🏀 | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/SKvaH7oq6O

— Princeton Men’s Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 19, 2023

Can they keep it rolling against the Bluejays? Creighton was an underrated squad going into this tournament. They are peaking at the right time and should not be an easy chore for the Tigers.

On Sunday, Creighton looked good in an 85-76 win over Baylor. They had no issues in a 72-63 victory over NC State in the First Round.

Creighton likely advances to the Elite 8. However, Princeton should bring this one down to the wire. Consider taking the points on the Tigers.

Who Wins the South Region?

• Alabama -125
• Creighton +170
• San Diego State +575
• Princeton +2800

This region is Alabama’s to lose. Yes, we like what Creighton and Princeton have done in the tournament so far, but none of these teams have the overall talent to defeat Alabama. At -125 odds, the best college basketball betting sites are still offering great value on the Crimson Tide to win the South Region.

East Region Sweet 16 Odds

Florida Atlantic Owls (No. 9) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 4)

Florida Atlantic is another unlikely team that reached the Sweet 16. Is a No. 9 seed a true Cinderella? That is borderline, but if the Owls reach the Final Four, we are talking about a huge upset regardless.

The Owls are coming off a 78-70 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in the Round of 32. Fairleigh Dickinson failed to reach the Sweet 16, but the upset over Purdue will be remembered for a long time.

Before their Second Round win over Fairleigh Dickinson, Florida Atlantic edged out No. 8 seed, Memphis, at the buzzer by a score of 66-65. Florida Atlantic and Houston are the only teams going into the Sweet 16 with 33 wins.

Manhattan Bound 🗽#WinningInParadise #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/2XSMvejT5a

— No. 25 FAU Men’s Basketball (@FAUMBB) March 20, 2023

The Owls have won nine straight games and 12 of their previous 13 outings since February 4⁶. They are the hottest team in the tournament that has seemingly fallen under the radar.

Head coach Dusty May has done a fine job of guiding this team to the Sweet 16. They are a balanced unit offensively and defensively. The Owls have notched 78.4 points per game and conceded 65 points per game this season.

Tennessee should be a confident team going into this one. They are on the heels of a 65-52 win over Duke after surviving a scare from Louisana-Lafayette in the First Round, 58-55.

Do we have an upset brewing in this matchup? It is possible. Look for Florida Atlantic to give the Vols all that they can handle in the Sweet 16.

Michigan State Spartans (No. 7) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (No. 3)

The Kansas State Wildcats find themselves in a unique position. Despite being the No. 3 seed over No. 7 Michigan State, they are the underdogs.

Are the Wildcats being undervalued or does this look about right? Never count Tom Izzo out in March. That being said, Kansas State is not getting much respect in the Sweet 16.

The Wildcats are coming off a hard-fought win over the Kentucky Wildcats in the Second Round. It was a close game throughout, as Kansas State pulled away late for a 75-69 victory.

There is NOTHING like #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/q0rTx0LjAt

— Michigan State Men’s Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 20, 2023

Markquis Nowell notched 27 points and dished out 9 assists in the winning effort for the Wildcats⁷. The public liked Kentucky, but Nowell made their day miserable instead.

On Sunday, Michigan State cooled off a hot Marquette squad with a 69-60 win. The Golden Eagles were on a ten-game winning streak before coming up short down the stretch in the Second Round⁸.

The Spartans didn’t do anything especially well this season. They are 206th in scoring and 92nd in the NCAA defensively⁹. However, Izzo’s squad had a fairly tough schedule.

Nevertheless, Kansas State is not getting any respect against Michigan State. The Wildcats have quietly gone unnoticed, but a trip to the Elite 8 should garner some respect.

Who Wins the East Region?

• Tennessee +140
• Michigan State +300
• Kansas State +325
• Florida Atlantic +400

Tennessee is going to have their hands full against FAU and we won’t be surprised if the Owls pull off the upset. Yes, the Vols beat Duke, but they were lucky to escape their first-round matchup. That luck will run out in the Elite 8.

The winner of Michigan State vs Kansas State will take the East Region. And, we like the Wildcats to come out of this region.

Kansas State is seriously being overlooked. They will remind the public of their talent after they dispose of the Spartans in the Sweet 16. Tennessee will be nothing more than a speedbump to the Final Four for KSU.

Midwest Region Sweet 16 Odds

Miami Hurricanes (No. 5) vs. Houston Cougars (No. 1)

The Houston Cougars were on the path to being the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. A loss in the AAC Championship ended those plans, but they were without their best player and leader, Marcus Sasser.

Sasser suffered a groin injury in the semifinals and was unavailable in the AAC Championship. He played in the NCAA Tournament opener against Northern Kentucky, but it was a gamble versus such an inferior opponent.

Despite re-aggravating his groin, Sasser led the Cougars to an 81-64 win over Auburn in the Second Round. The 22-year-old guard had a strong performance, as he led the Cougars with 22 points on 50% shooting¹⁰.

Marcus. Sasser. ‼️‼️

📺 TBS #AmericanHoops x @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/OaWVPsbOzq

— The American (@American_Conf) March 19, 2023

If Sasser is going to continue playing that well, the Cougars are going to be difficult to beat for the rest of the tournament. It all comes down to Sasser for this team.

Miami is coming into the Sweet 16 with a ton of confidence, though. The Hurricanes are unlikely to be intimidated by his presence on the floor.

Miami made it look easy with an 85-69 win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Miami has won 11 of their previous 13 contests entering the Sweet 16.

Miami might be the better team on paper. However, +7.5 points is an inflated point spread. The value is on the underdog to keep this game within 7 points.

Xavier Musketeers (No. 3) vs. Texas Longhorns (No. 2)

The No. 3 and No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region are off to the Sweet 16 after Xavier and Texas handled their business this past weekend.

Xavier had to fend off an upset-minded Kennesaw State team in the tournament opener, but pulled away for an easy win over Pitt. The Musketeers came up short against Marquette in the Big East Tournament a couple of weeks ago.

This is their only loss in eight games. Xavier has been in strong shape otherwise. They are 11th in the NCAA with an average of 81.1 points scored per game.

No. 3 seed Xavier will take on No. 2 seed Texas in the second game of the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinals.

Tip-off will be at 9:45 p.m. ET (approx.) with the game being aired nationally on CBS.#LetsGoX | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8h4Y3tMByh

— Xavier Gameday (@XavierGameday) March 20, 2023

There are three players on the Musketeers averaging 14 or more points¹¹. Souley Boum and Colby Jones are capable of taking this game over in an instant.

While the defensive numbers haven’t been up to par with the offense, they’ve clamped down when it has been necessary against Kennesaw State and Pitt.

Texas has not been spectacular on the defensive side, either. They are 90th with 67.2 points allowed per contest¹². Texas has an advantage defensively, but it isn’t sizable.

Look for a competitive effort from Xavier. In a game that could go either way, it is important to consider taking the points. The Musketeers at +4 is a solid value bet.

Who Wins the Midwest Region?

• Houston -110
• Texas +200
• Xavier +600
• Miami FL +900

We started off the tournament picking Houston to make the Final Four in their home city, and we’re going to stick with that pick. As long as Sasser is playing, the Cougars will be one of the final four teams to contend for the National Championship.

West Region Sweet 16 Odds

Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 8) vs. Connecticut Huskies (No. 4)

If the Arkansas Razorbacks and UConn Huskies were in different brackets, both teams would have been decent long shot picks to reach the Final Four. Unfortunately, they landed in the toughest bracket in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Someone will have to go home after this Sweet 16 matchup on Thursday. Arkansas looks like a team that doesn’t want to leave the NCAA Tournament any time soon. They are coming off an upset over the Kansas Jayhawks this past weekend.

The Razorbacks erased a double-digit deficit to defeat Kansas by a point, 72-71. The importance of hitting free throws and avoiding mistakes ended up being the deciding factors down the stretch.

Arkansas’ W over Kansas feels like a movie 🔥 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/47YPoAPH23

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2023

When the shots kept falling for Davonte Davis in the second half, there was a strong sense that Arkansas was going to get it done. Davis poured in 25 points and recorded 8 rebounds to lead the Razorbacks to a win¹³.

UConn had an impressive showing in their own right in the Round of 32. After clearing Iona easily in the First Round, 87-63, the Huskies looked sharp in a 70-55 win over St Mary’s.

These are two of the most underrated teams in the tournament. They just happened to be in the same stacked bracket. UConn should pull this one out late, but Arkansas will be a pesky opponent down to the final whistle.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (No. 3) vs. UCLA Bruins (No. 2)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs had a strong campaign this season, but didn’t do enough for a No. 1 or even a No. 2 seed.

They won their 21st West Coast Conference title, as Drew Timme added another accolade to his collection. Timme broke the Gonzaga all-time scoring record in the win¹⁴.

Gonzaga is coming off a gritty performance by defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 84-81 in the second round. Timme put the team on his shoulders in an outstanding effort.

The senior forward scored 28 points and collected 8 rebounds in the win¹⁵. UCLA knows what they have to do to win this game, but we will see if Timme can be stopped.

The Bulldogs have Timme, while UCLA has Jaime Jaquez Jr. They are two different types of players, but both are incredibly valuable to their squads.

Jaquez Jr. helped edge out Northwestern in the Second Round with 24 points and 8 rebounds¹⁶. He will score points and have his moments in the Sweet 16, but does UCLA have a plan to stop Timme?

The Bruins’ defense has been fantastic this season. They are sixth in the NCAA with 60.2 points allowed per contest¹⁷. Timme will be tough to stop, but UCLA is likely going to force another player to beat them.

In what should be another terrific Sweet 16 matchup, expect Gonzaga to pull away in the final minutes.

Drew Timme now has nine 20-point games in his NCAA tournament career, tied for the most all-time 💪 @ZagMBB pic.twitter.com/MgDE28GBAA

— ESPN (@espn) March 20, 2023

Who Wins the West Region?

• UCLA +225
• Connecticut +225
• Gonzaga +225
• Arkansas +450

The West Region has four teams that can all win and advance to the Final Four. However, the experience of Gonzaga is what stands out to us the most. This is their 8^th straight Sweet 16 appearance and the third straight for Drew Timme.

This team is peaking at the right time and should be able to grind out wins in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 to capture the West.