Sweet 16 Predictions
Sixteen teams embark on their respective missions to reach Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Final Four Saturday, April 4th, as the teams lock horns in the Sweet 16, which begins on Thursday. A lot of talent in this final 16 group in what has been a highly enjoyable college basketball season. Here are predictions for the 8 games that commence Thursday Night, with 4 games on tap Thursday. And then on Friday Night, there will be 4 more games on the docket.
Record for 2025
Sweet 16 through National Championship Game- along with 2025 SEC Tourney Predictions, though some of the ATS and Over/Under games were not applicable in the SECT due to misses straight up in some games.
Straight up: 19-10; ATS: 14-14; Over/Under: 14-9.
2026 Predictions from the SEC Tournament and 3 Vanderbilt games-SEC Championship Game and two NCAA games
SU: 8-7; ATS: 7-8; O/U: 11-4
Thursday’s games
All teams No.’s are their seeds in region, not their national ranking.
West Region
No.11 Texas (21-14) vs. No.2 Purdue
SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA., 18,543
6:10 PM CT/7:10 ET
CBS
Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
Purdue by 7 1/2, 148 1/2
I’ll take the Boilermakers to advance to the Elite 8.
Purdue 78, Texas 70
South Region
No.9 Iowa (23-12) vs. Nebraska (28-6)
Toyota Center, Houston, 18,104
6:30 PM CT/7:30 ET
TBS/truTV
Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Robbie Hummel, Lauren Shehadi
Nebraska by 1 1/2, 131 1/2
Give me those scrappy Cornhuskers over another scrappy team in the Hawkeyes.
Nebraska 68, Iowa 62
West
No.4 Arkansas (28-8) vs. No.1 Arizona (34-2)
SAP Center, San Jose
8:45 P.M. CT/9:45 ET
CBS
Brian, Jim, Allie
Zona by 7 1/2, 166 1/2
I’m going to take Darius Acuff Jr. and John Calipari to pull off the upset
Arkansas 84, ‘Zona 83
South
No.3 Illinois (26-8) vs. No.2 Houston (30-6)
Toyota Center, Houston
9:05 P.M. CT/10:05 ET
TBS/truTV
Kevin, Stan Van, Robbie, Lauren
Houston by 3 1/2, 140 1/2
I don’t see this Houston team as good as 2025’s National Championship runner-up, but I still like’em a lot. And they’re at home.
Houston 71, Illini 67
Friday‘s games
East Region
No.6 St. John’s (30-6) vs. No.1 Duke (34-2)
Capital One Arena, D.C., 20,356
6:10 P.M. CT/7:10 ET
CBS
Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace
Duke by 6 1/2, 141 1/2
This will be a classic, and I’ll take the “maestro,” as Dickie V. calls him. Give me the savvy veteran St. John’s coach, Richard Anthony Pitino. I love St. John’s 6’9″, 245 senior power forward Zuby Ejiofor from Garland, Texas as well.
St. John’s 72, Duke 70
Midwest
No.4 Alabama (25-9) vs. No. Michigan
United Center, Chicago, 20, 917
6:35 P.M. CT/7:35 ET
TBS/truTV
Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
Michigan by 9 1/2, 174 1/2
Nate Oats isn’t my favorite person right now with all that’s gone on in his program the last three years, but he’s got a very good basketball team. The Crimson Tide sank 19 trifectas against Texas Tech on 30 attempts this past Sunday Night. I really like the way this team is playing right now.
Give me Philon, Philon, Philon, Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette and that excellent shooting offense. I also like the way the Crimson Tide is playing defense right now, and I see Aiden Sherrell holding his own underneath against Yaxel Linderborg and Aday Mara. Aiden is high quality and a class act. I’ll go with the massive upset in Chitown. Bama shoots its way into the Elite 8, locks down just enough on defense and keeps it close on the boards.
Crimson Tide 89, Michigan 86
East
No.3 Michigan State (27-7) vs. No.2 UConn (31-5)
Capital One Arena
8:45 P.M. CT/9:45 ET
CBS
Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace
UConn by 1 1/2, 135 1/2
This should be a classic. Give me the great Tom Izzo and his Spartans to advance.
Michigan State 68, UConn 66
Midwest
No.5 Tennessee (24-11) vs. No.2 Iowa State (29-7)
United Center
9:10 PM CT/10:10 ET
TBS/truTV
Andrew, Steve, Evan
Iowa State by 4 1/2, 138 1/2
I’m bullish on this Cyclones team. They advance to face the Crimson Tide in the Elite 8.
Iowa State 73, Tennessee 68