Madness Predictions for March 2022: College basketball expert picks, odds and lines for Thursday’s Sweet 16 games

Time for a frank confession before we get to picking Sweet 16: March Madness wasn’t my month. The good news is that our expert picks are back in action today ahead of Thursday’s Sweet 16 fun! — Features more than just yours for real. Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander and Chip Patterson are all on the rise in the second wave of tournament action, and David Cobb has done well too.

So if you want to follow their selection instead, I completely understand. Or, if you really want to earn a bag, it seems like fading me might be a real move. This choice is yours as you check out our picks below.

In any case, to get you ready for the first day of the second week of the tournament, I’ve called our experts back together to make straight and anti-scatter picks to help you choose your grid (and hopefully do some cheddar along the way). ). You can also check out our expert brackets or our reset brackets for the third round.

Be sure to stay on CBS Sports until the end of the month for coverage of the NCAA Tournament until the end of the Final Four. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for Thursday’s final round three games.

odds through bookmaker Caesars | All Eastern Times

NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 pick

(1) Gonzaga vs. (4) Arkansas

Thursday, 19:09 | CBS, March Madness Live: Gonzaga has missed the spread in four of his last five games, including both games in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas, however, has closed the gap in 20 of their 35 games this season and is a 4-1-0 ATS underdog according to TeamRankings.com. The 8.5 point line seems like a reasonable number for a Razorbacks team that can win a shootout or a slugfest and have a staff that can even match the Zags favorably. Pick: Arkansas +9

(2) Villanova vs. (11) Michigan)

Thursday, 19:29 | TBS March Madness Live: Villanova looks like the strongest remaining #2 seed in the draw right now. It doesn’t say much – two of the four such seeds are already at home, and the other, Duke, looks vulnerable – but it means something. This team of Wildcats, coached by Jay Wright, is old and experienced and plays very well. Their advantage in the backcourt should outweigh their disadvantage in the frontcourt by a large enough margin to make up the difference. Choice: Villanova-5

(2) Duke vs. (3) Texas Tech

Thursday, 21:39 | CBS, March Madness Live: What appears to be an outsider’s game is not so in the eyes of the bookmakers. No. 3 seed Texas Institute of Technology gives 1.5 points to No. 2 seed Duke in this game in the Western Region. And I associate it with the Red Raiders. Their defense is ferocious, and the match for the Duke as a whole is a nightmare that you need to prepare for even a few days in advance. Pick: Texas Tech -1.5

(1) Arizona vs. (5) Houston

Thursday, 21:59 | TBS March Madness Live: Arizona had to go into overtime to take care of TCU in the second round and it really struggled with how the Horned Frogs smashed the attacking boards. This is especially worrisome for the Houston team, which has the third-best offensive rebounding of any college team. But I suspect this is an area where Tommy Lloyd and his Wildcats staff will be ready for battle ahead of Thursday. If it all comes down to talent, as I suspect, I like it when the Zone gives points. Pick: Arizona -2

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