🏀 March Madness Predictions Friday: Expert Picks & Odds for Sweet 16

The second day of the Sweet 16 tips off tonight, with No. 5 seed St. John's and No. 1 seed Duke at 7:10 p.m. ET (CBS), and our March Madness predictions for Friday breakdown all four games on the slate.

With the final four Elite Eight berths on the line tonight, our March Madness bracket predictions expect a slew of low-scoring defensive battles.

🕒 Friday's March Madness schedule

Today's Sweet 16 slate:

🔎 March Madness predictions: Friday's Sweet 16

Check out the latest March Madness odds and Final Four odds.

St. John's vs. Duke odds & predictions

• Tip-off: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
• TV: CBS
• Steaming: March Madness Live

St. John's vs. Duke prediction: Under 142.5

"If you forced me into it, I'd lean Duke by a hair on this spread - but I'm just not touching this line with the number at 6.5. I prefer to attack what I consider to be a better edge on the total as St. John's (12-23 on Overs) and Duke (12-24 on Overs) both come into this matchup with some of the lowest Over rates in the nation." - via Brenden Schaeffer

Alabama vs. Michigan odds & predictions

• Tip-off: 7:35 p.m. ET
• Location: United Center (Chicago)
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Steaming: March Madness Live

Alabama vs. Michigan prediction: Under 175.5

"Michigan is allowing just 69.6 points per game, and that will be the difference in this game. The Wolverines also rank third in opponent shooting percentage (38.7%), and they're allowing opponents to make just 30.8% of their 3-pointers. This is horrible news for an Alabama team that averages 35.6 3-point attempts per game, the most in the nation." - Philip Wood

Michigan State vs. UConn odds & predictions

• Tip-off: 9:45 p.m. ET
• Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
• TV: CBS
• Steaming: March Madness Live

Michigan State vs. UConn prediction: Michigan State +2.5

"I'm viewing this as a matchup with razor-thin margins as Michigan State (ninth) and UConn (10th) rank directly beside one another in the KenPom ratings. It's a situation where I'd be liable to bet either side as an underdog, and the small movement on this spread since it opened at UConn -1.5 lands me on the side of the Spartans if you're giving me +2.5 like we're seeing at DraftKings with -115 odds." - Brenden Schaeffer

Tennessee vs. Iowa State odds & predictions

• Tip-off: 10:10 p.m. ET
• Location: United Center (Chicago)
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Steaming: March Madness Live

Tennessee vs. Iowa State prediction: Under 138.5

"Tennessee ranks 27th in opponent field goal percentage (40.7%) and 23rd in opponent 3-point percentage (30.5%). The latter category is particularly important in this matchup, as Iowa State shoots 38.7% from deep, which is 13th-best in the country. Meanwhile, Iowa State is holding opponents to 42.7% from the floor, and the Cyclones will keep Tennessee's offense out of rhythm with turnovers, as Iowa State averages 9.1 steals per game." - via Philip Wood

🏀 March Madness game predictions: Sweet 16

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

📅 March Madness key dates

• Selection Sunday: March 15
• First Four: March 17-18 (Dayton, Ohio)
• First round: March 19-20
• Second round: March 21-22
• Sweet 16: March 26-27
• Elite Eight: March 28-29
• Final Four: Saturday, April 4
• National championship game: Monday, April 6