Sweet 16 Odds & Betting Lines: 2024 NCAA Tournament 3rd Round Schedule, Spreads, Totals

The second weekend of the 2024 NCAA Tournament is here, and we're breaking down the Sweet 16 odds and betting lines, with a look at the spread and total from our best March Madness betting sites for all eight games to be played Thursday and Friday.

As one comes to expect this time of year, the first two rounds of March Madness were chaotic, and with only 16 teams remaining, we could see even more March Madness upset picks come true this weekend. We've examined the spread and Over/Under for every game across Thursday and Friday, as well as the Sweet 16 odds and betting lines from our best sports betting sites.

The March Madness odds and Final Four odds have been fluctuating since Round 1 began last week, although the order of the names at the top of both oddsboards remains mostly intact ahead of the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

The excitement intensifies as the Sweet 16 commences on Thursday, signaling a pivotal stage in the tournament. By the weekend's conclusion, the Final Four teams will be determined, heightening anticipation for the ultimate showdown.

Don't miss our Sweet 16 expert picks, and our Sweet 16 player props and best bets for the Round 3 action.

Sweet 16 schedule

Odds via bet365, as of Thursday at 6:50 a.m. ET

Sweet 16 odds: Thursday

Clemson (6) vs. Arizona (2) - West Region

Clemson vs. Arizona game info

• When: Thursday, March 28
• Tip-off: 7:09 p.m. ET
• Where: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
• TV: CBS
• Spread: Arizona -7.5
• Over/Under: 152

After beating No. 11 seed New Mexico in the first round - despite being an underdog - No. 6 seed Clemson is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018, thanks to an upset over No. 3 seed Baylor. The Tigers will have their hands full with an Arizona program that's lived up to its No. 2 seed thus far and has outscored its two NCAA opponents by an average of 15 points.

The Wildcats are one of just two teams left in March Madness who rank in the top 10 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency by KenPom - UConn is the other. That's why we wouldn't be surprised to see this line move another point in Arizona's direction by tip-off. While this Over/Under is high, both these programs average more than 77 points per game - Arizona puts up 87.6, so this total could balloon to as high as 154.

San Diego State (5) vs. UConn (1) - East Region

San Diego State vs. UConn game info

• When: Thursday, March 28
• Tip-off: 7:39 p.m. ET
• Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Spread: UConn -11
• Over/Under: 136

In a rematch of last year's national championship game, No. 1 overall seed UConn is hoping to take care of business once again against No. 5 seed San Diego State. The Huskies have yet to be challenged in the tournament thus far - beating Stetson by 39 and Northwestern by 17 - and rank No. 2 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 8 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The Huskies appear to be even better this year than last while this Aztecs squad doesn't look as strong as the team that lost to UConn by 17 in the national championship. San Diego State struggled with UAB in the opening round and it's in for a tough matchup against Donovan Clingan, the March Madness MVP odds favorite - which is why UConn could be a double-digit favorite by tip off. This should be a slow burn of a game between two of the best defensive teams in the country, too. That combines to make the Under look appealing. 

Alabama (4) vs. North Carolina (1) - West Region

Alabama vs. North Carolina game info

• When: Thursday, March 28
• Tip-off: 9:39 p.m. ET
• Where: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
• TV: CBS
• Spread: North Carolina -4.5
• Over/Under: 173.5

It's been a chaotic NCAA Tournament run for No. 4 seed Alabama, but the Crimson Tide are in the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons under Nate Oats. The concern for Alabama against No. 1 seed North Carolina will be its style of play. The Tide play fast and sacrifice defense for the sake of scoring - ranking eighth in adjusted tempo and fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency, but just 101st in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Usually, Alabama wins by having better scorers than its opponent, but that won't be the case against the Tar Heels. All-American RJ Davis leads North Carolina with 21.3 points per game and is the main reason the Tar Heels are 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency. This will likely be the highest scoring game of the Sweet 16, hence the astronomically high Over/Under, but North Carolina's defense should be the difference.

Illinois (3) vs. Iowa State (2) - East Region

Illinois vs. Iowa State game info

• When: Thursday, March 28
• Tip-off: 10:09 p.m. ET
• Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Spread: Iowa State -1.5
• Over/Under: 146

No Sweet 16 matchup involves two teams with more clashing styles of play than this one between No. 3 seed Illinois and No. 2 seed Iowa State. The Illini are first in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and ninth in points per game (84.6) while the Cyclones are first in adjusted defensive efficiency and fourth in points allowed per game (61.2). 

Illinois has one of the top one-two punches in the NCAA Tournament in Terrence Shannon Jr. (23.3 points per game) and Marcus Domask (16.1 points per game) and could push an Iowa State defense led by Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey. This might be the hardest game to project of the Sweet 16 with these teams being polar opposites and finding so much success since the end of the regular season - both teams won their conference tournaments.

Sweet 16 predictions: Thursday

• Clemson vs. Arizona picks
• San Diego State vs. UConn picks
• Alabama vs. UNC expert picks
• Illinois vs. Iowa State expert picks

Sweet 16 odds: Friday

NC State (11) vs. Marquette (2) - South Region

NC State vs. Marquette game info

• When: Friday, March 29
• Tip-off: 7:09 p.m. ET
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• TV: CBS
• Spread: Marquette -6.5
• Over/Under: 151

The only team to reach the Sweet 16 with a lower seed than No. 6, the Cinderella run for NC State could meet its match against No. 2 seed Marquette. The Wolfpack needed overtime to take down No. 14 seed Oakland in the second round and will have to deal with a Golden Eagles team with multiple NBA talents. Led by point guard Tyler Kolek, Marquette is 19th and 21st in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively.

Kolek, who hadn't played since late February prior to the NCAA Tournament, has been a complete X-factor averaging 19.5 points, 11 assists, and 5.5 rebounds through the first two rounds. He's going to be a problem for the Wolfpack, who are one of only three teams left in the NCAA Tournament who rank outside of the top 50 in adjusted defensive efficiency. They're also the only one of those three who don't rank top five in adjusted offensive efficiency, ranking just 42nd. This is the biggest mismatch on paper of the Sweet 16, which could lead to Marquette being favored by as many as 8.5 points by Friday.

Gonzaga (5) vs. Purdue (1) - Midwest Region

Gonzaga vs. Purdue game info

• When: Friday, March 29
• Tip-off: 7:39 p.m. ET
• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Mich.
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Spread: Purdue -5.5
• Over/Under: 154.5

Purdue has come a long way since losing in the first round as a No. 1 seed last season, and Wooden Award odds favorite Zach Edey has been an unstoppable force through two NCAA Tournament games for the Boilermakers. The 7-foot-4 big man is averaging 26.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks thus far and has helped Purdue win by an average margin of 33.5 points. Gonzaga will provide an interesting matchup with the Bulldogs being one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

The Zags put up the seventh most points per game (85.0) in the country and are second in field goal percentage (51.9%). However, much of their offense runs through forwards Graham Ike and Anton Watson inside the arc. With Edey acting as a mountain in front of the rim, it may be difficult to get either going. Another key factor is Gonzaga's issues defending the three, especially with the Boilermakers leading the country in 3-point percentage (40.9%). Regardless of the outcome, this should be a high-scoring duel.

Duke (4) vs. Houston (1) - South Region

Duke vs. Houston game info

• When: Friday, March 29
• Tip-off: 9:39 p.m. ET
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• TV: CBS
• Spread: Houston -4
• Over/Under: 134.5

Behind just UConn by the March Madness odds, No. 1 seed Houston barely escaped the second round of the tournament against No. 9 seed Texas A&M. Coming off its 100-95 OT win over the Aggies, the Cougars defense looked penetrable for what felt like the first time all season. Houston still sits second in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency despite its struggles against Texas A&M, but Duke has more talent than the Aggies.

The Blue Devils had no issues dealing with No. 12 seed James Madison, a trendy upset pick over Duke, and Jon Scheyer's team certainly has the firepower to make this game interesting. Duke also has a size advantage with big man Kyle Filipowski - the tallest player in Houston's rotation is 6-foot-8. This one will come down to whether or not the Blue Devils can deal with Houston's guard trio of Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer, and Emanuel Sharp on both ends of the court. This game could see the most movement with its line and Over/Under after the way Houston played on Sunday night.

Creighton (3) vs. Tennessee (2) - Midwest Region

Creighton vs. Tennessee game info

• When: Friday, March 29
• Tip-off: 10:09 p.m. ET
• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Mich.
• TV: TBS/truTV
• Spread: Tennessee -2.5
• Over/Under: 143.5

This is probably the most even matchup of the Sweet 16, on paper at least - and the spread reflects that. Creighton is ranked 11th on KenPom while Tennessee is eighth, plus both rank in the top 30 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. The key difference is that while the Volunteers are third in adjusted defensive efficiency, they also have one of the most electric scorers in the country in Dalton Knecht.

Knecht has proven to be capable of taking over games - which is why we love his points prop in our March Madness prop bets - and he should pose issues for a Creighton defense that gave up 28-plus points to two different players against Oregon in the second round. The Bluejays' 3-point heavy attack will also take its lumps against a Tennessee defense that holds opponents to shooting 30.9% from beyond the arc. The Volunteers are in good shape as a 2.5-point favorite.

Sweet 16 predictions: Friday

• NC State vs. Marquette picks
• Gonzaga vs. Purdue picks
• Duke vs. Houston picks
• Creighton vs. Tennessee picks

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