March Madness Sweet 16 Expert Picks & Predictions: Our Best Bets for Every NCAA Tournament Game

Just 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament, and we've gathered all of our Sweet 16 expert picks and predictions - including our best bets against the spread, our favorite player props, and exact score predictions for every game on Thursday and Friday.

👉 Want to bet on the Sweet 16? Check out the latest March Madness Sweet 16 odds & full schedule.

💰 March Madness Sweet 16 expert picks & predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament

We've broken down our Sweet 16 expert picks for every NCAA Tournament game on Thursday and Friday in the sections below. You can read even more of our analysis with our full game previews and best player props for every Sweet 16 matchup.

Be sure to check out the rest of our March Madness predictions this week ahead of Thursday's opener at 7:09 p.m. ET:

🏀 More March Madness picks

• March Madness Sweet 16 picks
• March Madness Sweet 16 predictions
• March Madness Sweet 16 survivor picks
• March Madness updated bracket predictions
• March Madness second chance bracket
• Sweet 16 picks & Final Four predictions

🔮 Best March Madness predictions & expert picks for Thursday's Sweet 16 games

🗓️ Thursday's NCAA Tournament schedule

• No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU, 7:09 p.m. ET (CBS), East Region
• No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland, 7:39 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), West Region
• No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona, 9:39 p.m. ET (CBS), East Region
• No. 3 Texas Tech No. 10 Arkansas, 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), West Region

🏀 No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU, 7:09 p.m. ET (CBS), East Region

✅ Against the spread pick: BYU +4.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Mark Sears Under 4.5 assists (+110) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: BYU 94, Alabama 90

Here's why Mike Spector is picking BYU to cover the spread (+4.5):

"BYU will not mind getting up and down with Alabama, and the Cougars are built to expose the Crimson Tide’s defensive inefficiencies, as Alabama has allowed 90-plus points in five of its last 11 games. This line feels overinflated after Alabama beat a horrifically poor-shooting Saint Mary’s team that had gone 12-for-68 from 3-point range over its last four games."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Alabama vs. BYU prediction.

🏀 No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland, 7:39 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), West Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Maryland +6.5 (-102) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Walter Clayton Jr. Under 19.5 Points (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Maryland 76, Florida 74

Here's why Isaiah Sirois is picking Maryland to cover the spread (+6.5):

"The Florida Gators are great, as their second-shortest March Madness odds indicate, but the Maryland Terrapins might be severely under-seeded. Since Feb. 1, the Gators are an impressive third in T-Rank, mainly due to their second-ranked offense–but the Terps are right on their heels in seventh. Unlike Florida, Maryland’s success stems from its defense, which is first nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency in that sample."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Florida vs. Maryland prediction.

🏀 No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona, 9:39 p.m. ET (CBS), East Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Arizona +9.5 (-118) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Cooper Flagg Over 27.5 points + rebounds (-122) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Duke 80, Arizona 75

Here's why Mike Spector is picking Arizona to cover the spread (+9.5):

"Duke has beaten its opponents by 25 points per game during its 13-game winning streak. And its most impressive non-conference victory of the season was a 69-55 road win at Arizona, which was also the Wildcats’ third-lowest scoring output of the season. But Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has shown an ability to get his team to play much better in 'revenge' spots."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Duke vs. Arizona prediction.

🏀 No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas, 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), West Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Texas Tech -5.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Christian Anderson Over 9.5 Points (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Texas Tech 80, Arkansas 70

Here's why Isaiah Sirois is picking Texas Tech to cover the spread (-5.5):

"While John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks have a ton of momentum, their March Madness resume isn’t all that impressive. They beat a bad Kansas team that looked lost with Hunter Dickinson on the floor and a St. John’s team that couldn’t make a shot to save its life. If you’re looking for a Cinderella, this probably isn’t it."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Texas Tech vs. Arkansas prediction.

🔮 Best March Madness predictions & expert picks for Friday's Sweet 16 games

🗓️ Friday's NCAA Tournament schedule

• No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ole Miss, 7:09 p.m. ET (CBS), South Region
• No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), Midwest Region
• No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan, 9:39 p.m. ET (CBS), South Region
• No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue, 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), Midwest Region

🏀 No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ole Miss, 7:09 p.m. ET (CBS), South Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Michigan State -3.5 (-105) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Sean Pedulla Under 15.5 points (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Michigan State 76, Ole Miss 67

Here's why Phil Wood is picking Michigan State to cover the spread (-3.5):

"(The Spartans) struggled for the majority of both of their games over the first weekend, but once they got hot, they were impossible to stop. The defense was especially good in the second round against the New Mexico Lobos, as the Spartans held Donovan Dent to just 14 points."

Michigan State is getting both the most money and tickets at BetMGM to cover -3.5.

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Michigan State vs. Ole Miss prediction.

🏀 No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), Midwest Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Kentucky +4.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Otega Oweh Under 16.5 points (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Kentucky 74, Tennessee 70

Here's why Brenden Schaeffer is picking Kentucky to cover the spread (+4.5):

"Despite being one of the most balanced teams in the nation, with top 20 adjusted efficiencies on offense and defense, Tennessee has fallen victim twice this season to Kentucky’s scoring prowess. The Wildcats are 2-0 against the Vols, scoring 75+ points in both wins. To make it a three-peat against Rocky Top would land Kentucky in the Elite 8 in Mark Pope’s first season in Lexington."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Tennessee vs. Kentucky prediction.

🏀 No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan, 9:39 p.m. ET (CBS), South Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Michigan +8.5 (-105) ⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Vladislav Goldin Over 7.5 rebounds (-125) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Auburn 79, Michigan 73

Here's why Phil Wood is picking Michigan to cover the spread (+8.5):

"The Wolverines have rattled off five consecutive wins. Michigan showed it could win any type of game during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines took a low-scoring affair against the UC San Diego Tritons before outscoring the Texas A&M Aggies on their way to a 91-79 win."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Auburn vs. Michigan prediction.

🏀 No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue, 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV), Midwest Region

✅ Against the spread pick: Houston -7.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: J’Wan Roberts Over 10.5 points (-125) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Houston 75, Purdue 64

Here's why Brenden Schaeffer is picking Houston to cover the spread (-7.5):

"Purdue benefitted from High Point and McNeese being non-existent on the glass. The Boilermakers out-rebounded both mid-major opponents by a significant margin despite ranking outside the top 110 in both offensive and defensive rebounding efficiency, per Torvik. Houston should be more physical on both ends, and the team with the top-ranked adjusted defensive efficiency in the nation won’t allow so many easy buckets in the paint as Purdue’s previous opponents."

👉 For more analysis & latest odds, check out our Houston vs. Purdue prediction.

💰 March Madness betting odds pages

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