How many SEC teams will advance to the Elite Eight?
That's one of the burning questions as the conference – which has a record seven teams in the Sweet 16 – will look to advance in the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament on Thursday and Friday.
For the record, we have four SEC teams making the Elite Eight. A look at our track record from the first weekend:
Straight up: 41-7, .854
Against the spread: 32-16, .667
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We will look to stay hot in each region. The East Region and West Region play on Thursday. In the East Region in Newark, N.J., No. 1 Duke meets No. 4 Arizona and No. 2 Alabama meets No. 6 BYU.
In the West Region in San Francisco,, No. 1 Florida meets No. 4 Maryland, and No. 3 Texas Tech meets No. 10 Arkansas – the only double-digit team in the field.
The Midwest Region and South Region play Friday. In the South Region in Atlanta, No. 1 Auburn meets No. 5 Michigan, and No. 2 Michigan State meets No. 6 Ole Miss.
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In the Midwest Region in Indianapolis, No. 1 Houston takes on No. 4 Purdue and No. 2 Tennessee takes on No. 3 Kentucky.
Here are our predictions. Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
March Madness picks, predictions for Sweet 16
Thursday, March 27
- No. 2 Alabama (-5.5) vs. No. 6 BYU (East), 7:09 p.m. ET, CBS
The Crimson Tide averaged 85 points in the first two rounds – and six different players hit double figures in the 80-66 victory against Saint Mary's. Richie Saunders – a 6-foot-5 guard — averaged 20.5 points in the Cougars' first two games. BYU can run with the Crimson Tide and make this a fast-break game, but can they do it for 40 minutes? The Crimson Tide have too many options around All-American guard Mark Sears, and they shot just 34.2% from 3-point range the first weekend. Imagine if they get hot. Alabama is 6-1 S/U and 5-2 ATS when favored between five-to-10 points. BYU is 2-2 S/U as an underdog of more than five points, but both losses are to Houston. This is that kind of challenge.
Pick: Alabama 93, BYU 83
- No. 1 Florida (-6.5) vs. No. 4 Maryland (West), 7:39 p.m., TBS/TruTV
Two trendy Final Four picks in what should be a high-scoring Sweet 16 matchup. Maryland center Derik Queen kept the Terps' alive with a buzzer-beater in the 72-71 victory against No. 12 Colorado State. How will he fare against Florida 6-foot-11 center Alex Condon? Maryland is 10-1 S/U when they hit at least 10 3-pointers, and they will need that kind of shooting night to keep up with Florida – who proved they can win a slow-down game against UConn. The Gators average 16 assists per game since the SEC tournament, and Walter Clayton Jr. continues to orchestrate an offense that averages 85.4 points per game. The Terps are 1-2 S/U but 2-1 ATS as an underdog of more than four points this season. This is a tough game to pick – but the Gators advance with their balanced offense.
Pick: Florida 84, Maryland 72
DECOURCY: Walter Clayton delivers the dagger for Florida in win over UConn
- No. 1 Duke (-9.5) vs. No. 4 Arizona (East), 9:39 p.m., CBS
Duke rolled through the first two rounds, and Cooper Flagg has shown he is healthy. The Blue Devils have the look of a national championship team. Remember when Arizona ended Duke's season in the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA tournament? The Wildcats can compete here with guard Caleb Love, who shot 1 of 9 from 3-point range in Arizona's 69-55 loss to Duke on Nov. 24. Flagg had 24 points and seven rebounds and was the dominant player in that game. What adjustments will Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd make? Jaden Bradley needs to have a monster game for the Wildcats. Rematches are tough – but they typically play out a little closer. Arizona is 4-5 S/U and 4-5 ATS as an underdog this season.
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Pick: Duke 79, Arizona 73
- No. 3 Texas Tech (-5.5) vs. No. 10 Arkansas (West), 10:09 p.m., TBS/TruTV
How far can John Calipari take the underdog Razorbacks? Arkansas has been disruptive in the tournament with 16 steals, and guards Johnell Davis and DJ Wagner are controlling the floor well. Kansas and St. John's combined to shoot just 25.6% (10 of 39) from deep against the Razorbacks. Texas Tech is a high-volume three-point shooting team, but they are not dependent on them. JT Toppin and Darrion Williams combined for 53 points in the 77-64 victory against Drake. These teams haven't met since 2021, but the Razorbacks have won five of the last seven in the series. Arkansas is 4-2 S/U and 4-2 ATS as an underdog of five points or more.
Pick: Texas Tech 74, Arkansas 69
Friday, March 28
- No. 2 Michigan State (-2.5) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (South), 7:09 p.m., CBS
Chris Beard led Texas Tech to a Final Four victory against Michigan State in 2019, which will be one of the narratives leading into this game. Michigan State, however, is 9-0 S/U against SEC schools in the NCAA tournament under Izzo. The Rebels shot 48.8% from 3-point range in the first weekend, and if that hot shooting continues then they will have a chance to knock off the Spartans. Michigan State averaged 14.5 offensive rebounds per game in the first two rounds. Izzo's teams traditionally crash the boards, and this version does that collectively well. Six different Michigan State players hit double digits in their first two games, and senior guard Jaden Adkins will help control the tempo. Michigan State advances to another Elite Eight under Izzo.
Pick: Michigan State 72, Ole Miss 66
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- No. 2 Tennessee (-4.5) vs. No. 3 Kentucky (Midwest), 7:39 p.m., TBS/truTV
An SEC rivalry matchup in the Sweet 16? Kentucky won both regular-season meetings. Tennessee shot too many 3's (11 of 45) in a 78-73 loss on Jan. 28, and the Vols could not hit a 3-pointer (3 of 18) in a 75-64 loss on Feb. 11. Can they find the middle around Chaz Lanier, who is 10 of 18 from 3-point range in the NCAA tournament? This game is more about the Wildcats, however. First-year coach Mark Pope has built a lot of momentum, and Kentucky is averaging 20.5 assists per game through the first weekend. There is a balance to the offense, and if the Wildcats can get 20-plus points off the bench then an upset is possible. Is it an upset if you win three times in one season? Or will the Vols get back to the Elite Eight under Rick Barnes? This will be the best game of the night.
Pick: Kentucky 84, Tennessee 83
- No. 1 Auburn (-8.5) vs. No. 5 Michigan (South), 9:39 p.m., CBS
Dusty May has Michigan in the Sweet 16 in Year 1 – a remarkable turnaround by the Wolverines, who have won eight of their last nine tournament games against SEC schools. That included a 91-79 victory against No. 4 Texas A&M in the second round. How will Auburn forward Johni Broome fare against Michigan's front line of Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf? That is one subplot. The other will be turnovers. The Wolverines had just nine turnovers against the Aggies. If the Tigers can push that number into double digits, then Michigan will be in trouble. Keep an eye on bench players Tahaad Pettiford for Auburn and Roddy Gayle Jr. for Michigan. Pettiford averaged 19.5 points and Gayle 18.5 points in the first two rounds. Michigan has been an underdog of more than seven points once this season and lost 79-62 at Michigan State. The Wolverines haven't lost since.
Pick: Auburn 81, Michigan 74
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- No. 1 Houston (-8.5) vs. No. 4 Purdue, (Midwest), 10:09 p.m., TBS/truTV
These tournament regulars have not met since 1998. Houston's defense was tested by Gonzaga. The Cougars have allowed more than 75 points only six times this season. How will All-American guard Braden Smith be able to break down the Cougars' defense? Purdue has to get to the free-throw line – where they hit 19 of 23 free throws in the second round. Forward Trey Kaufman-Renn was 8 of 10 in that game. Houston, however, features LJ Cryer, who averaged 22.5 points and shot 50% from 3-point range in the first weekend. The Cougars can win an ugly game, too. Purdue is 2-7 S/U and 2-7 ATS as an underdog. Houston pulls away in the second half.
Pick: Houston 79, Purdue 68