Wow, what a collection. Bettors weigh a terrific blend of Cinderella stories and chiseled chalk for this weekend’s Elite Eight matchups. Teams took varied routes to the four-game college basketball summit that will produce the Final Four by Sunday evening.
Here’s a look at March Madness betting odds and predictions for:
- UConn vs Illinois and Clemson vs Alabama (Saturday)
- Purdue vs Tennessee and North Carolina State vs Duke (Sunday)
Storylines come from Hollywood. Connecticut has a record for dominance. Alabama and Clemson scored big upsets, Tennessee seeks its first-ever Final Four, and Duke and NC State bring joy to newly-minted North Carolina sports betting.
Illinois vs UConn Odds and Prediction
Live Odds: UConn , Total
UConn has been rolling, as victories by 86 total points in three games would attest. It has won a record nine straight tournament games by double digits.
Illinois is a more advanced team than Stetson, Northwestern, and San Diego State, but Connecticut has held all three opponents under 60 points.
Prediction: UConn -8.5
Alabama vs Clemson Odds and Predictions
Live Odds: Alabama , Total
Cinderella meets Cinderella. Two utter bracket-busters meet here.
Clemson personifies the spirit of March Madness. The Tigers beat No. 3 seeded Baylor and No. 2 seed Arizona. They earned their first Elite Eight appearance since Jimmy Carter was the American President. That was 1980.
After squeaking into the Big Dance, they are now noise makers.
Alabama hung around top-seeded North Carolina just long enough to steal it. Trailing by eight at halftime, the Crimson Tide kept pecking away and finally took over in the final minute.
Does that takeover produce a carryover?
Prediction: Alabama -2.5. Beating the No. 1 seed may make the team believe it’s the new No. 1 and produce an elevated brand of play.
Related Pages: March Madness Betting Promos | College Basketball Odds | Basketball Betting Promo Codes
Purdue vs Tennessee Odds and Prediction
Live Odds: Purdue , Total
It’s Zach Edey inside and remarkable shooting outside for the Boilermakers, who pulled away from Gonzaga 80-68 to reach the Elite Eight.
Purdue began Friday as the nation’s No. 1 3-point shooting team with a remarkable 40.9% success rate from behind the arc. That’s a major step up from the 32.2% efficiency last year.
The Boilermakers are playing with the anger and intensity of a team knocked out in the first round last year. Edey is making the most of his last dance in the Big Dance.
Tennessee, meanwhile, can win a low-scoring affair, like the 62-58 triumph over Texas, or a track meet, like the 82-75 triumph over Creighton.
Tennessee has never been to the Final Four. Purdue last went in 1980. It’s a wonderful storyline for somebody.
Purdue topped Tennessee 71-67 back in November.
Prediction: Purdue -3
NC State vs Duke Odds and Predictions
Live Odds: Duke , Total
They’re giddy in the Tar Heel State, where the March 11 launch of legalized sports betting happened in time for a March Madness party.
Duke and NC State meet again, just as they did in the finals of the ACC tournament two weeks ago. NC State needed to win that game to make the Big Dance. Now, it tries to upend Duke to reach the Final Four.
The beat goes on for a Wolfpack team that has notched eight straight victories, connecting five ACC tournament victories and three March Madness triumphs.
Balanced scoring means NC State doesn’t have to rely on a go-to. The Wolfpack look to make history. They would be the 6th No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four and the first since UCLA in 2021.
LSU, George, Mason, VCU, and Loyola-Chicago have turned the trick.
NC State has already returned a sweet ticket to DraftKings bettors, who took it at +1500 to reach the Elite Eight.
Duke returned -115 to DraftKings bettors, taking the Devils to reach the Sweet 16. And then it earned a 54-51 nailbiter over No. 1 seed Houston.
Kudos for earning a rematch with NC State. The schools are only about 25 miles apart, creating a party atmosphere throughout North Carolina. This is the third matchup between the teams this month. They are 1-1.
Holding Houston to 51 points was a monumental achievement for Duke. That type of strangling defense would finally shut down the NC State train. But how much does Duke win by?
Prediction: NC State +6
Related Pages: NC Sportsbook Promos | Implied Probability Calculator | Legal Sports Betting States
How to Watch NCAAM Elite Eight Games
- East Final: (3) Illinois vs (1) UConn – Sat, 6:09 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Max | TV: TBS, truTV - West Final: (6) Clemson vs (4) Alabama – Sat, 8:49 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Max | TV: TBS, truTV - Midwest Final: (2) Tennessee vs (1) Purdue – Sun, 2:20 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Paramount+ | TV: CBS - South Final: (11) NC State vs (4) Duke – Sun, 5:05 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Paramount+ | TV: CBS
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