The 2d spherical of the 2021 NCAA Tournament is about to ranking underway, and some Cinderella squads would perchance be hoping to preserve their early magic going on Sunday. Most particularly, No. 15 seed Oral Roberts faces No. 7 seed Florida, and No. 13 seed North Texas faces No. 5 seed Villanova.
Each the Eagles and Imply Green are facing opponents who’ve regarded susceptible recently, so it is no longer entirely out of the inquire that some other upset — or two — would perchance be in issue. Originate no longer ignore Oregon Disclose, either. The No. 12 seed Beavers parlayed the momentum of their urge via the Pac-12 Tournament into a essential spherical victory and are succor in circulate in opposition to No. 4 seed Oklahoma Disclose.
In complete, Sunday’s slate facets eight video games. Two No. 1 seeds would perchance be in circulate as neatly with Illinois facing in-inform foe No. 8 seed Loyola Chicago and Baylor facing a No. 9 seed Wisconsin that regarded tough in a essential spherical take over No. 8 seed North Carolina.
By night’s terminate, eight teams would perchance be on their plot to the Sweet 16. Our group of experts has analyzed the video games and made picks straight up and in opposition to the unfold for every of them below. Odds by assignment of William Hill Sportsbook
Who will take and camouflage every sport, and which teams wants to be on upset alert? Seek recommendation from SportsLine now to hang which group to succor in every matchup, all from the model that is up $2,600 for $100 gamers.
(8) Loyola Chicago vs. (1) Illinois
Time: 12: 10 p.m. ET | Establish: Bankers Lifestyles Fieldhouse
TV: CBS | Live circulate: March Madness Live
It feels delight in nostalgia for the 2018 Loyola Chicago group is having an influence on this point unfold (-7 for the Illini by assignment of William Hill SportsBook), attributable to Illinois is fully able to running up a huge number right here. With the exception of Friday’s take over a shorthanded Georgia Tech squad, the Ramblers’ handiest other sport in opposition to a energy convention opponent this season was a 14-point loss to a ho-hum Wisconsin squad. If the Badgers can beat Loyola Chicago by double-digits, Illinois can stop it effortlessly. Prediction: Illinois 80, Loyola Chicago 62 — David Cobb
(9) Wisconsin vs. (1) Baylor
Time: 2: 40 p.m. ET | Establish: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: CBS | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Baylor has but to return to the midseason compose that made it a Tier 1 contender along with Gonzaga, but it made swiftly work of No. 16 seed Hartford and still has the most vicious and unrelenting 3-point attack in college basketball. Against a Badgers defense that is at probability of teams who can shoot it neatly from deep, I might lay the facets with the Bears. Prediction: Baylor 74, Wisconsin 64 — Kyle Boone
(11) Syracuse vs. (3) West Virginia
Time: 5: 15 p.m. ET | Establish: Bankers Lifestyles Fieldhouse
TV: CBS | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Syracuse and its zone defense suffocated San Diego Disclose in Spherical 1, but Bob Huggins and West Virginia – equipped with judicious one of many most potent offenses since his time with the Mountaineers – have the goods to carve and cube that D. The guard play from Deuce McBride, Sean McNeil and Taz Sherman provides me self assurance to take WVU but I’m taking the facets with Cuse after it performed arguably its most total sport in opposition to SDSU on Friday. Prediction: West Virginia 69, Syracuse 67 — Boone
(6) Texas Tech vs. (3) Arkansas
Time: 6: 10 p.m. ET | Establish: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: TNT | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Texas Tech is the program with a more entrenched defensive identity by virtue of its 2019 urge to the national title sport. But Arkansas is entirely a smidge greater this season in defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and that must wait on the Razorbacks ranking a diminutive edge in what’s entirely a take ’em sport. Prediction: Arkansas 69, Texas Tech 66 — Cobb
(10) Rutgers vs. (2) Houston
Time: 7: 10 p.m. ET | Establish: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: TBS | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Houston is nails on both ends of the bottom, whereas Rutgers’ offense can’t somewhat retain with its high-25 stage defense. While the Scarlet Knights did catch out a Clemson group that at one point in the season had the No. 1 defense in the nation, they scored handiest 60 facets in a rock fight. If that is the style this sport goes – and both teams play loads gradual, so it is possible – then advantage goes to the Cougars in a close one. Prediction: Houston 70, Rutgers 65 — Boone
(15) Oral Roberts vs. (7) Florida
Time: 7: 45 p.m. ET | Establish: Indiana Farmers Coliseum
TV: truTV | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Did you hang what Oral Roberts did to Ohio Disclose? The Eagles weren’t intimidated by the Buckeyes, so that they completely couldn’t cower in opposition to Florida. The Gators were inconsistent all season, and their defense would perchance be tested in opposition to Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor. Heed for Oral Roberts to rack up a bunch of facets all all over again and preserve its Cinderella urge going. Prediction: Oral Roberts 79, Florida 76 — Cobb
(13) North Texas vs. (5) Villanova
Time: 8: 45 p.m. ET | Establish: Bankers Lifestyles Fieldhouse
TV: TNT | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Perchance Villanova deserves more credit ranking for the style it handled Winthrop on Friday with out Collin Gillespie, but there are still questions about how the Wildcats will fare in opposition to a group that can match its athleticism. North Texas is a more challenging matchup in that regard, and with the Imply Green on a dawdle straight away, ask of Villanova to have a tricky time closing this one out. Prediction: North Texas 66, Villanova 62 — Cobb
(12) Oregon Disclose vs. (4) Oklahoma Disclose
Time: 9: 40 p.m. ET | Establish: Hinkle Fieldhouse
TV: TBS | Live circulate: March Madness Live
Obvious, Oregon Disclose’s red-sizzling, with a Pac-12 tourney title below its belt and a ambitious take over a fifth-seeded Tennessee group in Spherical 1. But Oklahoma Disclose’s the more total group. And with Avery Anderson and Cade Cunningham, I’m no longer in any residence to wager in opposition to the Cowboys straight away. Godspeed if ya stop. Prediction: Oklahoma Disclose 74, Oregon Disclose 65 — Boone
