NCAA Bracket 2015: Updated Schedule, Picks and Odds for Sweet 16

Las Vegas isn't taking a timeout, so neither should bettors looking to capitalize on the Sweet 16.

The madness itself hits the pause button for a few days, but the oddsmakers out West have already served up a batch of odds for the Sweet 16. As is the case with any sport, it's important bettors jump on the lines now as opposed to later.

Later, lines will move based on how the public bets, so it's better to bite the bullet, do the research and throw down the coin now when lines are at a premium.

There's only one hard rule to follow this year when it comes to tournament betting—don't go against the Kentucky Wildcats.

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2015 Sweet 16 Schedule and Odds

	Thursday
Time (ET)	Matchup (Odds)	TV	Pick
7:15 p.m.	No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Wichita State (-1)	CBS	Notre Dame
7:47 p.m.	No. 1 Wisconsin (-3.5) vs. No. 8 North Carolina	TBS	Wisconsin
9:45 p.m.	No. 1 Kentucky (-12.5) vs. No. 5 West Virginia	CBS	Kentucky
10:17 p.m.	No. 2 Arizona (-9) vs. No. 6 Xavier	TBS	Arizona
	Friday
7:15 p.m.	No. 2 Gonzaga (-10) vs. No. 11 UCLA	CBS	Gonzaga
7:37 p.m.	No. 4 Louisville (-1.5) vs. No. 8 North Carolina State	TBS	NC State
9:45 p.m.	No. 1 Duke (-4.5) vs. No. 5 Utah	CBS	Duke
10:07 p.m.	No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Michigan State (-2)	TBS	MSU

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark on March 23 at 1 p.m. ET. 

Highlighting Best Bets

No. 1 Wisconsin (-3.5) vs. No. 8 North Carolina

A showdown between two teams in the top 11 of ESPN's RPI rankings is what the Sweet 16 is all about. 

Roy Williams' North Carolina squad continues to cruise thanks to its quick-twitch style and dominance on the boards capable of running most teams out of the building.

The Tar Heels just took down Arkansas 87-78, in large part thanks to winning the battle on the glass and seeing four players reach double digits. On the year, Marcus Paige and Co. rank 17th in the nation at 77.9 points per game and 12th in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom.com.

One problem—Wisconsin isn't one to be bullied into playing an opponent's style of contest.

The Badgers can match the Tar Heels blow-for-blow on the glass and rank best in the land in offensive efficiency at KenPom.com. Nobody has tested Bo Ryan's team yet, in large part thanks to Frank Kaminsky, who averages 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

Call it a worst-case scenario for the Tar Heels. Williams' team doesn't have an answer for Kaminsky (few do), nor can his team slow things down and beat Wisconsin at its own game.

Look for the Badgers to control the pace with eyebrow-raising efficiency and pull away late.

Prediction: Wisconsin 76, North Carolina 70

No. 2 Gonzaga (-10) vs. No. 11 UCLA

Bettors should know, well, better, than to doubt the UCLA Bruins again. 

The Bruins have either burned those with coin at stake or helped them in a major way, varying by an individual's level of braveness and financial wiggle room. 

Steve Alford's team upended sixth-seeded SMU by just a single point before taking care of business against just-happy-to-be-here UAB, 92-75. There, Tony Parker exploded for 28 points to prove the Bruins are serious about contention.

"The selection committee thought we were good enough to play in this tournament, and I think we proved it," Parker said after the win, per The Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

By all accounts, Gonzaga looks unstoppable. Ranked fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom.com and No. 1 in the nation in field-goal percentage (.524), the Bulldogs cruised past their first two opponents by at least 10 points.

Hence the offering from Las Vegas.

If only it were so easy. As CBS Sports CBB illustrates, the two programs have a history of down-to-the-wire tournament encounters:

As ESPN College BBall adds, history doesn't smile on the Bulldogs:

"

In its past four Sweet 16 appearances, Gonzaga has lost. Bulldogs look to end the drought next week vs. UCLA. pic.twitter.com/EqzFUw6USF

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 23, 2015"

Look, Gonzaga is the better team and should pull out the win in the second half. But a 10-point spread should go to a team such as Kentucky, not one against a tricky, red-hot opponent, nor a team known for its struggles in the Sweet 16.

Were this another round, maybe bet the Bulldogs. Against the spread, though, it's time to trust the Bruins.

Prediction: Gonzaga 74, UCLA 69

No. 2 Arizona (-9) vs. No. 6 Xavier

Now here is large spread bettors can get behind if they are so inclined.

Arizona and Xavier are somewhat close in the seed department, but little else. The Wildcats rank sixth in RPI, the Musketeers 30th. As efficiency numbers at KenPom.com show, Arizona holds an advantage in two key areas:

Team	ADJ OFF	ADJ DEF
Arizona	7	3
Xavier	21	58

One can play the association game, too, as Shannon Russell of The Cincinnati Enquirer breaks down:

Xavier has impressed in the tournament so far, taking care of business against lesser seeds Ole Miss and Georgia State. To upend the 14th-seeded Panthers, the Musketeers needed to shoot 67.6 percent from the floor and 53.8 from deep.

Arizona? Much of the same—in more brutal fashion, dismissing Texas Southern 93-72 before making a mockery of 10th-seeded Ohio State, 73-58.

Barring another epic shooting performance by Xavier, look for Arizona to cover the spread with ease once again. Arizona's too long, athletic, efficient and better on the boards to let the Musketeers hang around for a full 40 minutes.

Prediction: Arizona 82, Xavier 70

Stats and info are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.