Sweet 16 2016: Bracket, TV Schedule, Odds and Final Four Predictions
The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament delivered the drama and upsets that have become synonymous with college basketball at this time of year.
With heavyweights Michigan State, Kentucky, Arizona, Xavier and West Virginia all out, brackets have been busted across the country.
CBS Sports reported after Arkansas-Little Rock’s upset over Purdue last Thursday—the very first day of action—only 1 percent of fan brackets were perfect.
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That was erased halfway through the next day of action:
Matt Draper of ESPN.com reported the same among ESPN's tournament challenge, noting none of the 13 million entries remained perfect halfway through Friday.
Here is a look at the schedule and latest odds for the Sweet 16, which begins Thursday:
| Villanova vs. Miami | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | VIL (-4.5) | Louisville |
| Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M | 7:37 p.m. | TBS | OKLA (-2.5) | Anaheim |
| Kansas vs. Maryland | After VIL-MIA | CBS | KU (-7) | Louisville |
| Duke vs. Oregon | After OU-TAMU | TBS | OU (-2.5) | Anaheim |
| Virginia vs. Iowa State | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | UVA (-4.5) | Chicago |
| Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin | 7:37 p.m. | TBS | ND (-1.5) | Philadelphia |
| Syracuse vs. Gonzaga | After UVA-ISU | CBS | GONZ (-5) | Chicago |
| North Carolina vs. Indiana | After UNC-IU | TBS | UNC (-6.5) | Philadelphia |
And here is a look at the full championship odds, per Odds Shark:
| Kansas | +350 |
| North Carolina | +425 |
| Virginia | +575 |
| Oklahoma | +750 |
| Oregon | +1,200 |
| Villanova | +1,200 |
| Duke | +1,800 |
| Texas A&M | +2,000 |
| Indiana | +2,000 |
| Miami | +2,800 |
| Iowa State | +2,800 |
| Gonzaga | +2,800 |
| Maryland | +2,800 |
| Syracuse | +3,300 |
| Notre Dame | +3,300 |
| Wisconsin | +3,300 |
As the dust settles following the first two rounds, there are still a few clear favorites to reach the Final Four. However, if last weekend proved anything, predictions at this time of year are moot.
That said, here is a forecast of which teams should make their way to Houston.
Final Four Picks
Indiana Hoosiers (East)
The Hoosiers overcame a huge test in their gritty, 73-67 win over Kentucky Saturday.
Indiana now has a tall task ahead in facing top-seeded North Carolina in the East Region, but the team has proved with consistency throughout the season to have the trademark toughness to reach the Final Four.
Even as Big Ten regular-season champions, the Hoosiers have largely flown under the radar this year behind the likes of the heavyweights such as Michigan State, Kansas and North Carolina.
Head coach Tom Crean has not advanced past the Sweet 16 over his first seven seasons with Indiana. His Hoosiers were the top overall seed three years ago but were disappointed by Syracuse in the regional semifinal.
This team might not have superstars Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo, but these Hoosiers are playing with determination.
Kansas Jayhawks (South)
Kansas is two wins away from the Final Four, and despite being the tournament’s top overall seed, it sits in an incredibly daunting South Region.
However, upsets to California and Arizona have removed two contenders that could’ve provided huge hiccups to the Jayhawks along the way.
If they’re able to get by Maryland in the Sweet 16, they’ll meet the Miami-Villanova winner in a huge showdown for a trip to the Final Four.
Kansas has made early exits in four of the last six years, but it has an experienced core of starters—Devonte’ Graham is the only underclassman—that should power it through to Houston.
Oklahoma Sooners (West)
Oklahoma is coming off a tough 85-81 win over 10th-seeded VCU in the second round and will meet Texas A&M in the Sweet 16.
The Sooners have the best player in the country in Buddy Hield, who has played all but three minutes of regulation in their first two tournament games and is averaging 31.5 points.
However, their talents run deeper than Hield. In the Big 12 tournament semifinal against West Virginia, the star senior scored only six points but nearly won the game on an overturned buzzer-beater that would’ve sent them to the title game.
That game proved Oklahoma can hang until the final seconds against a formidable foe when their best player is having an off night. Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler have all played key roles to complement Hield and put the Sooners in their current position.
The knock on Oklahoma has been its struggles in its most pivotal games. The Sooners lost to Iowa State, Texas, West Virginia and twice to Kansas during Big 12 play.
But with the will they’ve shown thus far in the Big Dance, they’re on a run to reach their first Final Four since 2002.
Virginia Cavaliers (Midwest)
Of the remaining No. 1 seeds, Virginia has the cleanest path to Houston.
The Cavaliers face Iowa State in the Sweet 16 and would meet the Gonzaga-Syracuse winner with a victory over the Cyclones. Virginia is much better than each of those three teams—and it’s not even close.
The Cavaliers’ stingy defense is arguably the best among the Sweet 16 field. They’re methodical, not flashy. In its second-round game against Butler, Virginia shot 73 percent in the second half, proving it's hitting its stride at the right time.
With the weakest competition remaining among the top contenders, all signs point to Virginia reaching the Final Four for the first time in 32 years.
"Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.
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