The Sweet 16 of March Madness 2022 features plenty of intriguing matchups. Four double-digit seeds are trying to reach the Elite Eight. Only one team is favored by at least nine points. Half of the games have a point spread of fewer than three points.

Here are picks against the spread for every Sweet 16 game in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Betting odds come from BetMGM.

Thursday, March 24

No. 4 Arkansas (+8.5) vs. No. 1 Gonzaga

Gonzaga’s road to the Final Four hasn’t been as easy as it was supposed to be at the start of March Madness. No. 15 Georgia State pushed Gonzaga for much of their first-round matchup, and the Bulldogs had to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit against No. 9 Memphis. Look for Gonzaga to win another close contest.

Prediction ATS: Arkansas

No. 11 Michigan (+4.5) vs. No. 2 Villanova

The Wolverines have run into a few teams that had poor shooting performances. After No. 6 Colorado State went 12-for-35 from 3-point range, No. 3 Tennessee missed 16 of its 18 3-point attempts against Michigan. Expect a much better offensive game from Villanova, which has made 41.2% of its 3-point attempts in the tournament.

Prediction ATS: Villanova

No. 3 Texas Tech (-1.5) vs. No. 2 Duke

Duke is the only Sweet 16 team that is an underdog against a lower seed. The Red Raiders have the best defense of anyone left in the field. If Texas Tech leading scorer Bryan Williams keeps up his recent level of play on offense, there’s a good chance that this will be Mike Krzyzewski’s final game as a head coach.

Prediction ATS: Texas Tech

No. 5 Houston (+2.5) vs. No. 1 Arizona

Arizona leads all college basketball teams with 33 wins. Ben Mathurin and Christian Koloko are probably playing too well for Houston to pull off the upset. With a few more days to rest his sprained ankle, Kerr Kriisa should be more effective than his 1-for-10 performance in the second round.

Prediction ATS: Arizona

Friday, March 25

No. 15 Saint Peter’s (+12.5) vs. No. 3 Purdue

This is where the Cinderella story ends for Saint Peter’s. Considering how Oscar Tshiebwe dominated the Peacocks in the first round, Purdue’s Zach Edey and Trevion Williams should score plenty of points in the paint. Jaden Ivey is the best guard in this game and will also have a big night.

Prediction ATS: Purdue

No. 4 Providence (+7.5) vs. No. 1 Kansas

Providence has been doubted all season long, yet it is only two wins away from reaching the Final Four. Senior Noah Horchler is averaging 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in March Madness. Kansas will be challenged by a Friars team that has allowed 108 total points in the tournament.

Prediction ATS: Providence

No. 8 North Carolina (+2.5) vs. No. 4 UCLA

Through their first 1.75 tournament games, North Carolina was the most impressive team in March Madness. The Tar Heels fell apart in the final 10 minutes against No. 1 Baylor when Caleb Love and Brady Manek were disqualified, but the team still managed to beat the reigning national champs in overtime. UCLA will be at a disadvantage if Jaime Jaquez Jr. is hampered by the sprained ankle he suffered Saturday.

Prediction ATS: North Carolina

No. 11 Iowa State (+2.5) vs. No. 10 Miami

Iowa State’s offense will keep it from reaching the Elite Eight. The Cyclones rank 271st in offensive efficiency and have yet to score 60 points in a tournament game. Miami guards Charlie Moore and Isaiah Wong averaged a combined 37 points, 11 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the first weekend. They can lead the Hurricanes to the Final Four.

Prediction ATS: Miami

Doug Edert Saint Peter's
Doug Edert #25 of the Saint Peter's Peacocks drives against Sahvir Wheeler #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dylan Buell/Getty Images
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