The NCAA tournament is back for its second weekend and the Sweet Sixteen matchups offer bettors a number of opportunities to cash in.
The NBA is also in action though it hasn’t been the same recently as several of the league’s stars - LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid to name a few - have been on the sideline with injuries.
Here’s a look at your best bets for this weekend, but before we get into them, click here to see our best bets for last weekend.
Florida State vs. Michigan (UNDER)
You have to get on this one quickly because it is likely the total works its way down much closer to 140 by tip off. The total opened at 145.5 and is already down to 143.5 at America’s Bookie.
In the 2018 Elite Eight, these two teams met and battled as Michigan won 58-54 going way under the closing total of 144.
The Wolverines are a different team now coached by Juwan Howard, but they still play great defense. Michigan ranks 57th in the nation in defensive efficiency.
Florida State, coached by veteran Leonard Hamilton, checks in at No. 78 in defensive efficiency. The Seminoles held their first two tournament opponents to 53 and 54 points. Not surprisingly, both of those game totals went Under.
By virtue of its strong defense and the fact that Michigan ranks 246th in possessions per game, the Wolverines trend toward the Under. The Under is 12-5 in Michigan’s last 17 games.
This game will be a battle, a true chess match as the two teams try to advance, but you have to get it in before the Under reaches 142.5.
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UCLA vs. Alabama (ALA -6)
The magic is about to run out for the UCLA Bruins. Head coach Mick Cronin’s team had to win a play-in game over Michigan State then upset BYU before beating No. 14 seed Abilene Christian by 20.
The athletic Crimson Tide has won both of its tournament games handily. They put up 96 points in a 96-77 win over Maryland to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Alabama hit 16 three-pointers and shot 48.5 percent from behind the arc.
The Tide has covered in five of its last seven games. One of those they did not cover was their 13-point first-round win over Iona when they were favored by 17. Alabama is also 5-2 ATS in their last seven games when playing as the favorite.
Head coach Nate Oats’ team is too talented and will have no trouble beating UCLA and covering the six-point spread on Sunday.
Magic @ Lakers (UNDER)
If there has been a theme for the Lakers in 2021, it has been the Under. The Lakers are 26-17-1 to the Under this season. The big reason is defense. They are No. 2 in scoring defense, but more recently it has been due to a lack of scoring.
That has everything to do with LeBron James now out of the lineup with an ankle sprain. James joins Anthony Davis who has already been out due to injury. L.A. managed just 99.7 points per game over their last three.
It’s not going to magically get better either. Orlando is used to sub-par scoring. The Magic rank 29th in the league in scoring offense, but they are 14th in scoring defense.
The Under is 5-2 in the Magic’s last seven games and 3-1 in the Lakers last four.
Play this Under all the way down to 212.
