College basketball fans and bettors have some time to breathe between the Round of 64 and the Round of 32. The chaos slows for a moment before starting up again, so let's dive into our favorite plays for Saturday's Round of 32.
No. 12 McNeese State +5.5 over No. 4 Purdue
People were skeptical of McNeese State's tournament chances after it was revealed that head coach Will Wade is expected to leave for NC State. But Wade's team showed up with infectious energy, racing out to a 31-13 halftime lead over Clemson.
McNeese State's Cinderella run can extend to the Sweet 16 with a favorable matchup over Purdue. High Point didn't have the offensive firepower to take advantage of Purdue's leaky defense - which ranks outside the top 150 in defensive efficiency since Feb. 1 - in the opening round. But the Cowboys have the weapons to score with the Boilermakers. The former shot 50% from the free-throw line and 21% from three against Clemson and still scored 69 points. And McNeese State has the athletes to contain Braden Smith and Purdue's backcourt. I'll pick the Cowboys to keep it close and potentially pull off another upset.
No. 11 Drake +7.5 over No. 3 Texas Tech
Drake's game plan worked to perfection against Missouri. Drake plays with the slowest tempo in the country and grinds teams down defensively. The Bulldogs want to limit possessions, which usually helps underdogs pull off upsets.
Texas Tech is a formidable opponent and will try to speed up play, but it let UNC Wilmington hang around in the opening contest and won't have an answer for Drake's Bennett Stirtz. Drake's fairytale run isn't ending in the Round of 32.
No. 9 Creighton +9.5 over No. 1 Auburn
Creighton has the defensive personnel to slow down Auburn's attack. The Tigers have had solid shooting outings but like to get downhill and dominate inside, while the Bluejays play a drop coverage against pick-and-rolls, allowing big man Ryan Kalkbrenner to sit in the paint and protect the rim. Auburn must move Kalkbrenner away from the basket to secure a win. The Bluejays will pull off the upset if the Tigers try to win from three.
Creighton is as well coached as any team in the tournament and has experienced players in Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth, who complement each other offensively as a paint presence and an elite shooter. I have the Bluejays in my Final Four, so I'm definitely rolling with them catching 9.5 points.
No. 8 Gonzaga +5.5 over No. 1 Houston
Gonzaga annihilated Georgia in the Round of 64, and there's a case that the Bulldogs are criminally under-seeded. Houston has won 27 of its last 28 games and appears immune to upsets, but it drew a difficult Round of 32 matchup.
Houston starter J'Wan Roberts returned from an ankle injury in the opening game after missing the last two contests. He played 20 minutes in a blowout win, but Houston needs him at full strength to defeat Gonzaga. Although the Cougars have the second-best defense in the country, the Bulldogs' efficient offense averages the second-most points per game among tournament teams by dominating in the paint. Gonzaga frequently earns trips to the free-throw line and rarely turns the ball over, a formula that often leads to upsets. I don't believe the Bulldogs will win outright, but it should be a close game.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
