March Madness 2025: First bets for the men’s Sweet 16

Mar 24, 2025, 12:11 PM ET The Sweet 16 is embeded in the guys’s NCAA competition and while there are no true Cinderellas left, there are lots of engaging matchups.So which games stick out and provide the best worths to wager? Joe Fortenbaugh, Tyler Fulghum, Mackenzie Kraemer and Greg Peterson take a look at the early odds and highlight the bets that stick out before the lines move later on in the week.Odds are precise as of publication time. For the latest chances, go to ESPN BET.

Houston Cougars (-7.5) vs Purdue Boilermakers

While Houston has the best defense in the country, their offense is what should make the difference versus Purdue. The Boilermakers have actually ranked outside the top 100 in defensive performance considering that the start of February, however neither Peak nor McNeese might take advantage. Houston’s offense ought to have the ability to score at will after balancing 1.25 points per possession against Gonzaga. On the other side, Purdue had 19 turnovers against McNeese. Houston must trigger similar concerns with their ball pressure.– Kraemer

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Houston/Purdue first half under 62.5

This match includes 2 offenses that run at a glacial pace, with Purdue ranking 299th in the country in adjusted pace and Houston ranking 359th. Needless to say, neither team will remain in a rush to press the ball up the court which, in turn, will restrict both belongings and scoring chances. Consider Houston’s top-ranked defense, along with the Cougars’ efficiency struggles from 2-point range (272nd in NCAA) and you have a 20-minute grind-fest most likely to remain under 62.5 total points.– Fortenbaugh

Maryland Terrapins (+6.5) vs. Florida Gators

Perhaps there is some predisposition here because, openly, I chose the Terps to win this game in my bracket. That being stated, Florida is the only group staying that is 0-2 ATS in the competition. That doesn’t suggest the Gators are bad but it may mean that they are getting miscalculated in the market, which makes sense considering how well they were playing getting in the tournament. I want to get as numerous points as possible here and if this line moves at all I think it’s moving in Maryland’s direction.– Fulghum

Editor’s Picks

1 Associated Michigan State Spartans (-2.5) vs. Ole Miss Rebels

Michigan State has the clear edge on the glass, owning the second-best rebound portion in the nation, while Ole Miss has only one player on the lineup averaging a minimum of 5 rebounds per game. Ole Miss does have the leading scorer in this game with Sean Pedulla balancing 15 points per game, but this guard-heavy Rebels team needs to deal with a Michigan State defense that leads the nation in restricting opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 27.8%. With Michigan State’s defense covering both the glass and the 3-point arc, they will cover the spread as well.– Peterson