March Madness: Friday’s Sweet 16 action
By Jack Williams • Mar 23rd, 2010 • Category: NCAABA Midwest regional matchup between the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers gets the Sweet 16 action going on Friday (7:10 pm ET, CBS).
The Buckeyes are a 4.5-point favorite and the total is at 134 in March Madness Betting Odds.
Unlike a lot of matchups in the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes and Vols actually have a head-to-head history. Ohio State is 2-1 straight up but 1-2 against the point spread in three relatively recent meetings – two in 2007 and one in 2008.
The teams last met on Jan. 19, 2008, when the Volunteers beat the Buckeyes 74-69 but failed to cash as an 11.5-point home favorite. The score went under the over/under total.
The other Midwest semifinal on Friday features the No. 9 seed Northern Iowa Panthers against the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (9:40 pm ET, CBS),
Michigan State is a 1.5-point favorite and the over/under total is at 121.
In the South regionals, the No. 10 St. Mary’s Gaels take on the 3rd-seeded Baylor Bears (7:30 pm ET, CBS).
Baylor, which many pundits predict will make it to the Final Four, is a 4-point favorite and the over/under is at 145.
The final Sweet 16 matchup has the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils and the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers battling in a South semi (10 pm ET, CBS).
These teams also have a head-to-head history, albeit a limited one. Both are 1-1 straight up and against the spread.
They last met on Dec. 2, 2008, when the Blue Devils beat the Boilermakers 76-60, upsetting Purdue as a 2-point road underdog. The score went under the total of 144.5.
Jack Williams is a longtime sports writer and handicapper. Jack attended the University of Florida, where he earned a degree in journalism.
In the '80s, he began his career as a sportswriter, first in Miami, then in New York City, where he still lives.
He is a big fan of the New York Jets but he still has a soft spot for the Gators.
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