The NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round begins tonight and Butler(30-4) vs Syracuse(30-4) headlines the two matchups on tap in the West Region. The #5 seeded Bulldogs made it to the Sweet 16 round by blowing out #12 seed UTEP 77-59 and surviving a scare from #13 seed Murray St before prevailing 54-52 over the Racers. The Bulldogs are playing in their 10th NCAA Tournament in school history and are back in the Sweet 16 round for the 1st time since 2007, when they lost to eventual champion Florida. Butler is participating in their 4th straight NCAA Tournament and in the Sweet 16 for the 3rd time in the last 8 years. #1 seed Syracuse, meanwhile, will be looking to get past the regional semifinals and into the Elite 8 round for the 1st time since their national championship season in 2003. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim will have to make do without the services of senior center Arinze Onuaku, who will miss tonight’s game with injured right quadriceps. Onuaku also missed the 1st two rounds, but the Orange did not need him as they crushed Vermont and Gonzaga in the opening two rounds by a combined 45 points. Vegas oddsmakers have listed Syracuse as a -6 point favorite with the total set at 138.5. The game tips off at 7:00 PM EST on CBS. You can bet on tonight’s game online at BetED Sportsbook and get a 50% Bonus if your 1st BET is a WINNER!.
View all of tonight’s NCAA Tournament Odds at NSAwins.com, plus get tonight’s expert picks from NSAwins.com’s expert March Madness handicappers.