This is part of an article I saw that had some interesting betting trends and notes concerning sweet 16…
Seventh-seeded Michigan State is favored over third-seeded Kansas State in the Sweet 16. It's the first time a team seeded seventh or lower has been favored over a top-3 seed since … 2015 when No. 7 Michigan State was a 1.5-point favorite over 3-seed Oklahoma and beat the Sooners 62-58 in a game played in the state of New York.
Since seeding began in 1979, 16 times a 4-seed has faced an 8- or 9-seed in the Sweet 16. Despite dodging the 1-seed, it's been far from a cinch the 4-seed has moved on. Four seeds are just 6-10 facing teams seeded eighth or ninth in the Sweet 16. Since 2000, 4-seeds are just 2-7 against the spread (ATS) when facing a team seeded eighth or ninth in the Sweet 16.
Tom Izzo's teams are 18-6 straight up (SU) in Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games.
Rick Barnes is 2-7 ATS (5-4 SU) as a favorite at Tennessee. All but one of those games came against double-digit seeds. Dating back to Texas, that number falls to 2-11-1 ATS (7-7 SU).
Mountain West teams are 0-6 SU (1-5 ATS) in Sweet 16 games.
In the past 10 years, there have been 18 instances where a team seeded eighth or lower faced a team not a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 and weren’t facing another team seeded eighth or lower. Those 18 teams went 15-3 ATS with eight outright wins.
If you also eliminate second and third seeds, as is the case this year with FAU facing Tennessee, Princeton facing Creighton and Arkansas facing UConn, each of the past seven teams seeded eighth or lower facing a non-top three seed in the Sweet 16 have covered with six winning outright.
Xavier's Sean Miller has been an underdog six times in Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games. His teams have covered five of the six games, winning two Sweet 16 games outright. The lone non-cover was to No. 1 seed UCLA in 2008 as a six-point dog.
Since 1985, there have been 17 double-digit seeds to reach the Sweet 16 that were a double-digit underdog. Those 17 teams are 1-16 outright, with Saint Peter’s win over Purdue the lone win. Over the past 10 years, the last six such teams have covered the number with a win and three losses either by four points or fewer or in overtime.
Over the past 15 years, Duke has been eliminated by 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament. Only three of the 12 went on to win its next game – 2017 South Carolina, 2013 Louisville and 2009 Villanova.
A team seeded fifth or lower has reached the Final Four 33 times. Michigan State under Izzo has done it three times. Other coaches with multiple Final Fours as a 5-seed or lower are Brad Stevens and Larry Brown (two each). If Michigan State reaches the Final Four, Izzo will become the only coach to take two teams seeded seventh or lower to the Final Four.
Seventh-seeded Michigan State is favored over third-seeded Kansas State in the Sweet 16. It's the first time a team seeded seventh or lower has been favored over a top-3 seed since … 2015 when No. 7 Michigan State was a 1.5-point favorite over 3-seed Oklahoma and beat the Sooners 62-58 in a game played in the state of New York.
Since seeding began in 1979, 16 times a 4-seed has faced an 8- or 9-seed in the Sweet 16. Despite dodging the 1-seed, it's been far from a cinch the 4-seed has moved on. Four seeds are just 6-10 facing teams seeded eighth or ninth in the Sweet 16. Since 2000, 4-seeds are just 2-7 against the spread (ATS) when facing a team seeded eighth or ninth in the Sweet 16.
Tom Izzo's teams are 18-6 straight up (SU) in Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games.
Rick Barnes is 2-7 ATS (5-4 SU) as a favorite at Tennessee. All but one of those games came against double-digit seeds. Dating back to Texas, that number falls to 2-11-1 ATS (7-7 SU).
Mountain West teams are 0-6 SU (1-5 ATS) in Sweet 16 games.
In the past 10 years, there have been 18 instances where a team seeded eighth or lower faced a team not a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 and weren’t facing another team seeded eighth or lower. Those 18 teams went 15-3 ATS with eight outright wins.
If you also eliminate second and third seeds, as is the case this year with FAU facing Tennessee, Princeton facing Creighton and Arkansas facing UConn, each of the past seven teams seeded eighth or lower facing a non-top three seed in the Sweet 16 have covered with six winning outright.
Xavier's Sean Miller has been an underdog six times in Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games. His teams have covered five of the six games, winning two Sweet 16 games outright. The lone non-cover was to No. 1 seed UCLA in 2008 as a six-point dog.
Since 1985, there have been 17 double-digit seeds to reach the Sweet 16 that were a double-digit underdog. Those 17 teams are 1-16 outright, with Saint Peter’s win over Purdue the lone win. Over the past 10 years, the last six such teams have covered the number with a win and three losses either by four points or fewer or in overtime.
Over the past 15 years, Duke has been eliminated by 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament. Only three of the 12 went on to win its next game – 2017 South Carolina, 2013 Louisville and 2009 Villanova.
A team seeded fifth or lower has reached the Final Four 33 times. Michigan State under Izzo has done it three times. Other coaches with multiple Final Fours as a 5-seed or lower are Brad Stevens and Larry Brown (two each). If Michigan State reaches the Final Four, Izzo will become the only coach to take two teams seeded seventh or lower to the Final Four.
