After four days of thrilling March Madness action, the field of 68 is down to 16. The Midwest Region has not seen many upsets so far, as the only first-round upset was No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina. The four teams making the Sweet 16 in the Midwest Region are Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 seeds.
With more entertaining basketball in store for this weekend, we are taking a closer look at the 2024 March Madness Midwest Region odds for the Sweet 16. Can Tennessee win the Midwest Region and go to their First Final Four in program history?
Here’s the outlook for the Midwest Region games on Friday, March 29 in Detroit.
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No. 5 Gonzaga vs No. 1 Purdue (-5.5), 7:39 p.m. ET (TBS)
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No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 2 Tennessee (-3), 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS)
March Madness Midwest Region Odds: Tennessee eyes first Final Four
The Tennessee Volunteers are the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, and this marks their 10th trip to the Sweet 16 in school history. The Vols have never made the Final Four, but this year’s team is determined to change that.
The Vols took down No. 15 Saint Peter’s in the Round of 64 by a score of 83-49. They then defeated No. 7 Texas in the Round of 32 in a tight 62-58 contest. After both of those wins, Tennessee heads into its Sweet 16 matchup against Creighton with a ton of confidence.
Dalton Knecht continues to lead the way for the Vols. He led Tennessee in scoring in both tournament games thus far, dropping 23 points against Saint Peter’s and 18 points against Texas.
The Vols are certainly capable of reaching the Final Four, but it will not be easy. The Vols are set to take on Creighton in the Sweet 16, and is sure to be entertaining game to watch unfold. Both teams are balanced, well-coached, and have plenty of experience. That being said, oddsmakers are favoring the Vols, as they find themselves as 3-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total, or over/under is listed at 144.
The Purdue Boilermakers are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, and they are still the odds-on favorites to reach the Final Four with odds of +130. Tennessee has the second-best odds to win the Midwest Region at +220.
Can Gonzaga take down Purdue?
Gonzaga has reached the Final Four twice in recent years, reaching the national semifinals in 2017 and 2021. Looking for a third Final Four trip, the Zags take on Purdue on Friday night in what should be a tremendous college basketball game.
Purdue has steamrolled each of its first two opponents, beating Grambling State 78-50 and Utah State 106-67. The Zags have looked equally as impressive, as they defeated McNeese State 86-65 in the first round then took down Kansas by a score of 89-68 in the second round. Now, the Boilers and Zags are set for a heated battle with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
Oddsmakers are giving the edge to the Boilermakers, as they are 5.5-point favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook. When betting March Madness Midwest Region odds for the Sweet 16, keep in mind that odds are subject to change up until tip-off. In addition, odds can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, so be sure to shop around at various sportsbooks to ensure you are getting the best available odds for your bet(s).
