March Madness 2023 Second Round (Sunday) Odds, Predictions & Expert Picks
Here comes the last day of the first weekend of March Madness 2023. We have another complete list of games with the first clue just after noon and the last game clue at 9:40 AM ET. We have witnessed loud disappointments, loud statements and all-out battles. There is no doubt that Sunday will bring us some memorable matches. Let’s look at our favorite lines, odds and picks.
Sunday March Madness Schedule and Odds
*all Eastern standard times
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No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 3 Baylor
On Sunday night in Denver, No. 3 Baylor and No. 6 Creighton will battle it out for a spot in the Sweet 16. Despite a slow start, Baylor was able to break through to an 18-point victory over UC Santa Barbara in their previous game. Meanwhile, Creighton managed to get a win over North Carolina State, but struggled from behind the arc. The game was backed up by a strong performance from Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Now that Arizona’s No. 2 has been eliminated from the tournament, the winner of this game will most likely get an auspicious match in the next round, potentially leading them to a place in Elite 8.
Kalkbrenner’s paint dominance is definitely a concern for Baylor, as they have struggled to protect the interior at times this season. However, Baylor has a strong perimeter defense and will likely try to get Creighton to shoot from the outside where they struggled in their first round matchup with NC State. In the beginning, both of these programs were considered as contenders for the title of national champion, and they are very much alive.
Before the tournament I had Creighton win this game and I stay with the Blue Jays.
Choice: Creighton +1.5
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Kansas State
The matchup between Kentucky and Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA tournament is expected to be almost a coin toss clash. Both teams won and were covered in their first round matches, with the winner advancing to the second weekend of the tournament for a chance to play at Madison Square Garden in the East Region semi-finals next Thursday.
Kentucky underestimated participation in this tournament as it grew in the final month of the season. On the other hand, many experts considered the No. 3 seed to be favorable for Kansas State given his resume and KenPom’s performance. This one opened as a PK and Kentucky went all the way to -3.
The matchup problem for Kansas State is Kentucky big man Oscar Chibwe, who can dominate games even with just eight points. He had 25 rebounds in Friday’s game, giving many an idea of how he can win the game. Despite a volatile season, Kentucky is currently playing its best basketball and the market has yet to reach its potential.
This season, I sometimes liked Kansas State, and sometimes they were very weak. It feels like their shortcomings will catch up with them tomorrow when they face one of the hottest teams in the country.
However, I’m going to take a relatively short ML from Kentucky.
Choice: Kentucky ML-150
No. 5 in Miami vs. No. 4 in Indiana
I had Drake in that game and it looked like Drake was going to pull off 12 of his 5 first round upsets against Miami, but Miami made an incredible comeback to earn himself a spot in round 32.
This to me is all about Trace Jackson-Davies. I don’t want to discount how solid the Hurricanes’ backcourt has been all year, but TJD is a different type of talent.
Trace Jackson-Davies is a talented player who just didn’t get enough recognition for the way he promoted this IU team. His performance in the first round against Kent State, where he posted impressive stats of 24 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks, could help turn the tide.
It’s no secret that the Miami are clearly short on size, and they haven’t protected the paint this season. Miami ranks 224th in the nation in height and 255th in opposition defense percentage with 2 points, which could create opportunities for TJD to really dominate the Hurricanes in paint.
I think IU wears down Miami and survives them late.
