NCAA Basketball
2026-03-27 - Michigan State Spartans at Connecticut Huskies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NCAA Basketball Tournament Sweet 16
Friday 27th March 2026 - Scheduled 9:45pm
1:45am (British Time)
Preview
After winning back to back NCAA Championships, the Connecticut Huskies were only a Number 8 Seed in 2025 and the run ended in the Second Round against the Florida Gators. The fact the winning team went on and won the NCAA Championship won't have made the Huskies feel any better and they have entered the Tournament as a Number 2 Seed this time around.
Immediately you have to state that those expectations are much grander in 2026 compared with 2025 and Connecticut have won the opening two games in the Tournament comfortably enough against Furman and UCLA.
No one will doubt that this is going to be a considerable step up as the Huskies reach the Sweet 16 Round, but there is experience that makes them dangerous. The recent reputation in the NCAA Tournament is something that will not be lost on the players nor the staff, while you just know that the Seeding means little to opponents who know how capable this Connecticut team are at their best.
The Huskies are the higher Seed in this Sweet 16 contest, but the Michigan State Spartans may feel hard done by with that being the case.
Like the higher Seed, the Michigan State Spartans are experience and Head Coach Tom Izzo can certainly put together a game plan to make his team competitive against any they face. The Spartans have had a couple of pretty solid wins against North Dakota State and Louisville and they are 2-0 for those backing the Picks on these pages having covered in both winning efforts.
There is very little between the teams and a similarity to the approach taken- they may not have elite Offensive units, but very capable ones, and both teams are instead looking to knuckle down Defensively and force mistakes from the opponent.
Turnovers are likely going to play a big part in the final outcome, but the Spartans will also be taking some motivation from the fact they have been set as the narrow underdog. That can help a team who will believe they are better than this Connecticut Huskies team and there has been a bit more consistency about the Spartans, which can be so important at this time of the season.
A key for the Spartans will be to attack this Huskies Defensive unit and see if they can force the way onto the Free Throw line. In a game where every possession and every point feels like it is going to be critical, turnovers and those cheap points can make the difference and that looks like something that may land in favour of the lower Seeded team.
Connecticut are not going to roll over, but neither are Michigan State and the underdog has every chance of the outright upset.
Prediction
Take the points in what looks like it could be the best game of the Sweet 16 Round.
The Pick :
Connecticut Huskies 73-75 Michigan State Spartans
