Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: Head coach Scott Drew and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears
The NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 gets underway on Saturday, with four teams looking to punch their tickets to the Elite Eight.
Today’s four-game slate starts with Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago at 2:40 p.m. ET, and according to our College Basketball PRO Report, sharps are all over Saturday’s two early games.
Let’s not waste any more time and cannonball right into Saturday’s sharpest Sweet 16 bets, including Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago and Villanova vs. Baylor.
Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago Pick
2:40 p.m. ET | CBS
Sharp Action
The Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago total opened at 126 and Action Labs’ Bet Signals have tracked a handful of smart money moves on the under, pushing this number down to the current consensus of 125 (click here for live Sweet 16 odds).
Big Money
Sharps aren’t being shy about unit size either, evidenced by the 71% of money landing on the Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago under on just 35% of the tickets.
Top Experts
One of The Action Network’s top college hoops bettors is expecting a lower-scoring game as well, lighting up this under with three of a possible five value indicators.
PRO Report Pick: Under 125
Villanova vs. Baylor Pick
5:15 p.m. ET | CBS
Sharp Action
While pros have taken a position a position on the Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago total, they’re slamming the spread in the Villanova vs. Baylor.
After opening at -6.5, an influx of sharp action has driven this number up to -7.5
Big Money
The Villanova vs. Baylor betting trends are very similar to those of the game above as the Bears have attracted 77% of the loot on a small percentage (34%) of the bets, signaling exactly where the big bets are falling.
PRO Systems
So, why are the wiseguys all over Baylor this afternoon?
According to our NCAA Tournament Contrarian PRO System, teams — like Baylor — receiving less than 50% of the spread tickets in heavily-bet March Madness matchups are 89-66-5 (57%) against the spread since 2005.
PRO Report Pick: Baylor -7.5