NCAA Tournament Picks, Predictions: Stuckey’s Betting Card for 2026 Sweet 16

Key Points:

• All 16 top-4 seeds advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second weekend for the second consecutive year, setting up eight highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchups.
• Texas, coming from the First Four, faces Purdue with concerns over Texas' defense against Purdue's efficient offense; the game may hinge on foul calls and shooting consistency.
• Iowa and Nebraska's Sweet 16 matchup is a rare Big Ten conference clash, expected to be a close, low-scoring game decided by minor adjustments and three-point shooting.
• Arizona is favored over Arkansas due to a significant advantage in rim defense and overall depth, with Arkansas' defensive weaknesses likely exploited by Arizona's elite offense.
• Illinois vs. Houston is a key battle of elite rebounding and ball control, with Illinois favored due to their offensive rebounding and ability to limit Houston's second-chance points in a likely half-court game.
• Duke's health and ability to handle St. John's full-court press will be critical; Duke's strong defense and depth give them an edge, but the game may be low-scoring and controlled.
• Alabama must rely heavily on three-point shooting to compete against Michigan, who excels defensively and on the boards; the game outcome may depend on shooting performance and momentum swings.
• UConn is favored over Michigan State due to their ability to limit transition and second-chance points, despite concerns about their perimeter shooting consistency.
• Tennessee's strong offensive rebounding could be decisive against Iowa State, especially if Iowa State's key player Joshua Jefferson is absent; the game is expected to be closely contested.