The 2023 NCAA Tournament has arrived at the Sweet 16. No one had a perfect bracket through the first two rounds of this tournament, and that was to be expected because we did think there would be a lot of chaos at this event. The thing about predicting March mayhem is that you know the craziness will unfold, but you don’t know precisely where it will come from. Purdue losing was expected but to Memphis, not Fairleigh Dickinson. What will happen next?

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Let’s take a look at the high seeds which have a great chance of being knocked out in the next weekend along with their odds at BetAnySports.eu:

Houston Cougars, No. 1 Seed in Midwest Region

Odds To Win Championship At BAS: +400

The Cougars are a No. 1 seed, and they’re really good, but they should not feel comfortable about their position. They first have to face the Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16. Miami made the Elite Eight last season. The Hurricanes are athletic and experienced. They are also fearless. They pounded Indiana on the offensive glass in a win over the Hoosiers on Sunday in the second round. Crucially, big man Norchad Omier, who was injured against Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals, looked strong and healthy in the Indiana game. He will be good to go against Houston. Miami has a confident, cohesive team playing well right now. That will not be easy for Houston. If the Cougars do survive that game in the regional semifinals, they still have to beat third-seeded Xavier or second-seeded Texas. The path to the Final Four will not be easy at all. 

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Alabama Crimson Tide, No. 1 Seed in South Region

Odds To Win Championship At BAS: +320

The Crimson Tide will be favored to win this region, and they certainly have a good chance, but this is no cakewalk. San Diego State, Alabama’s next opponent in the Sweet 16, plays great defense. Alabama is unbeatable when it hits 3-point shots and can apply extended pressure after making baskets, but San Diego State can defend the 3-point line and make Alabama’s offense uncomfortable. The Aztecs have the defense which can create a sluggish, ugly game in which Alabama struggles. Even if Alabama gets past San Diego State, the Tide would likely face Creighton in the Elite Eight. Creighton was a top-15 team at the start of the season and played a great game to hammer Baylor in the Round of 32 on Sunday. Creighton will not be an easy team for Alabama to face, chiefly because Creighton has size and length which can match the Tide near the rim and in the low post.

UCLA Bruins, No. 2 Seed in West Region

Odds To Win Championship At BAS: +850

The Bruins has to play third-seeded Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and then, potentially, fourth-seeded Connecticut or eighth-seeded Arkansas in the Elite Eight. Gonzaga was a No. 1 seed each of the past two seasons and made the 2021 national championship game. UConn was one of the last three unbeaten teams in college basketball this season and has endless frontcourt depth. Arkansas, if it beats UConn, will make the Elite Eight for the third straight year. All three other teams in UCLA’s West Regional are really, tough.

Kansas State Wildcats, No. 3 Seed in East Region

Odds To Win Championship At BAS: +3000

The Wildcats are the highest remaining seed in the East, but they face Tom Izzo, the Master of March Madness, in the Sweet 16. Izzo has made the Final Four at least once every five years throughout his Michigan State career: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019. He seems due to return to the Final Four and will be a headache for Kansas State to deal with in the regional semifinals. If KSU wins, it might have to play fourth-seeded Tennessee, which has a good, deep team with frontcourt size and tenacious defense. This will not be easy for the Wildcats.