Look below to find our top March Madness predictions for all the Second Round action in the West Bracket.
Saturday, March 19th, 2022
#12 New Mexico State vs #4 Arkansas – 8:40pm ET
A second 12 vs 5 upset struck when New Mexico State took out UConn. While Arkansas survived a scare from the Vermont Catamounts. Now these two schools will face off for a spot in the sweet sixteen.
Marko Nadin
The Arkansas Razorbacks are probably the best team in the league nobody is taking as a serious contender mainly because they haven’t seen much success in the past. They are coming off a 75-71 win over Vermont. Arkansas committed only 5 turnovers during the game which proved to be key in the dramatic finish of the game. Arkansas scores 77 points per game this season and if they do so against New Mexico state that will definitely be enough to advance. The Razorbacks are a six-point favorites which may be a little too much to cover it but the Razorbacks will definitely win.
The New Mexico State made one of the upsets in the first round defeating the UConn Huskies 70-63. Guard Teedy Allen was the only player scoring in double-figures for the Aggies but he counted to 37. The Aggies finished on top of the WAC conference which many do not take seriously but after their first-round performance they can be very dangerous if underestimated.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: New Mexico State +6.5 (-110)
Tony Battalio
New Mexico State is looking to make a sweet sixteen appearance as a number 12 seed. They were one of two 12 seeds to get the annual 12 vs 5 seed upset this season as they beat the UConn Huskies on Thursday afternoon. Now they will look to keep the upsets rolling as they take on the four seeded Arkansas Razorbacks. The Aggies haven’t made a sweet sixteen appearance since 1992 and it’s been even longer since they’ve advanced past that. This year looks to be different as this team is more than talented enough to make a deep run.
Another battle in 24 pic.twitter.com/lfsO1cZg0e
— 7:40pm TNT 🐗 (@RazorbackMBB) March 19, 2022
The Arkansas Razorbacks survived an upset attempt from the Vermont Catamounts on Thursday evening. Now they will look to book another ticket to the sweet sixteen in this game. It would be their second straight season appearing in the sweet sixteen as they made it all the way to the elite eight before losing last year. This year’s team may just be even more talented than last year so the expectations are likely higher. As for the result of this game I have Arkansas getting the win and advancing to their second straight sweet sixteen.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Arkansas (-285)
Noah Dunlap
New Mexico State is another team that pulled off the infamous 5/12 upset in the first round, as they took down the UConn Huskies, needing to hold on late to get the job done. Now the champions of the WAC head up against the Arkansas Razorbacks, a team that quietly looked like one of the best teams in the SEC for much of the year.
Arkansas comes into this one playing extremely well to end the year, though they did struggle in their opener against a pretty good Vermont team. We’ll chalk that one up to the fact that the first round is always a little crazy, with some weird upsets, but as long as you get past that, normally everything settles down a bit. That’s what happens in this one, as Arkansas takes care of business with real ease in the round of 32.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Arkansas (-285)
#9 Memphis vs #1 Gonzaga – 9:40pm ET
The Memphis Tigers outlasted Boise State in a thrilling game. The Gonzaga Bulldogs survived an early scare from Georgia State to pull away late. Now these schools create a compelling second round matchup.
Marko Nadin
The top team in the country Gonzaga Bulldogs presented their full power in the opening round cruising past Georgia State by 93-72. Drew Timme had a terrific game scoring 32 points for the Zags followed by the projected top pick at the 2022 NBA Draft Chet Holmgren who added 19 points, 17 rebounds and 7 blocks. Gonzaga is the best scoring team in the country with 88.3 points per game and they are ranked second with 52.4% shooting from the field. The Zags are a ten-point favorites against Memphis, a spread that will be covered in a matter of minutes.
The Memhis Tigers had a decent performance in the 64-53 win over Boise State. Penny Hardaway’s team shot 47% from the field and made 5-of-12 shots from deep which was enough for a win. There is no way the Tigers would be able to dictate the pace against Gonzaga and if they want to at least have a chance against the contender, they need to adapt on the Zags’ game.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Gonzaga -10.5
Tony Battalio
The Memphis Tigers picked up a scrappy win over a tough Boise State team in the first round. Now they will look to upset the number one overall seed in the entire tournament. Memphis is the definition of a sleeper team, they are much better than they have played all season long. They haven’t played their best game yet and that should be a terrifying thought for anyone they meet in this tournament. Because when they do play their best game of the season there may not be another team in the nation that can touch them.
Saturday is set.
Memphis-Gonzaga will tip at 8:40 p.m. CT on TBS. #MemphisInMarch #GoTigersGo | #TunnelVision pic.twitter.com/hAjfC3uYKx
— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) March 18, 2022
The Gonzaga Bulldogs survived a little bit of a scare from the Georgia State Panthers on Thursday. Eventually they pulled away in the end to advance to this second round matchup. Gonzaga is still clearly the best team in the nation in my opinion and they still have the number one overall draft pick in Chet Holmgren as well. The Bulldogs looked unstopped inside against Georgia State as Drew Timme went crazy. As for the result of this game I look for more of the same as I have the Gonzaga Bulldogs getting the win.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Gonzaga (-650)
Noah Dunlap
Upset time in the tournament!
While Gonzaga has been arguably the best team in the country for the entire year, I think this a matchup that provides major issues for them, as Memphis is the kind of team that can matchup with them down low, as Jalen Duren is the kind of athlete with size that can create issues for Drew Timme or Chet Holmgren.
Guard play is going to end up being the biggest question for the Tigers, as the key for them to pulling off the upset is whether Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax can avoid turning the ball over. The other difference maker is whether they hit their shots or not. I think this Memphis paint play is good enough to compete with the paint play of the Bulldogs, and I actually like Memphis to get better guard play. Give me Memphis to pull off the huge upset in this one, as Gonzaga once again closes out without their elusive title.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Memphis (+450)
Sunday, March 20th, 2022
#3 Texas Tech vs #11 Notre Dame – 7:10pm ET
Texas Tech got a blowout win over Montana State to win their first round game. Notre Dame has won two games in three days to get here. Now they will face off for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday.
Marko Nadin
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are once again a dark-horse candidate in this year’s tournament. They are coming off a dominant win over Montana State by 97-62. Texas Tech shot 66% both from the field and from the three-point line and would probably beat anybody on such a performance. Bryson Williams and Terrance Shannon Jr. scored 20 each for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is a 7.5-point favorite against Notre Dame and that may be the best tip of the day.
Notre Dame survived a double-overtime thriller against Rutgers in the First Four game and went on to defeat Alabama in the first round by 78-64. Cormac Ryan scored 29 points on 7-of-9 shooting from deep. The Fighting Irish showed what the NCAA tournament is all about in the previous two games but their story will end when they face Texas Tech. Notre Dame has covered the spread in only 3 of the last 10 games on a neutral field.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Texas Tech -7.5 (-110)
Tony Battalio
The winner of this game between Notre Dame and Texas Tech will meet the winner of Duke and Michigan State. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won with ease against Montana State in their first round matchup. They have looked tough all season long and like a sweet sixteen type of team as well. However, before they can go punching their ticket to the 16 team party they have to get past a tough, scrappy, and experienced Notre Dame team that has won two games in three days. Texas Tech comes into this one with a record of 26-9.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words.#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/RrdvoYaQKj
— Notre Dame Men’s Basketball (@NDmbb) March 19, 2022
The previously mentioned Notre Dame Fighting Irish rode the hot hand of Cormac Ryan to get themselves a 14 point win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Now the Irish will be looking to make their first sweet sixteen appearance in 7 years. This is a team that seemingly got shafted in the brackets as they finished in second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the regular season. As for the result of this game I think this one is going to go down to the wire and I look for Notre Dame to get the upset win.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Notre Dame (+255)
Noah Dunlap
Notre Dame comes into this one on a great run through the NCAA tournament so far, as they used overtime to knock off Rutgers in the First Four, and then took down Alabama in the first round. Now they get a Texas Tech team that I actually think is one of the toughest outs in the entire field, as the Red Raider defense is tremendous.
Tech took care of business with real ease in the first round, demolishing Montana State by nearly 30. This comes after being one of the best teams in the Big-12 for much of the year, and despite the fact that this Fighting Irish team is shooting the ball much better, I still like the Red Raiders to get the win in this one, with relative ease, as the defense is almost assured to play well, and I think the offense does enough to get the win. Texas Tech rolls.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Texas Tech (-320)
#7 Michigan State vs #2 Duke – pm ET
These two schools will face off in an interesting second round matchup that will receive plenty of media hype due to Duke’s involvement. Duke got a big win over a scrappy Cal State Fullerton team In the first round to make it to Sunday night.
Marko Nadin
Mike Krzyzewski is leading Duke for the last time and this may be actually his last game. Duke is definitely the better team but after losing to UNC in the season finale, they are not as confident as they were. The Blue Devils are coming off a 78-61 win over Cal Fullerton which is not an opponent that can really challenge them. Paolo Banchero pleaded his case for the player of the year once again, recording a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Duke is ranked 9th in the country with 80 points per game but that part may not go so well against the Spartans.
Michigan State is coming off a dramatic 74-73 win over Davidson. Senior Joey Hauser was the key man for the Spartans scoring 27 points and 8 rebounds. The Spartans allow 68.3 points per game this season and shot over 38% from the three-point line which ranks them 12th in the nation. They are 6.5-point underdog coming into this game and they have covered the spread in the last 5 games on a neutral field.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: MSU +7 (-110)
Tony Battalio
It’s Tom Izzo vs Coach K once again, this time it is for a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Michigan State came out on top of a thriller against the Davidson Wildcats. Meanwhile, the Duke Blue Devils fended off a scrappy Cal State Fullerton team. Now these two iconic coaches will meet once again. This one has the potential to be an all time tournament classic in my opinion. As for the Spartans I won’t lie I had my doubts about them but they shocked me. Going up against the Duke Blue Devils is a whole different story
Playing for the Sweet 16 on Sunday
🆚 Michigan State
⏰ 5:15 ET
📺 CBS#MarchMadness #HereComesDuke pic.twitter.com/sDYRhM1NsT— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 19, 2022
As far as the Duke Blue Devils are concerned, as long as Palao Banchero, Trevor Keels, Mike Williams, and Wendell Moore remain healthy the Duke Blue Devils are a serious national championship contender. Duke won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championship but lost in the finals of the conference tournament to Virginia Tech who became a one and done team. As for the result of this I have the Duke Blue Devils getting the win.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Duke (-300)
Noah Dunlap
After struggling to end the year, Michigan State managed to win a really tight one over Davidson that ended up being a thriller. Despite the fact that I actually took the Wildcats in that one, the fact that it was a Tom Izzo-led team should mean that it isn’t all that surprising that Sparty got the win. But now they take on a Duke team that is playing well, and has a lot to play for, as it’s Coach K’s last year on the sidelines.
The Blue Devils won the ACC regular season title, and fell to a great Virginia Tech run in the conference tournament finals, which is the only reason they didn’t sweep the conference this year. They then won in decent fashion in the first round of the NCAA’s over a gritty Cal St. Fullerton team, but now they get a Michigan State team that is sure to give them a few more problems. The Spartans are going to play well, and keep this one close, but in the end, with Duke playing to keep Coach K’s career going, and with guys like Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore leading the way, I think the Blue Devils get the win, possibly by double-digits.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Duke (-300)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
