Clemson vs. Arizona 2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: Sweet 16 (Thursday)
Four teams will compete in the West Regional on Thursday in hopes of winning a spot in the Final Four tournament in Phoenix. The teams are North Carolina, Arizona, Alabama, and Clemson, and they all demonstrated impressive performances last weekend to make it to Los Angeles. However, only two of these teams will advance to the Elite Eight on Saturday and have a chance at making it to the Final Four. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming matchups.
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2024 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
#6 Clemson Tigers vs. #2 Arizona Wildcats
Clemson didn't get the memo apparently. Their victory over the 3-seed Baylor Bears on Sunday prevented the West region from going full chalk in the Sweet 16. Although they were underdogs, Clemson outplayed Baylor and has proven they belong with the other three teams in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Arizona breezed through their first two opponents en route to Los Angeles. The Wildcats will have the crowd advantage, but will that be enough?
Although they hit some speed bumps in the ACC, Clemson had some really impressive wins during the non-conference slate. The Tigers took care of Alabama, South Carolina, and TCU with ease. The defense fell apart a bit in January as they dropped five of seven on the way to what would be an 11-9 ACC record. They lost by just one point at Duke and won at North Carolina, but inexplicably they dropped games like the Boston College matchup in the ACC tournament. They're three-point reliant and when they aren't hitting they're vulnerable. Their three-point luck has been key so far in this tournament.
Arizona has had a really strong defense this season. They've kept teams away from the free throw line and forced opponents to 48.2% eFG%. On the offensive side, they've been an exceptional three-point shooting team as well. The 37.3% clip they produce is top 20 in the country. This Wildcat team is going to force Clemson to outshoot them and I don't think the Tigers are capable. Clemson needed an atrocious shooting game from both New Mexico and Baylor to get here. They won't get that from Arizona and it will be what eventually does them in.
Pick: Arizona -7.5 (-108)
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