Best Bets of the Weekend for All Sports | March 30-31

We’re all about the Elite Eight in March Madness with U.Conn looking to repeat as national champions and two teams, Alabama and Clemson, looking for their first ever spot in the Final Four. Plus, Caitlin Clark is at it again as the Hawkeyes take on Colorado in the women’s Sweet 16. Just how many points will she get?

U.Conn -8.5 (-110) at DraftKings

March Madness still looks like the U.Conn Invitational.

The Huskies have been dominant through the whole tournament and have won 10 straight games overall. In Thursday’s Sweet 16, they stomped San Diego State by 30 points. That’s the biggest margin of victory for a team in the Sweet 16 since 2017. And they did it with 7-footer Donovan Clingan scoring only eight points because of foul trouble.

U.Conn also has a distinct homecourt advantage with this game in Boston, less than 100 miles from campus in Storrs. The Huskies are 25-12 against the spread this season.

Illinois is 22-13-2 against the spread, and this is their first time in the Elite Eight since 2005. Even though he’s fighting a big off-the-court issue, Terrence Shannon Jr. has been outstanding in the tournament.

But it won’t be enough. U.Conn is just dusting people, playing with incredible intensity and confidence.

Clemson +3.5 (-110) at DraftKings

I think in the next 24 hours this line is going to start to move in Clemson’s favor.

Watching the Tigers against Arizona, you could just see their confidence growing and they went on to pull the upset over the team favored to win the region. Clemson is 20-14-1 against the spread. Now they are coming off their best win of the year playing a team they already beat back in November.

That’s right, these two met in the ACC/SEC Challenge and PJ Hall had 21 points and Clemson held Alabama to 34 percent shooting in an 85-77 win.

Alabama is 19-15-1 against the spread and in the Elite Eight for second time ever. They’ve never been to the Final Four (neither has Clemson). The Tide are led by Ohio transfer Mark Sears.

It’s exciting to see someone new in the Final Four. I’m going with the Tigers.

Under 32.5 (-118) at FanDuel

How can you not enjoy watching Caitlin Clark play? The Iowa senior is the talk of the basketball universe and has elevated the women’s tournament to must-see TV.

Clark and the Hawkeyes take on Colorado Saturday in the Sweet 16. Everyone knows about Clark, what about the Buffs? Colorado was in position for a 1 seed until hitting a rough patch in late February losing four in a row in the Pac-12. They beat LSU in the season opener. They have three starters in double figures led by Aaronette Vonleh. They were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation.

Clark has scored 32 and 27 points in the first two rounds of the tournament. She’s averaged 31.8 this season and gone over 32 points 15 times. But a bet like this…take a deep breath and don’t get caught up in the Clark-mania. 32 is a lot of points. The numbers say it will be a good game, and it’ll be tough for Clark to go over 32.