2015 Sweet 16 Predictions: South Region Odds and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Betting

2015 Sweet 16 Predictions: South Region Odds and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Betting: The first weekend of the 2015 NCAA tournament is complete, and the South Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket is shaping up be an exciting fight for a spot in the Final Four. After all, top-seeded Duke and second-seeded Gonzaga are both still alive, and both teams are blessed with some of the most potent offenses in the country. Fifth-seeded Utah will also join the mix as well as the Cinderella of the group, the 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins. With the Sweet 16 set to begin, here is a closer look at the matchups in the South Region.

2015 Sweet 16 South Region Matchup Previews

No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 2 Gonzaga: There will be no shortage of offensive firepower in this matchup, and while the Bulldogs own the 10th-best scoring attack in the country, the suddenly surging Bruins have scored at least 85 points in four of their last seven games. Gonzaga is led by point guard Kevin Pangos and versatile forward Kyle Wiltjer, but they also have plenty of size up front. UCLA counters with explosive guard Bryce Alford, power forward Tony Parker and a likely NBA lottery pick in Kevon Looney.

On one hand, the Bruins are living proof that a team can evolve over the course of the year, and after being touted as one of the most undeserving selections to the NCAA tournament, they are now sitting in the Sweet 16. However, the Bulldogs have been one of the most complete teams all season, and they went on the road and comfortably beat UCLA by 13 points earlier in the year. Gonzaga also beat SMU by 16 points earlier this season, and the Bruins just beat the same Mustangs team by a single point on a controversial goaltending call in the second round of the NCAA tournament. As far as they have come, the Bruins just aren’t as cohesive as the Bulldogs, and they won’t be able to keep pace with Gonzaga. Check out the latest 2015 NCAA Tournament Odds on the Gonzaga vs UCLA game from Bovada Sportsbook.

2015 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Gonzaga

No. 5 Utah vs. No. 1 Duke: The Blue Devils have certainly looked the part of a No. 1 seed so far, and their star power has been on full display. Freshman stud Jahlil Okafor has been unstoppable in the post, and the backcourt duo of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook can do plenty of damage, as well. Meanwhile, Justise Winslow is a two-way weapon that brings elite length and athleticism. Of course, the Utes aren’t without some talent of their own. Delon Wright is one of the most versatile guards in the country, and Jakob Poeltl is a solid secondary option.

Defense has been an issue at times for the Blue Devils, but the Utes have struggled to score against teams with elite athleticism, scoring 60 points or less in a pair of losses to Arizona and a loss to Kansas. Utah also lost 53-49 to the same San Diego State team that Duke just dismantled by 19 points. As for this matchup, the Utes don’t have an interior defender that can stop Okafor alone, and if they double team him, the rest of the team is going to have open looks. Meanwhile, Winslow will at least be able to slow down Wright on the perimeter. At the end of the day, this is just a mismatch in favor of the Blue Devils.

2015 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Duke

2015 Sweet 16 South Region Favorite to Make the Final Four

Duke: No team remaining in South Region is dominant on the defensive end, and that includes the Blue Devils. However, Duke does have two players that no other team in the region can really match up with in Okafor and Winslow. Okafor’s offensive arsenal in the post forces teams to choose between letting him score at will and letting the rest of Blue Devils have open shots. Meanwhile, Winslow is a special athlete, and when he is rolling offensively, Duke is next to unstoppable. The overall talent of the Blue Devils will carry them to Indianapolis. Get expert NCAA Tournament picks on all of the games scheduled in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 this week from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers.