2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions & Expert Picks: Sweet 16 National Title Sleepers

2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions & Expert Picks: Sweet 16 National Title Sleepers: The first weekend of the 2016 NCAA Tournament is in the picks, and in typical March Madness fashion, several pre-tournament favorites didn’t make it out. Michigan State and Kentucky were among the title frontrunners that were upset, and top four seeds like Xavier, West Virginia, Utah and California also got bounced. Action resumes Thursday with Sweet 16 action, and if you want to make any substantial cash betting on a longshot to win it all, this is your last chance before the odds become a lot less favorable. Here are four teams getting longer odds that could be worth taking a chance on.

2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions & Expert Picks: Sweet 16 National Title Sleepers

Duke Blue Devils (18/1): No, the Blue Devils aren’t perfect by any means, and their refusal to tighten up on the defensive end could burn them at any time. However, their offense is firing on all cylinders, and for a team with as much firepower as the Blue Devils, they can push any opponent to the brink, even if it is a high-scoring shootout. Perhaps the biggest reasons to jump on the Duke bandwagon is the play of Brandon Ingram. The lanky wing figures to be either the first or second player taken in this year’s NBA draft, and after being willing to settle for jumpers for most of the season, Ingram has been much more aggressive in the NCAA Tournament. He is realizing that he can get to the rim and the foul line, and he has been doing so when Duke needs a big basket. A player of his caliber can be the ultimate difference maker.

Iowa State Cyclones (28/1): The Cyclones can have their issues on the defensive end, but few teams can match their offensive depth and efficiency. Iowa State is shooting better than 50.0 percent from the field and has six players averaging in double figures. The Cyclones share the ball as well as any team in the country, and they also have a go-to weapon in versatile forward Georges Niang. Iowa State has been firing on all cylinders on offense, and they are more than capable of pushing a defensive-oriented Virginia team in the Sweet 16, and after that, they would have a double-digit seed waiting for them. Regardless of the opponent, the Cyclones arsenal of offensive firepower gives them a puncher’s chance, and given they have some of the longest odds of the remaining teams, they are worth a look if you want to bet a longshot.

Maryland Terrapins (28/1): Inconsistency has been the Terrapins’ Achilles’ heel all year, and through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, that really hasn’t changed. On the flip side, the high level of talent on this team hasn’t changed either, and at times, you can see how high of a ceiling Maryland has. Five players are averaging in double figures, including dynamic point guard Melo Trimble, big man Diamond Stone, who is a potential lottery pick, and plenty of perimeter weapons. A matchup with Kansas in the Sweet 16 is far from ideal, but Maryland was a top five team to start the year, and they have the raw talent to compete with any opponent. If you are going to roll the dice on an underdog, a team with the talent of Maryland isn’t a bad gamble.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (40/1): Notre Dame is tied for Wisconsin for the longest odds to win the title of any team that reached the Sweet 16. Those two teams happen to play each other, so you could actually take a shot on both teams to guarantee yourself a spot in the Elite Eight. I like the Fighting Irish because they have the overall speed and athleticism that will be needed to actually make a title run and not just win one more game. Notre Dame can flat out score, with five players averaging more than 11.0 points per game and four legitimate threats from beyond the arc. This team also has a playmaker on the inside in double-double machine Zach Auguste and on the outside in point guard Demetrius Jackson. As a potential lottery pick, Jackson is the real X-factor. If he plays at a high level, the Fighting Irish could go on a surprise title run.