March Madness Is Getting Real: Sweet 16 Weekend Breakdown
Sports betting on March Madness is available through Fanatics Sportsbook at MyWinners and Winners venues in Connecticut.
We're down to 16 teams in both the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, and this weekend is where March Madness stops being a conversation and starts becoming a story you'll be telling for years. Sweet 16 action runs Thursday through Sunday, the Elite Eight follows immediately after, and Connecticut fans have a very specific reason to be locked in — both UConn programs are still dancing.
How the Bracket Got Here
The first weekend was messier than it looked on paper. On the men's side, defending champion Florida was eliminated in the second round by No. 9 Iowa — the result that finished off the last remaining perfect brackets in the country. Kansas fell at the buzzer to St. John's. Gonzaga and BYU were both sent home by No. 11 Texas, who is somehow still alive as the tournament's lowest remaining seed.
On the women's side, Iowa went out in a double-overtime thriller against Virginia, and Notre Dame knocked off Ohio State to make it through as a six seed. Despite the upsets, the headline is that all four top seeds in both tournaments are still standing — including both UConn programs.
Men's Tournament: The Sweet 16 Schedule
The men's Sweet 16 runs Thursday March 26 and Friday March 27, with the Elite Eight on Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29.
Thursday, March 26
No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue — 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska — 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona — 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston — 10:05 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV
Friday, March 27
No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 1 Duke — 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan — 7:35 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn — 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State — 10:10 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV
The UConn Men's Game: What You Need to Know
UConn's Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan State on Friday night is the most compelling game of the entire second weekend. The Huskies enter as slim favorites at -130 on the moneyline with a spread of just 1.5 points — analytics sites have the two teams essentially deadlocked, and this one could genuinely go either way.
Senior Alex Karaban has been UConn's tournament engine, posting a career-high 27 points in the second round win over UCLA and bringing two-time national championship experience to a roster that knows how to perform under pressure. Head coach Dan Hurley has this group playing with the composure and tactical discipline that has defined his title teams.
Michigan State are no pushover. Tom Izzo's side dispatched North Dakota State and Louisville with relative comfort, led by Jeremy Fears Jr. — 27 assists across two games — and Coen Carr, who put up 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Cardinals. The Spartans rank ahead of UConn in overall analytics ratings and are the nation's best defensive rebounding team.
One concern for Connecticut fans: guards Silas Demary Jr. and Jaylin Stewart are both carrying injuries into the game. Demary returned against UCLA but looked limited — if he can't play freely, UConn's ability to create off the dribble becomes a real question going up against one of the toughest defensive units in the country.
The Bet
The moneyline on UConn at -130 reflects the coin-flip nature of this game accurately. If you're backing the Huskies, the spread at -1.5 is the smarter play — you get UConn to win outright without paying heavy juice. Given the injury concerns, a Michigan State moneyline bet at +110 carries genuine value. The total sits at 136.5; both teams rank in the top 20 defensively, and with UConn's guards potentially limited, lean Under.
If UConn win, they advance to face either Duke or St. John's in the Elite Eight on Sunday — and another step toward a third consecutive national title.
Women's Tournament: The Sweet 16 Schedule
The women's Sweet 16 runs Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28, with the Elite Eight on Sunday March 29 and Monday March 30.
Friday, March 27
No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 6 Notre Dame — 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN No. 1 UConn vs. No. 4 North Carolina — 5:00 p.m. ET, ESPN No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 Minnesota — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 Duke — 10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Saturday, March 28
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Louisville — 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Kentucky — 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Oklahoma — 5:00 p.m. ET, ESPN No. 3 TCU vs. No. 10 Virginia — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The UConn Women's Game: What You Need to Know
UConn's Sweet 16 matchup against North Carolina on Friday afternoon is the standout game of the women's second weekend. The Huskies enter as overwhelming favorites at -100000 on the moneyline with a spread of 27.5 points — the market is not pretending this is a contest, but that spread creates its own betting conversation.
Sarah Strong has been the tournament's standout performer, averaging 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds across the season and carrying that form into March, while Azzi Fudd provides the perimeter shooting and composure that defines UConn at their best. Head coach Geno Auriemma has this group playing with the collective intelligence that has produced more national titles than any program in women's basketball history.
North Carolina are no formality on paper. The Tar Heels reached the Sweet 16 as a four seed and have shown they can compete with strong opposition — their second round win over Maryland was built on physicality and transition offense. Alyssa Ustby has been their engine all season: relentless, athletic, and capable of making things uncomfortable in the paint. Whether that translates against a UConn defense operating at a different level is the question.
One number tells the story: UConn have not lost a game all season, going 34-0, and beat Syracuse by 53 points in the second round. The Huskies have been covering spreads north of 30 points routinely — the 27.5 line may actually be beatable if Strong and Fudd are both firing.
The Bet
The moneyline is unplayable at those odds. This game is about the spread. UConn -27.5 is a live bet given how dominant they've been — they covered -35.5 against Syracuse last round. If you want to play North Carolina, the +27.5 only makes sense if you believe the Tar Heels can keep this within three possessions for 40 minutes, which is a big ask. The total sits at 131.5; UConn's pace and scoring volume points toward Over.
If UConn win, they advance to the Elite Eight on Monday to face either UCLA or Minnesota — a clear path to the Final Four in Phoenix and a shot at back-to-back national titles.
What It Means for Your Bracket
If you picked UConn men to make a deep run, Friday night is your gut check. A loss here ends the run entirely. If you have them going to the Final Four or beyond, you need Karaban and company to hold off one of the country's best defensive teams in a game that could realistically go either way.
If you picked UConn women to win it all — and a lot of people did — you're still in great shape. North Carolina are a capable opponent, but the Huskies have the talent and the system to get through the Fort Worth regional and into the Final Four.
For bracket players who backed Duke, Michigan, Arizona, or Houston, this weekend is about staying clean. All four enter as clear favorites and a loss now would be a significant upset.
The chaos candidates this weekend? Iowa are a No. 9 seed who just beat the defending champion and face a Nebraska team that many had going deep. Texas, as an 11 seed, have already beaten BYU and Gonzaga — Purdue at 7:10 Thursday is the next target. If you have either of those teams in your bracket, you're already punching above expected weight.
Betting This Weekend: What Connecticut Bettors Need to Know
For most games this weekend, Fanatics Sportsbook at MyWinners and Winners venues has the full range of markets available — spread, moneyline, totals, and player props across all Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups.
The exception is UConn. Under Connecticut state law, a specific betting window opens on Selection Sunday that allows you to back UConn men or women on tournament outright futures through Fanatics Sportsbook at a MyWinners or Winners venue. That window closed before the First Four tipped off, and it does not reopen during the tournament.
That means if you placed a futures bet on either UConn program before the tournament began, your ticket is live and this weekend's results will go a long way toward determining whether it pays out. But there are no further UConn markets available — no game lines on the Michigan State matchup Friday night, no props on Karaban, no spread on the women's game against North Carolina.
For everything else on the board, head to your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue and get your bets in before tip-off. Thursday's games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. Find your nearest MyWinners venue here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bet on UConn this weekend in Connecticut?
The Connecticut betting window for UConn futures opened on Selection Sunday and closed before the First Four began. That window is now shut, so no UConn game lines, spreads, or props are available for this weekend's Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games. If you placed a futures bet on UConn to win the championship before the tournament started, that ticket remains active.
What can Connecticut bettors bet on this weekend?
All Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games not involving UConn are available through Fanatics Sportsbook at MyWinners and Winners venues across Connecticut. That includes spread, moneyline, totals, and player props on all other matchups in both the men's and women's tournaments.
Where can I place bets in Connecticut this weekend?
Sports betting is available through Fanatics Sportsbook at MyWinners and Winners venues across the state, including Bobby V's in Stamford and Windsor Locks, East Haven, and other locations. Sports betting is not available on MyWinners.com.
When does UConn men's basketball play in the Sweet 16?
The UConn men face Michigan State on Friday, March 27 at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
When does UConn women's basketball play in the Sweet 16?
The UConn women take on North Carolina on Friday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, as part of the Fort Worth regional.
