College Basketball Best Bets Today: BYU Headlines My Best Point Spread Bet for 3/27

On Thursday, March 27, day one of the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament will be played.

(Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

The slate includes four games, including the following:

• No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU
• No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland
• No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona
• No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas

Then, on Friday, the remaining four games of the round will be played with the Elite Eight following behind it.

Below, I’ll check in on three NCAA games for March 27 and offer up my best point spread bet for each.

Let’s dive in.

College Basketball Best Bets Today: BYU, Arkansas, Duke

College Basketball Best Bets Today:

• BYU +5.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook
• Arkansas +5.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook
• Duke -9.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

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Alabama vs. BYU Best Bets

Best Bet: BYU +5.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Kicking off my list of the best college basketball bets today is No. 6 BYU. They’ll take on No. 2 Alabama, which has one of the best offenses in all of college basketball.

The winner of this game will face the winner of Duke and Arizona.

Alabama is 4th in adjusted offensive efficiency with 126.7 points per 100 possessions.

Alabama's Achilles heel this season, though, has been its defense. They allow 81.0 points per game (346th).

Their opponents, BYU, are close in adjusted offensive efficiency, putting up 124.9 points per 100 possessions, which is firmly in the top 10.

Like Alabama, BYU isn’t fantastic defensively, allowing 71.4 points per game (141st), but of course, that’s better than Alabama’s 81.0.

As for KenPom’s Net Rating, Alabama is No. 6 while BYU is down at No. 24.

BYU is 71st in adjusted defensive rating, giving up 101.1 points per 100 possessions.

Both teams have excellent players. The Tide has Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., and more.

As for BYU, they’re led by Richie Saunders, who averages 16.3 points per game.

In all, Alabama has six players that average double-digit points per game.

That said, given Alabama’s defensive woes, it’s hard to lay this many points against another high-powered offense.

Not only that, but BYU shoots 37.3% from 3-point range (28th) and attempts 28.5 of them per game (18th).

I think Alabama will squeak out a win, but BYU will keep it extremely close. This could come down to the final couple of possessions, making BYU one of my favorite college basketball bets today.

Texas Tech vs Arkansas Best Bets

Best Bet: Arkansas +5.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Arkansas has been the talk of the tournament, upsetting No. 7 Kansas and No. 2 St. John’s.

As for Texas Tech, they’ve beaten No. 14 UNC Wilmington and No. 11 Drake.

This season, Arkansas is 16-18-1 against the spread, while Texas Tech is 18-17.

Arkansas is 65th in adjusted offensive efficiency with 114.2 points per 100 possessions. They’re extremely competent defensively, though, allowing just 95.1 points per 100 possessions (17th).

Their defense will have its work cut out for it: Texas Tech scores 125.4 points per 100 possessions (5th).

Defensively, though, Texas Tech isn’t as good as Arkansas, allowing 97.2 points per 100 possessions.

Texas Tech is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation, shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. They also out-rebound Arkansas 36.7 (79th) to 35.5 (134th) per game.

Texas Tech has plenty of star power with JT Toppin and Darrion Williams—they combined for 53 points in the Round of 32.

Arkansas is the inferior team here, but their defense, which holds teams to just 31.6% from 3-point range (59th), along with the coaching of John Calipari will allow them to keep it close enough and cover.

Duke vs Arizona Best Bets

Best Bet: Duke -9.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

No. 1 Duke took on No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s in the Round of 64, followed up by No. 9 Baylor in the Round of 32.

Duke is averaging 91.0 points per game during the tournament and hasn’t allowed more than 66 in any game.

Duke shot 64.4% from the floor against Baylor (29 of 45) and 54.5% from 3-point range (12 of 22).

Duke is KenPom’s No. 1 overall team, putting up 129.2 points per 100 possessions (1st) and allowing just 90.2 points per 100 possessions (4th).

Arizona averages 122.9 points per 100 possessions (13th) and allows 96.5 points per 100 possessions (28th).

Against the spread, Duke is 24-12, while Arizona is 19-17.

Heading into the tournament, questions were swirling regarding the status of Cooper Flagg, but there aren’t anymore. He had 14 in the Round of 64 in 22 minutes. Against Baylor, he had 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes.

Duke will encounter a familiar face in Arizona guard Caleb Love, who played for North Carolina from 2020 to 2023.

I can’t pass on Duke here. Yes, 9.5 is a lot of points, but this team has been unstoppable.

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