Will Sweet 16 deliver any upsets?

Mar. 27—Illinois’ second-round NCAA tournament exit allows college basketball writer Scott Richey to hunker down Thursday night for a quartet of Sweet 16 games. Before they tip off, he’s got the game-by-game breakdown:

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU, 6:09 p.m., CBS

* Why to watch:

* These two teams are out to prove that offense, in fact, can win championships. The Crimson Tide are the No. 1 scoring offense in the country — and the only team of the 364 in Division I averaging at least 90 points — while the Cougars are ranked 25th.

* Who to watch: Mark Sears

* might decide this game. The Alabama guard was a consensus First Team All-American this season, but he’s had games where he’s disappeared and is averaging just 13 points on 33/12/87 shooting in his last five.

* Who wins: Egor Demin’s playmaking and the combined shooting of Richie Saunders and Trevin Knell could be enough for the Cougars to pull the upset. The latter two have combined for 151 made threes so far this season.

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland, 6:39 p.m., TBS/truTV

* Why to watch: Maryland finally delivered a true March Madness moment with its buzzer-beating win against Colorado State. Even if Derik Queen’s game winner, by definition , was a travel before the rule book catches up with the NBA.

* Who to watch: How Florida is able to defend Queen and Julian Reese is crucial, but the Gators can throw a flurry of guards at the Terrapins. Including one with Final Four experience in Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin

* , who is averaging a career high 14.6 points in year five.

* Who wins:

* Depth is one area Florida has an advantage against Maryland’s “Crab Five.” The Gators have the bodies to throw at Queen and Reese and plenty of productive guards to avoid an upset.

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona, 8:39 p.m., CBS

* Why to watch: This is the only Sweet 16 matchup that’s a nonconference rematch. Duke easily handled its business in early November with a 69-55 victory in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona led for the first 3 minutes of the game but then never again in one of the Blue Devils’ few notable wins outside ACC play.

* Who to watch: There are only so many opportunities remaining to watch Cooper Flagg

* in college basketball. Every game could, in fact, be the last for the future No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He’s worth watching given he literally does everything of note on the court as a true two-way threat.

* Who wins: Duke’s three lottery picks and the veteran players around them have been a difference maker all season. Odds are that won’t change now as the Blue Devils move on to the Elite 8.

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas, 9:09 p.m., TBS/truTV

* Why to watch: Arkansas as the last double-digit seed remaining in the tournament creates a conundrum. By seeding alone, the Razorbacks could be a “scrappy underdog,” but that doesn’t take into account the estimated $5 million-plus spent giving John Calipari his first team in Fayetteville, Ark.

* Who to watch: Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland has made the most of the transfer portal, with six of his top-seven players all making at least their second stop in Lubbock, Texas. That includes All-American forward JT Toppin, who’s even better for the Red Raiders than he was for New Mexico.

* Who wins: While Arkansas managed to go from 1-6 in the SEC to the Sweet 16, there were few games the Razorbacks held a decisive upper hand. Their luck runs out against Texas Tech.

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Will Sweet 16 deliver any upsets?

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