Today’s Round of 32 action starts with Michigan vs. St. Louis. Can the Billikens keep up with the heavily favored Wolverines? (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

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Tyler Everett

By Tyler Everett

Sports Betting Editor

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After a dominant showing in the first round by the top-seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament, the odds for the Round of 32 matchups today and tomorrow tell us that several more one-sided matchups are likely over the next two days.

Of the eight Round of 32 matchups tipping off on Saturday, five of the favorites -- Michigan, Duke, Houston, Illinois and Arkansas -- are laying at least 10 points.

The spreads are much tighter in Louisville-Michigan State, Texas-Gonzaga and Vanderbilt-Arkansas, though.

After a solid 12-of-19 showing on yesterday's best bets against the spread, let's dive -- briefly -- into what we like in each of today's games.

Notes:

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Saint Louis (9) vs. Michigan (1) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

St. Louis was dominant as anyone in the Round of 64, drubbing Georgia in a rare 8-seed vs. 9-seed battle that quickly went sideways. The Billikens are the biggest underdogs of today's slate, though, as they take on a Wolverines squad that has more blowout wins on its resume than anyone in the country.

This is unfortunately going to be a familiar refrain throughout this piece, no matter how much I want to avoid being repetitive: St. Louis vs. Michigan feels like a matter of when -- not if -- the Wolverines' tremendous size and athleticism advantage will wear down St. Louis.

Don't be surprised if this game is close for the first half (STL 1H +6.5 is among several tempting first-half plays available today), but I'm going to lay the points with Michigan.

Prediction: Michigan to advance

Best bet: Michigan -12.5 (-110) -- 1 unit

Louisville (6) vs. Michigan State (3) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

In Louisville's (mostly) impressive Round of 64 win over South Florida, the Cardinals presented the cases both for and against them making a run in this tournament (assuming we won't be seeing star G Mikel Brown Jr.).

Louisville led South Florida by as many as 23 points at one point, but nearly squandered that massive lead in an 83-79 victory. After shooting 13-for-25 from 3-point range on Thursday, I'm going to fade Louisville today against a Michigan State team with the size and athleticism to neutralize Louisville's high-octane, 3-point-heavy attack.

This is going to be an especially favorable matchup for Jeremy Fears Jr. and the Spartans if it turns into a track meet, and MSU is also well-suited to advance if this game is played at a slower pace.

Prediction: Michigan State to advance

Best bets: Michigan State -5.5 (-105), Over 150.5 (-110) -- 1 unit apiece

TCU (9) vs. Duke (1) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

The Horned Frogs won 9 of their last 11 in the regular season, including a close loss to Kansas in the Big 12 tournament, and they are coming off a tight win over Ohio State.

Duke is not the dominant force it was all year when it's without both Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster, but the good news for the Blue Devils is that they could welcome back Ngongba for this game, according to ESPN's David Hale.

Whether Ngongba plays tonight or not, I like Duke to win with some room to spare. This team is due for a much better offensive performance after it shot just 5-for-26 from 3 in a shockingly close win over 16-seed Siena on Thursday.

Prediction: Duke to advance

Best bet: Duke -11.5

Texas A&M (10) vs. Houston (2) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

Tonight's battle between two of the most physical teams in the country feels like the biggest rock fight of the Round of 32.

Texas A&M's press gave Saint Mary's fits, forcing 18 turnovers in the Round of 64. It will be interesting to see whether the Aggies are as aggressive as usual against Houston's excellent backcourt trio of Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan.

I don't expect A&M, which lost 11 games this year, to pull off the upset, but I do think it will keep this game close, especially if it is willing to dial back its aggression on D against a Houston squad that boasts the 6th-lowest offensive turnover rate in the nation (13%).

Prediction: Houston to advance

Best bets: Texas A&M +10.5 (-112); HOU TT o77.5 (-103) -- 0.5 units apiece

Texas (11) vs. Gonzaga (3) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

Texas closed as a slight underdog in its First Four matchup against NC State on Tuesday night, and it was not expected to take down AJ Dybantsa and BYU on Thursday, but here the Longhorns are.

Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis has been excellent in this tournament. His battle with Gonzaga star Graham Ike could decide this matchup. If Vokietaitis gets the better of Ike, or at least holds his own, Texas is going to have a great chance to win this game outright.

Foul trouble for the Longhorns' center is enough of a concern that I don't recommend taking Texas outright, but I like the underdogs on the spread against a Gonzaga offense that is much better inside the arc than from outside.

Prediction: Gonzaga to advance

Best bet: Texas +6.5 (-110) -- 1 unit

VCU (11) vs. Illinois (3) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

VCU has the athletes to keep this game interesting for at least the first half. Amid a slate full of underdogs whom I trust to keep things interesting for at least 20 minutes, VCU is the one I'm most interested in actually backing on the first-half spread.

Eventually, I have a feeling the size and balance of the Illini will be too much for the Rams, which makes the spread a stay-away. VCU is a solid bet on the first-half spread, though. The Rams are also tempting on the 1H moneyline at +260.

Prediction: Illinois to advance

Best bet: VCU 1H +6.5 (-120) -- 1 unit

Vanderbilt (5) vs. Nebraska (4) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

This is probably an obvious take, but Vandy-Nebraska is by far the hardest game today to predict.

Will we see the version of Vanderbilt that not only beat Florida, but whipped the reigning national champs in the SEC tourney?

Or will the Commodores struggle again after a tough opening-round win over McNeese? Nebraska's unique style (the Huskers take over half of their fiel goal attempts from 3, and they are top-10 in adjusted defensive efficiency) should cause Vandy problems early, if not from start to finish.

Given how tough this one is to predict, I'll stick with my bracket pick and take the Commodores to advance. As for the best bet against the spread, I'll roll the dice on Nebraska at close to even-money to have the lead at halftime.

Prediction: Vanderbilt to advance

Best bet: Nebraska 1H ML (-105) -- 0.5 units

High Point (12) vs. Arkansas (4) Betting Odds, Pick, Best Bets

High Point delivered the biggest upset of the first round with a memorable comeback win over Wisconsin. The Panthers should not be slept on after taking down one of the best backcourts in the country, but I don't love them in their matchup against Arkansas.

For one thing, High Point is due to cool off from deep after draining 15-of-40 3-point attempts against the Badgers. I also don't love anyone's chances of beating Darius Acuff Jr. and Co. in a track meet.

TBarring another lights-out night from 3, it's going to be almost impossible for High Point to outgun Arkansas in a high-possession contest.

Call me a cynic for betting against the most compelling Cinderella remaining in this year's field, especially against a favorite laying this many points, but fading High Point feels like the right move.

Prediction: Arkansas to advance

Best bet: Arkansas -11.5 (-115) -- 1 unit

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