The second week of play in the 2024 NCAA Tournament comes down to four games in the Elite Eight in Glendale, Arizona to determine which teams advance to the Final Four. The 68-team field at the start of the Big Dance has been whittled down to eight regional finalists, which will be cut in half again by the end of the week.
Starting at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, the no. 1 seed UConn in its tough March Madness test at No. Faces No. 3 seed Illinois by a significant margin. The defending champion Huskies have run through their opponents to this point, but the Illini should be a tough challenge as UConn seeks to become the first team since Florida in 2006-07 to repeat in the NCAA Tournament.
The second game of the night, the College Football Playoff's No. No. 4 Alabama, the No. The matchup features No. 6 seed Clemson. Both teams are playing in their second Elite Eights, with the winner advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Not only can you continue to follow your bracket, but you can enhance your viewing experience throughout the Saturday night games. How? Our CBS Sports experts have gathered to bring you more insight into the Elite Eight live and against the spread. our Expert brackets Can provide some assistance.
The NCAA Tournament is about survival and advancement. March Madness As much content as possible, which teams cover their spreads will also be very important. The CBS Sports team covers sports extensively all season long, and they're not shy about their picks for these games.
Be sure to stay tuned to CBS Sports throughout the month as coverage of the NCAA Tournament continues through the Final Four. Let's take a look at our expert picks as the Elite Eight kicks off on Saturday.
Odds by SportsLine Consensus | East at all times
2024 NCAA Tournament: Elite Eight Selections
(1) UConn vs. (3) Illinois
Saturday, 6:09 pm | TBS, March Madness Live: UConn is in machine mode. The Huskies have won nine straight NCAA Tournament games by double digits and are thriving on both ends of the floor. Illinois will pose a significant challenge with its dynamic duo of hitting wings in Marcus Damask and Terrence Shannon Jr., but the Huskies will be able to counter multiple sources against an Illinois defense that has been sloppy all season. The Illini will need a 3-point shooting effort to make it happen. UConn continues to advance and secure another convincing win to secure its spot in the Final Four. The dynamic nature of the Huskies' offense will be too much for Illinois to handle over 40 minutes. Choice: UConn -8.5 — David Cobb
(4) Alabama vs. (6) Clemson
Saturday, 8:49 pm | TBS, March Madness Live: Clemson defeated Alabama 85-77 in November as the Crimson Tide struggled to a 6-5 start marked by consecutive losses against quality teams. Now, they're fighting in a neutral court in favor of Alabama. While the Crimson Tide has certainly improved since the first meeting, they are up against a Clemson team that is playing its best basketball of the season. In beating Arizona in the Sweet 16, the Tigers did it on both ends of the floor and showed their ability to slow down a high-powered offense. The Crimson Tide likes to run and score a ton, but the Tigers can set the pace with their physicality and toughness and win this game outright. Pick: Clemson +3 — David Cobb
Who will win every college basketball game and which favorites should be upset? Visit SportsLine now for picks and predictions for every college basketball gameAll from a model that simulates each game 10,000 times.
