March Madness: Oklahoma vs. UConn odds, picks and predictions
The No. 9 seed Oklahoma Sooners (20-13) and the No. 8 seed UConn Huskies (23-10) meet Friday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., for an NCAA Tournament West Region first-round game. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 9:25 p.m. ET (TNT). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Oklahoma vs. UConn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Sooners draw the 2-time defending national champions looking to do what no one has been able to do recently — send UConn home early.
Oklahoma lost 85-84 to the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC Tournament, but it covered as a 6.5-point underdog. That's been a theme for the Sooners lately, as they've rattled off 7 consecutive covers despite going just 3-3 straight up (SU) in the past 6 games. The Sooners are also just 4-8 SU in the past 12 games since Feb. 4, and 7-13 SU in 20 outings since ringing in the new year.
Oklahoma G Jeremiah Fears and F Jalon Moore were a nice two-headed monster in the regular season. Fears had 17.0 points per game (PPG) with 4.1 rebounds per game (RPG) and 4.1 steals per game, while Moore posted 16.0 PPG and 5.8 RPG, hitting 39.1% from behind the 3-point line.
UConn went 6-0 SU/ATS in the NCAA Tournament last season enroute to a second straight title. The Under was 6-0 in those games. In 2023, the Huskies were also 6-0 SU/ATS, while the Over was 4-2. UConn hasn't lost in the NCAA Tournament since March 17, 2023, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, when it was ousted by the 12-seed New Mexico State Aggies 70-63.
As far as the total, the Over is 5-1-1 in the past 7 games for Oklahoma. For UConn, though, the Under has cashed in 5 in a row.
UConn freshman Liam McNeeley was a great addition this season, going for 14.5 PPG and 6.1 RPG, just behind G Solo Ball for the team lead with 14.6 PPG. F Alex Karaban was also right there with 14.4 PPG, while posting 5.2 RPG, 2.9 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
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Oklahoma vs. UConn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:06 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Oklahoma +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | UConn -235 (bet $235 to win $100)
: Oklahoma +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | UConn -235 (bet $235 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Oklahoma +5.5 (-110) | UConn -5.5 (-110)
: Oklahoma +5.5 (-110) | UConn -5.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Oklahoma vs. UConn picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 76, Oklahoma 69
UConn (-235) is a little on the pricey side, and you cannot bet that straight up. However, if you were to toss the 2-time defending national champs into a multi-leg parlay, that is certainly OK, especially with a boost.
PASS.
UCONN -5.5 (-110) is worth a look laying nearly 3 buckets.
While Oklahoma +5.5 (-110) have been pesky, this isn't likely a team to dethrone a dynasty. The Sooners have a dismal 7-13 SU record since the ball dropped to ring in 2025. Oklahoma is consistently ticking off covers, but UConn is also 12-0 SU/ATS in the past 12 NCAA Tournament games. Are you betting against that type of dominance?
UNDER 147.5 (-105) is the lean, but don't get too carried away.
The Under has connected in 5 straight games for UConn, and the total went low in all 6 NCAA Tournament games for the Huskies enroute to their second straight title last season.
For Oklahoma, the Over is 4-1 in the past 5 games, but we're banking on UConn's suffocating defense to shut things down.
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