NCAA Tournament Pick: West Region – Oklahoma vs. UConn – Friday, March 21, 2025

The ninth-seed Oklahoma Sooners (20-13) will have a tough matchup against the eighth-seed UConn Huskies (23-10) in the first round of the West Region on Friday, March 21 at 9:25 PM ET at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Huskies are favored with a point spread at -5.5 (-110) at MyBookie.

Oklahoma Sooners Betting Preview

The Sooners fell short in the SEC Tournament by losing in the second round to the Kentucky Wildcats, thus ending their three-game win streak. They have gone 3-2 over their latest five-game stretch, so still solid momentum.

Jeremiah Fears leads the offense with 17.0 points a game and shoots 43.6 percent from the field. On top of that, he moves the ball around with 4.1 assists and is deadly from the foul line at 84.5 percent. He will need a big game here.

Oklahoma is 60th in the nation for the 78.8 points a game they average. Their defense needs work, as they allow 74.8 points a game and rank 268th for this output. This spread is too close together, especially in the conference they play in.

The Sooners are 40th overall with their strength of schedule and point margins combined. Their efficiency on the offensive end for the last 100 possessions ranks 67th, while the defense at the same rate ranks 244th.

UConn Huskies Betting Preview

The Huskies have had a rocky season after being in the top five to start. Fast forward now, they are coming off a 71-62 loss in the Big East Tournament Semifinal to the Creighton Bluejays, which snapped their five game winning streak.

Solo Ball pushes the offense along with his 14.6 points each matchup, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and a strong 84.0 percent from the foul line. Tarris Reed Jr. puts up 9.7 points and leads with 7.3 rebounds, showing versatility for this team.

UConn puts up 77.4 points each matchup, ranking 84th. Their defense allows 68.0 points a game, ranking 62nd. This is a good spread, which has been mostly consistent this season.

The Huskies are 30th overall for their strength of schedule and point differential, showing they are a legit contender compared to a handful of teams in the tournament. Their efficiency on offense for the last 100 possessions ranks 14th, while their defense ranks 156th at the same rate.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie showcases appealing Oklahoma Sooners vs. UConn Huskies betting odds, which show the Huskies favored by 5.5 points. In addition, the Huskies have a 70.0 percent chance of winning according to market insights.

Oklahoma is solid, but their efficiency on both ends of the floor might not be good enough. Overall, the Huskies offer an appealing opportunity to cover the spread.

Final Pick: UConn Huskies -5.5 (-110)