(USA TODAY Sports)`

The NCAA Tournament is down to the Sweet 16 after the top-3 seeds in each region advanced for the first time since the field expanded to 68 teams in 2011. With so many strong teams still remaining, there isn’t one double-digit favorite on the betting line for Thursday and Friday’s games. Who will advance to the Elite 8 and Final Four?

Our Thomas Casale and Matt Schmitto give their Sweet 16 picks in the East Region, where two of college basketball’s best coaches could meet in the Elite 8.

Other Regions: South West Midwest

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Michigan State (-6) vs. LSU, 149

Casale: I’m going to take the points with LSU in this matchup. Two strong teams with few weaknesses, I expect the game to go down to the wire. I took Maryland +450 in-game versus LSU Saturday. When the game was tied I leaned over to my friend and said, “We’re in trouble. LSU loves playing these close games and they almost always win them.” It happened again, as the Tigers won with a last second shot. I bet LSU 75/1 to win the the National Championship. I don’t know if they’ll get by the Spartans but I think it’s close the entire way. LSU is a hard team to blow out. The Tigers have lost just one game all season by more than six points and that came back on Nov. 25 to Oklahoma State (90-77).

I don’t love the total. I lean Under but these are two of the top-13 teams in terms of offensive efficiency. I’ll call for a 3-point Michigan State win. Spartans advance, LSU covers.

Schmitto: Even with head coach Will Wade suspended, LSU has found themselves in the Sweet 16. We really can’t give interim coach, Tony Benford, enough credit. He’s kept LSU players focused even though it’s uncertain that these games will even count when all is said and done. Like several other teams in the Sweet 16, LSU is led by an athletic point guard who wreaks havoc on both sides of the court. Tremont Waters averages 15 points, 6 assists and 3 steals for the Tigers. Waters is the difference here. I’d love to see an Izzo-Kryzewski Elite 8, but I think LSU not only covers the 6-point spread, they win outright at +220 on the money line and the game Over.

Nice 75/1 futures bet. Good thing your ticket isn’t invalidated if their season is.

Casale: I like you taking a shot with the money line. Like I said, I think the game will be close and LSU has been undervalued all year. That’s the case here as well.

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Duke (-7) vs. Virginia Tech, 144

Casale: Duke is just 1-4 ATS in its last five games. I think there is actually some value though with the Blue Devils for one of the few times all season. Duke was lucky to get by UCF but I believe great teams respond in the tournament after a close call like that.

Virginia Tech beat Duke 77-72 last month but each team was without its best player. Zion Williamson didn’t play for Duke and Justin Robinson was out for Virginia Tech, so it’s hard to take much from that matchup. I had Duke -8, so I’ll make a small play on the Blue Devils. Expect Duke to pull away in the final 10 minutes to win by 12-15 points.

I like the Over 144 here, even though Duke has been a big Under team this year. The two teams combined for 149 points in the first meeting and like I mentioned, a lot of firepower wasn’t on the court that night. Look for this game to eclipse 150 points.

Schmitto: UCF might have given us the blueprint to beat Duke, but the problem is, no one else has a 7 foot 6 center named Tacko. Virginia Tech did beat Duke earlier this year, albeit in Virginia and with Zion on the sideline. But like you pointed out, Virginia Tech’s star point guard was also injured during that game. Playing close to home in Washington, D.C. should help the Hokies a little bit.

While I see Virginia Tech’s head coach Buzzy Williams exploiting Duke’s weaknesses, i.e., shooting, enough to cover the spread, I don’t see them pulling off the upset. I hopped on this number early at 7.5 and it’s already dropped to 7. If Virginia Tech keeps it close, it will be because of Virginia Tech’s slow pace (332nd in adjusted tempo) and Williams’ defensive game plan. I like the Under a lot.

Which team do you like to reach the Final Four?

Casale: I’m still going with Duke. One big reason is if it’s Michigan State, Coach K has had a lot of success against Tom Izzo over the years. The other reason is one of those two teams has Zion Williamson. I still believe in close games, he’ll be the deciding factor. LSU and Michigan State are both great teams but Duke is a great team with the best coach and best player.

Schmitto: Though I’m betting on a close Virginia Tech-Duke game, I think we missed our chance on an upset before the Final Four, unfortunately. You said it perfectly: best coach, best player. See you in Minneapolis, Zion.