Eye of the Tiger: Public likes No. 15 Princeton in Sweet 16

Just one year after Saint Peter’s became the first team to make the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed, Princeton is attempting to do the same.

The Tigers took down second-seeded Arizona and seventh-seeded Missouri in the first two rounds and will face sixth-seeded Creighton in the South Region semifinals Friday in Louisville, Ky. And the betting public likes the Ivy League champions’ chances.

At BetMGM, the Tigers are attracting 80% of the total bets and 76% of the money as a +400 moneyline pick against the Bluejays, the sportsbook said Tuesday. The Tigers opened as +375 underdogs.

Against the spread, Princeton (+9.5) has garnered 66% of the tickets and 63% of the handle.

The same tilt is happening at BetRivers, which said Tuesday that Princeton had raked in 83% of the bets and 62% of the handle against the 9.5-point spread. But the Tigers were less popular as a +380 moneyline bet, just 34% of the tickets going to them.

Princeton (23-8) is coming off a dominant 78-63 win over Missouri. The Tigers never trailed by more than one point against Missouri, made twice as many 3-pointers (12-to-6) as their opponent, and dominated the boards 44-30.

Creighton (23-12) beat third-seeded Baylor in the second round, 85-76. Ryan Nembhard went for 30 points and the Bluejays made 45.8% of their 3-pointers (11 of 24) and 100% of their free throws (22 of 22).

Elsewhere in the bracket, some bettors like fifth-seeded Miami against No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet 16. Miami (+240 moneyline) has attracted 76% of the bets and 63% of the handle at BetMGM.

–Field Level Media