Key keywords: Men's March Madness 2024, Sweet 16 Friday matchups, NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball previews, March Madness upset picks, Final Four contenders, Sweet 16 betting odds, 2024 NCAA men's basketball The 2024 edition of Men's March Madness has already delivered countless iconic moments, from last-second buzzer beaters to double-digit seed upsets, and the Friday Sweet 16 slate is poised to keep the chaos going. Four high-stakes matchups will take the court across two national venues, with spots in the Elite Eight on the line for every competing program. First up in the East Region, No. 1 seed Purdue faces No. 5 seed Gonzaga in a clash of college basketball blue bloods. Purdue, led by two-time Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey, has dominated the paint through the first two rounds, averaging 42 rebounds per game and holding opponents to just 38% shooting from inside the arc. Gonzaga, meanwhile, relies on its elite three-point shooting (41.2% from deep this season) and fast-paced transition offense to keep pace with more physically dominant opponents. Our prediction: Purdue pulls away late to win 78-72, though Gonzaga will keep it within 3 points for most of the second half if they hit 10+ three pointers. Next in the South Region, No. 2 seed Marquette takes on Cinderella story No. 11 seed NC State, who won five straight games as the 10th seed in the ACC Tournament to earn their March Madness bid, then upset No. 6 seed Texas Tech and No. 3 seed Duke to reach the Sweet 16. Marquette’s backcourt duo of Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones has combined for 34 points per game in the tournament, but NC State’s swarming full-court press has forced 17 turnovers per game against higher seeds. Our prediction: NC State pulls off another upset, winning 69-67 on a last-second layup to continue their historic run. The third matchup of the night in the Midwest Region pits No. 1 seed Houston against No. 4 seed Duke, in what is widely considered the game of the Sweet 16. Houston boasts the top-rated defense in the country, allowing just 57.8 points per game, while Duke’s young core led by Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain has scored 80+ points in both of their tournament wins. This will be a low-scoring defensive battle, with both teams struggling to get open looks against elite perimeter defense. Our prediction: Houston edges out Duke 63-60, thanks to their 89% late-game free throw accuracy and veteran experience in tight tournament games. The final Friday matchup in the West Region sees No. 2 seed Arizona face No. 3 seed Kentucky, two high-powered offenses with legitimate Final Four aspirations. Kentucky’s freshman-led backcourt, headlined by projected top-5 NBA pick Reed Sheppard, has averaged 87 points per game in the tournament, while Arizona’s deep frontcourt rotation has outrebounded opponents by an average of 12 per game through the first two rounds. Our prediction: Kentucky pulls off the minor upset 84-81, if their three-point shooting stays above 40% as it has through their first two games. All four games will air on national TV, with betting odds shifting daily as fans and analysts weigh in on potential upsets and standout player performances.