Midwest Sweet 16 - Kansas vs. Michigan State

On Thursday, half of the Elite Eight was decided with top-seeds Connecticut and Pittsburgh along with No. 3 Missouri and No. 3 Villanova advancing. Following Friday's online college basketball betting action, the field of eight will be set and provide stellar weekend sports betting excitement. But first things first, so let's get a jump start to the weekend with a Friday evening money-making selection.

After thoroughly handicapping all four games on Friday, I decided on investing in No. 2 Michigan State. ATS trends are heavily banked on and there's some very eye-catching numbers for the No. 3 Kansas versus the second-seeded Spartans matchup, starting at 9:37pm EST. Here's just a pair of many ATS stats supporting Michigan State, which we'll get to later, that's too strong to overlook:

—Spartans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. Big 12.

—Jayhawks are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 vs. Big Ten.

Kansas kept their hopes alive for a second-straight title with an easy 60-43 cover win over Dayton as 8-point favorites to advance to the Sweet 16. But not before having to tussle with a gritty 8½-point underdog No. 14 N. Dakota St. team, who eventually fell 84-74 after a great effort in the opening round. Jayhawks' Cole Aldrich posted the sixth triple-double in NCAA Tournament history since Dwyane Wade last accomplished the feat for Marquette back in 2003 in their Round 2 win.

(Click here for your printable March Madness bracket)

Michigan State also covered the number in both games to start the dance, posting an easy 77-62 first-round win as double-digit chalk over No. 15 Robert Morris. Round 2 proved a much tougher test as 8-point favorites, which the Spartans passed in money-making fashion with a 74-69 win versus No. 10 USC. Michigan State is amidst its 12th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their experience and poise was key in pulling out the hard fought win in Round 2.

With both teams covering the spread in its first two rounds, they've built on their March Madness bankrolls for the NCAA basketball betting community supporting them. The Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games, while the Jayhawks have produced a March Madness ATS mark of 4-0.

Michigan State defeated Kansas 75-62 earlier this season on Jan. 10 in East Lansing, covering the spread as 6-point favorites. The Jayhawks fell behind early and trailed at the break 37-18 en route to shooting just 40 percent and getting outrebounded 42-31.

Key online college basketball wagering ATS trends backing Michigan State:

—Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.

—Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.

—Spartans are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

—Spartans are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games.

—Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

—Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Analysis: While Kansas features two players prominently, guard Sherron Collins and center Aldrich, the Spartans are more balanced and possess more depth. Five players wearing green and white average at least eight points per game, while Kansas starts two freshmen, Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus Morris, along with sophomores Aldrich and Brady Morningstar and Collins, who leads the team in scoring with 18.9 ppg and Aldrich scoring 14.8 ppg as the only other Jayhawk that averages double-digits per game.