NCAA Final Four Bets
NCAA Final Four Bets
The Final Four teams are set with historic programs gracing the city of New Orleans in search of a national title. Tournament play begins on Saturday, with the winners of the double-header facing off Monday night inside the Ceasers Superdome.
We've got all you need to know as you prepare your wagers for Saturday's games. Below is a breakdown of the two battles and are favorite plays from each.
#2 Villanova Wildcats (30-7) vs. #1 Kansas Jayhawks (32-6) - 5:10 p.m. EST
The Villanova Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks have 23 Final Four appearances between the two programs. Villanova's last two appearances here (2018, 2016) ended with the Wildcats hoisting the title trophy. Kansas was also in the final weekend in 2018 before falling to Villanova in the opener.
Villanova got some disheartening news after Saturday night's victory over Houston, with starting guard Jordan Moore going down with a torn ACL on one of the game's final plays. Moore was the Wildcats' second-leading scorer, pouring in 14.8 points per game.
The Wildcats will lean on the team's leading scorer Collin Gillespie (15.6 ppg) and Caleb Daniels (10.2 ppg). Villanova averages 71.9 points per game behind 43.4% shooting from the field and 35.7% from the 3-point line. The Wildcats are ninth in the KenPom, ranking ninth in adjusted offense efficiency and 18th on the defensive end.
Kansas has looked like one of the top teams in the tournament since it began and came to New Orleans after a 76-50 thrashing of Miami Hurricanes. The Jayhawks went into halftime trailing Miami by six before out-scoring the Hurricanes 47-15 in the second half. The Jayhawks are led in scoring by Ochai Agbaji, who returned for his senior season and is averaging 18.9 points per game. Kansas scores 78.3 points per game as a team, hitting 47.8% of its shots from the floor and 35.6% from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks find themselves fourth in the KenPom, slotted seventh in offensive efficiency and 17th in defense.
This year, Villanova is 20-15-2 against the spread and 6-3 ATS on a neutral floor. The Jayhawks are an even 19-19 ATS and 7-5 ATS playing at a neutral location.
The loss of Moore is detrimental for a Wildcats team that doesn't post a lot of points. Kansas will try and exploit that loss, pushing the ball and using its depth to outpace Villanova on offense. If Moore is playing, this game goes down to the wire, but since he will not be, we are siding with the Jayhawks -4.5.
#8 North Carolina Tar Heels (28-9) vs. #2 Duke Blue Devils (32-6) - 7:50 p.m. EST
Another chapter in the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils rivalry takes place Saturday, with the two historic programs facing off for the first time in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina was the last of the teams to win a national title back in 2017, while Duke came out on top in 2015. The two teams have combined for 38 Elite Eight appearances and 11 national championships.
North Carolina finished runner-up in the ACC standings, a game behind Duke, in head coach Hubert Davis' first season. The Tar Heels fell to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament but has looked like a different team in the Big Dance.
The offense flows through Armando Bacot, who averages 16.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. North Carolina scores 78.1 points per game, connecting on 45.2% of its shots from the field and 36.1% from deep. UNC ranks 16th in the KenPom, 18th in adjusted offense, and 39th in adjusted defense.
For Duke, you couldn't script head coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season on the sidelines any better. The Blue Devils are two wins away from the program's sixth title and six under the direction of coach K. Duke has five players that average in double-figures, led by the talented freshman Paolo Banchero netting 17.1 points per game. The Blue Devils are one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, averaging 80.1 points per game thanks to 49.4% shooting from the field and 37.0% from three. Duke ranks eighth in the KenPom, owning the top spot in offensive efficiency and the worst of the remaining teams on defense at 45th.
The Tar Heels are 20-16-1 ATS with a 5-4 record ATS playing at a neutral site. Duke is 20-15-3 ATS with a 5-4 mark ATS on a neutral floor.
The two ACC powerhouses are sure to give their faithful fans another historic matchup. Duke hasn't forgotten their rival spoiling Coach K's final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and something tells us the Blue Devils will use that motivation to deal the Tar Heels a double-digit blow. We comfortably take the Blue Devils -4 here.
Derek Hudson
Derek is a long time sports bettor who grew up in Providence, RI. Derek is data driven and believes the key to betting the sportsbooks is finding an edge in analytics. Derek is happily married and has two young boys. Derek will bet on anything if you let him.
