Wow. The NCAA Final Four is upon us and while there are some usual suspects in the mix (Kansas, Villanova) most didn’t pick Michigan for the FF this season, and not a single soul predicted the inclusion of Loyola Chicago. At press, Villanova (+130) is favored to win the 2018 NCAA Basketball Championship, followed by Michigan (+180), Kansas (+250), and Cinderella Loyola-Chicago (+750). Read on for predictions and odds for one of the most highly anticipated Final Fours in recent memory, and remember to register here to make your picks.
Complete Betting Preview for the NCAA Basketball Final Four on March 31, 2018
No. 3 Michigan Wolverines vs No. 11 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Line: Michigan (-5) Loyola-Chicago (+5); Over/Under: (129)
Sister Jean is a national treasure – or at least is one for all Chicagoans, as her presence continues to be good luck charm for the Ramblers. That said, Sister Jean is over nine-decades old, so she could not get out on the court this coming Thursday and bang bodies with the Wolverines. That job is for the Ramblers players, who will try to roll out the same type of defense that has stifled their opponents in this tournament. Loyola-Chicago has not allowed more than 68 points in any of their last three games, meaning that the team’s defense is just as legit as it was when the Ramblers were playing lowly opponents in the MWC. The Wolverines know a thing or two about defense, too. They have allowed just 59.0 points per game. Their defense in this tournament is just a reflection of the one that is ranked fourth overall on KenPom.
Writer’s Prediction:
Loyola-Chicago continues to pay-off (and helps you take the OVER) by upsetting the Michigan Wolverines, 71-68.
No. 1 Villanova Wildcats vs No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks
Line: Villanova (-5) vs Kansas (+5); Over/Under: (155)
Beating Duke is not an easy feat, but the Jayhawks did just that Sunday in an 85-81 win over the Blue Devils. The Jayhawks’ offense came through, thanks in large part to Malik Newman’s 32 points (13 in overtime). Similar to their other games in the tournament, the Jayhawks bombed Duke from behind the arc, as they dropped 13 three-pointers. Kansas has 39 threes in the tournament so far, and the team has better than 41.2 percent from deep in three of its last four games. Kansas can definitely hang offensively with Villanova, who owns the nation’s best scoring team. The Wildcats’ offense is ranked No.1 on KenPom and finished the regular season tops in scoring per game (87.0) and effective field goal percentage (59.9).As for Kansas, it averaged 81.4 points and hit 10.0 threes per game back in the regular season. Despite shooting just 33.3 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from the three-point region on Sunday, the Wildcats still managed to win convincingly against Texas Tech, 71-59.
Writer’s Prediction:
Kansas upsets Villanova in a closely contested battle, 78-77, landing smack dab on the OVER/UNDER.
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