We are still catching our breath from an eventful and exhilarating Elite Eight round, but more action will be coming our way, as the NCAA Final Four is upon us this weekend in Minneapolis. All four teams in the national semifinals have their own clear identities and each look capable of winning two games in a row to take accomplish the biggest mission of all in college basketball. The Virginia Cavaliers are the favorites to do that among all remaining teams, as they have odds of +150. The Michigan State Spartans are priced +175, while the Texas Tech Red Raiders have odds of +350 and +600, respectively.
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Complete Betting Preview for the NCAA Basketball Final Four on April 6, 2019
No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 2 Michigan State Spartans
Line: Texas Tech (+2.5) Michigan State (-2.5); Over/Under: (132.5)
Not many people have the Red Raiders in the Final Four portion of their brackets, but here they are still alive in the Big Dance. The Red Raiders seem to be very capable of adapting to whatever style of play their opponents throw at them. In the second round, they held off a high-scoring team in the Buffalo Bulls. In the Sweet 16, they shut down the defensive-minded Michigan Wolverines. In the Elite Eight round, they took down the best offensive in the nation, as they eliminated a No. 1 seed in the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Red Raiders must be banging their chests after that win over the Zags, but Michigan State is also being bouyed up by the momentum it got from a huge win over Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils in the previous round. Both teams are excellent defensive teams, with Texas Tech having the best defense in the nation, per KenPom. Also, these two teams are led by do-it-all court generals: Jarrett Culver for Texas Tech, and Cassius Winston for Michigan State.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State wins, 70-68.
No. 5 Auburn Tigers vs. No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers
Line: Auburn (+5.5) Virginia (-5.5); Over/Under: (129)
Bruce Pearl is doing an admirable job keeping his Tigers motivated and thirsty for more success. Although the Tigers are missing forward Chuma Okeke for the rest of the tournament due to injury, Auburn remains very dangerous team to deal with. That was made abundantly clear by the Tigers in the Elite Eight round, when, despite not having Okeke, they defeated the Kentucky Wildcats. It seems that as long as the Tigers have Jared Harper and Bryce Brown healthy, they are going to be just fine. The Tigers have lit it up from deep in the tournament. They have drained 49 3-pointers in their last four games, and their ability to make it rain from downtown will be a crucial factor in Auburn’s attempt to dent Virginia’s vaunted defense that had the best scoring defense in the nation back in the regular season. The tandem of Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome will have their hands full in trying to contain Harper and Brown, but they have plenty of experience in defending against athletic and speedy guards. This game will likely be decided by which team would have control of the pace for the most part of the contest. Auburn is 153rd in the nation in adjusted tempo, while Virginia is 333rd.
Writer’s Prediction
Virginia wins, 70-64.
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