My, what to make of this year’s Final Four. We entered the weekend with all four No. 1 seeds still in contention for the National Championship and the unlikeliest of the quartet is the one still competing. The mighty Duke Blue Devils with future No. 1 NBA draft pick and polarizing figure Zion Williamson looked like a team of destiny after escaping a few near misses. Instead it’s Michigan State, who upended Duke on Sunday, playing in the national semifinal.
The only No. 1 seed still alive is Virginia. One year after making history as the first No. 1 to lose to a No. 16 seed, the Cavs are attempting to erase that stain on the program. Winning the championship would certainly help, but it’s likely going to take another No. 1 losing in the first round to make it hurt less. Last year’s loss to UMBC became a rallying point for the Cavs, and they reached the Final Four for the first time since 1984.
BookMaker.eu will have basketball odds and live betting options for both Final Four games.
Final Four Schedule and Opening Odds
#5 Auburn vs. #1 Virginia ( -5, 130.5 ), 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS)
#3 Texas Tech vs. #2 Michigan State ( -3, 133 ), 8:49 p.m. ET (CBS)
Final Four Opening Odds Report
Auburn and Texas Tech are both making their initial Final Four appearance and they did it the hard way. Auburn escaped New Mexico State in the opening round in what has been their closest game in the Tournament. The Tigers won that game 78-77 before dealing Kansas a 14-point setback in the second round. In the Sweet 16, the Tigers lambasted UNC 97-80 setting up an all SEC Elite Eight tilt with Kentucky.
Playing as a 4.5-point home favorite in the first meeting with the Wildcats, Auburn was handed an 82-80 loss, starting a stretch of three straight defeats. At the end of February the Tigers were smoked, 80-53, in Lexington and not many gave them a chance on Sunday, especially without Chuma Okeke. But, proving just how hard it is to beat a good team three times in a season, the Tigers played an inspired game to post the 77-71 upset victory in overtime.
Auburn is the hottest team in the Tournament having won 12 straight since that last loss to Kentucky. The Tigers opened as a 5-point underdog for their matchup with Virginia and considering how well they’ve played defense in the Tournament, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a bunch of wagers hit Auburn to drive the spread before tipoff.
The Cavs are known for defense and they are the best in fewest points allowed this season. We’ll see contrasting styles in this one with Auburn’s tempo game against the slow down tactics of UVA. Whichever team has the most success playing its style will have the upperhand.
Michigan State is the only team in the Final Four to have won a National Championship. That doesn’t make them the favorite to win the title since none of the current players were a part of it, but it is an interesting note to give you an idea of the shifting landscape. Sparty is favored in this matchup with Texas Tech, though. MSU is laying 3-points on the opening line to a Tech team that shut down some of the best offenses in college basketball.
The Red Raiders have a gifted roster that is athletic and talented, and they commit to playing defense. They held Buffalo, a team that averaged close to 85 points per game, to just 58, and Michigan did nothing against them in the Sweet 16. The Wolverines couldn’t attack the paint and settled for perimeter shots that clanked off the iron. And they were lucky to score 44 points. Gonzaga was flustered on Saturday, giving Tech a bushel of confidence heading into this matchup.
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