It was another wild and unpredictable run in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, but things started to straighten back out in the Elite Eight. The Final Four field is set, and it’s four college basketball blue bloods that are ready to play.
All four of the programs left standing are past champions, and each team plays in a great college basketball conference. The two Final Four games might not feature any underdogs, but there will still be plenty of drama.
Here is a closer look at both of the games, and both matchups look terrific on paper.
Villanova Wildcats +4.5 vs. Kansas Jayhawks
The first game of the night will feature the 30-7 Villanova Wildcats taking on the 32-6 Kansas Jayhawks. These teams have some history in the Final Four, and it’s history that Villanova would like to repeat this weekend.
Villanova was given the number two seed in the South Region, and they were tested along the way. The Wildcats got past the Houston Cougars in the Elite Eight, but they lost a key player in the process.
Justin Moore suffered a torn Achilles tendon late in the win over Houston, and that will force Villanova to be without their second-leading scorer. Villanova will still have Collin Gillespie, who leads the team with 15.6 points and 3.3 assists.
Kansas has been an explosive offensive team all season long, and Ochai Agbaji is a First Team All-American. The Jayhawks are scoring over 78 points per game this season, but it has been their defense leading the way in March.
This Kansas team picked up a 76-50 win over Miami in the Elite Eight, and they were actually losing this game at halftime. Kansas wants to play fast on offense, but they have a size advantage to dominate on defense.
There doesn’t seem to be much separation in this matchup, and that’s why taking the points is the better option. Villanova is just so good on offense, and they will at least keep this within five points.
North Carolina Tar Heels ML vs. Duke Blue Devils
For the first time in the history of the NCAA Tournament, it will be the North Carolina Tar Heels taking on the Duke Blue Devils. This is the best rivalry in college basketball, and it will finally be on the game’s biggest stage.
North Carolina has been the most impressive team in March as they made the Final Four as a number 8 seed. The Tar Heels have scored at least 69 points in every NCAA Tournament game and have been shooting the lights out as well.
Armando Bacot leads the team with 16.5 points, but it has been Caleb Love and Brady Manek carrying the Tar Heels during this run. North Carolina will give up some points, but that offense is going to give Duke trouble.
Duke has scored at least 78 points in every game in the NCAA Tournament, and they are finding little resistance in the paint. The Blue Devils are led by freshman Paolo Banchero, and he is scoring over 17 points per game this season.
It’s been a storybook tournament for Duke as they are trying to win a title for Coach K in his final season. The Blue Devils were beaten by their rivals in the regular-season finale at home, and that will be on their minds as well.
Duke has had the better season up to this point, but North Carolina is playing better heading into this game. Bet the North Carolina Tar Heels moneyline as they stun the Duke Blue Devils to advance to the National Championship Game.
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