NCAA Basketball Championship Final Four Betting: Swift and Unrefined Guide for Wagers
Winning Hearts in Minneapolis
It's time to witness some intense action as the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship heads to the Final Four in Minneapolis. The South Region's No. 1 seed Virginia will face the Midwest Region's No. 5 seed Auburn, while No. 2 Michigan State from the East Region squares off against No. 3 Texas Tech from the West.
Both Auburn and Texas Tech are making their debut in the Final Four, and their coaches, Bruce Pearl and Chris Beard, have fascinating backgrounds. Pearl, known for his animated spirit, leads the Tigers, and Beard, a former coach of the Myrtle Beach-based South Carolina Warriors, an American Basketball Association semi-pro team, is just two wins short of his first National Championship.
By now, you might have already seen your bracket shattered if you didn't follow the wise recommendation to avoid the pre-tournament favorite, Duke. The lines for these highly anticipated games have stabilized at most sportsbooks, offering little value due to their tightness. For a detailed analysis, check out my colleague Eric Raskin's piece.
- Virginia -5.5 (-260) vs. Auburn (+205); Total 131- Michigan State -2.5 (-160) vs. Texas Tech (+135); Total 132
Feeling adventurous? Place a prop/futures bet on the exact outcome. Some New Jersey online sportsbooks are offering odds on this exciting proposition. Check out the odds from PlayMGM, PointsBet, and FanDuel Sportsbook.
Auburn's improbable run might come to an end in the semi-finals. They managed to overcome Kentucky without the services of 6'8" forward Chuma Okeke, who underwent ACL surgery by the renowned Dr. James Andrews following a tear during the North Carolina game. The loss of their leading rebounder (also averaging 12 points per game and acting as their top shot blocker) could give Virginia an edge by allowing them to defend the perimeter better and force Auburn to take more difficult or obstructed three-point shots, traditionally their strength.
Michigan State is a slight favorite against Texas Tech, with the latter surprising many. I believe this game is a 50-50 proposition, making Texas Tech a decent bet at +135.
Let's bring it all together with Texas Tech taking on Virginia in the championship matchup. I'm rooting for the Red Raiders due to a pre-tournament 25-1 bet, but if you're backing Virginia, PointsBet offers the best odds at +550. As always, tailor your choice to your preference.
- RotoGrinders Sports Betting Final Four/National Championship podcast- Bet The Board Final Four/National Championship podcast- More sports betting podcast recommendations*
For more in-depth analysis, check out these articles:
- ESPN Chalk's analysis on the games and props
- The Power Rank's analytics predictions
- RotoGrinders Sports Betting's sides and totals chat and separate props breakdown
- The SI.com team's breakdown
- SB Nation's breakdown
- CBS Sports' analyses making the case for every team.
For live game coverage, witty banter, and potential betting opportunities, follow our curated Twitter list. The list is updated weekly, and you can learn more about the members here.
The PointsBet "Make It Rain" promotion continues through the end of the tournament, awarding $3 for every three-pointer your team hits on a minimum $100 spread bet. Grab an exclusive $50 free bet along with the rest of the bonus package at PointsBet through Sports Handle.
Enjoy the games!
- The Final Four in NCAA Men's Basketball Championship is taking place in Minneapolis, with Virginia, Auburn, Michigan State, and Texas Tech competing.
- Auburn and Texas Tech are underdogs in this tournament, as they are making their debut in the Final Four.
- Virginia is favored in their game against Auburn, with the moneyline set at -260 for Virginia and +205 for Auburn.
- Michigan State is slightly favored against Texas Tech, with the moneyline set at -160 for Michigan State and +135 for Texas Tech.
- If you're feeling adventurous, you can place a prop/futures bet on the exact outcome of the games.
- Auburn might struggle in the semi-finals due to the loss of their leading rebounder, Chuma Okeke, who is out with an ACL injury.
- Texas Tech is a decent bet against Michigan State, as I believe this game is a 50-50 proposition.
- For more analysis and predictions, check out various sports betting and basketball podcasts such as RotoGrinders Sports Betting and Bet The Board, or read articles from ESPN Chalk, The Power Rank, RotoGrinders Sports Betting, SI.com, SB Nation, and CBS Sports.
