Final Four odds are finally here as the NCAA Tournament heads to Indianapolis for the final weekend of college basketball’s centerpiece, featuring two teams that are used to being here (Duke, Michigan State), one that hasn’t been here since 1959 (West Virginia), and the hometown favorites who are making their first trip to the Final Four.
Michigan State vs Butler odds – Saturday, 6:07 PM ET
The Spartans are in the Final Four for the sixth time in 12 years after edging Tennessee 70-69 to win the Midwest, and they’re doing it without star point guard Kalin Lucas, who tore his Achilles against Maryland in the second round. Korie Lucious has taken over the reins for Lucas, hitting the buzzer beater against the Terrapins, but he’s been inconsistent since. The Bulldogs, whose school is about 15 minutes away from the site of the Final Four, Lucas Oil Stadium, took the West by knocking out top-seeded Syracuse, and then No.2 Kansas State, and they’ve yet to allow more than 60 points in the dance. The Bulldogs are a 1-point NCAA basketball betting favorite in this contest, and it should be a slow game with emphasis on defense, rebounding and not turning the ball over. The Butler guard duo of Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack have been solid in this Tournament, and we’re not sold on Lucious, who is a great defender, but he turns the ball over too much.
Michigan State Butler pick: Butler -1
West Virginia vs Duke odds – Saturday, 8:47 PM ET
The Mountaineers are here for the first time since 1959, and it’s fitting that Bob Huggins came back to lead his alma mater to the Final Four. West Virginia beat top-seeded Kentucky 73-66 to get here, and they did a great job of keeping the Wildcats’ future NBA players from dominating in the paint, using a zone to keep them on the perimeter. The Blue Devils are the lone No.1 seed left after emerging from the South with a 78-71 win over Baylor, and with their trio of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, Duke can score with anyone in the country, but they don’t get enough credit for their defense. These two met in the second round of the 2008 Tournament, with the Mountaineers coming away with a 73-67 win, and the senior players on both teams were around for that game, namely Scheyer for Duke, and Da’Sean Butler and Joe Mazzulla for West Virginia. Mazzulla carved up the Blue Devils for 17 points in that contest, and with the injury to Darryl “Truck” Bryant, he’ll get another chance at Duke. The Mountaineers’ strength comes in their defensive versatility, as they play both effectively, and they’ll try to confuse the Blue Devils.
West Virginia Duke pick: West Virginia +2.5
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