The No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats (30-7) and No. 1 seed Kansas Wildcats (32-6) will meet in a national semifinal game at the Final Four in New Orleans Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. ET (on TBS) from Caesars Superdome. ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina will face off later that night in the second Final Four matchup.
Below, we look at the Villanova vs. Kansas odds and lines; check back for our college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Villanova won its four NCAA tourney games by an average of 11.0 points and went a perfect 4-0 against the spread (ATS). The Wildcats won the first three as favorites before upsetting Houston 50-44 as 3-point underdogs in the Elite Eight. The Under has hit in three in a row for the ‘Cats, and in six of their past seven games – all in the postseason.
Unfortunately, Villanova suffered a huge loss when junior G Justin Moore tore his Achilles’ tendon in the final 35 seconds of their victory over Houston. Moore, who will have surgery and is done for the season, is Villanova’s second-leading scorer at 14.8 points per game. He led the team in minutes (34.6 per game), is second in assists (2.3 per game) and third in rebounds (4.8 per game).
While Villanova has run off nine consecutive wins, Kansas also brings a nine-game winning streak into Saturday’s showdown. Plus, both teams are on 4-0 ATS streaks.
Things didn’t look good for Kansas Sunday as it trailed Miami by six at halftime of its Elite Eight game, but the Jayhawks recovered and rolled to a 76-50 victory. Kansas, which covered as a 5.5-point favorite, opened the second half with 19-5 run and outscored Miami 47-15 in the second half to become the only No. 1 seed to make this Final Four.
The Miami game cashed Under tickets and the Under is 3-1 in Kansas’ four NCAA Tournament games to date. Kansas outscored its four NCAA tourney opponents by an average of 16.25 points per game. The Jayhawks are No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports; the Wildcats are ranked fifth.
Villanova vs. Kansas odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:26 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Villanova +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Kansas -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Villanova +4.5, -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Kansas -4.5, -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 132.5, O: -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | U: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
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2021-22 betting stats (including postseason):
- ML: Villanova 30-7 | Kansas 32-6
- ATS: Villanova 20-16-1 | Kansas 19-18-1
- O/U: Villanova 17-20 | Kansas 20-18
Villanova vs. Kansas head-to-head
Villanova and Kansas have met six times since March 28, 2008, with the Wildcats winning four of the previous five meetings. Plus, Villanova has covered each of those previous five meetings, while the Under is 4-1-1 in the past six meetings.
Three of the six meetings since 2008 have been in the NCAA Tournament, too. In 2018, ‘Nova topped Kansas in the national semifinal 95-79, hitting 18 3-pointers. The Wildcats won the national title that season. The teams met in the regional final in 2016, with Villanova winning 64-59. In 2008, Kansas topped Villanova 72-57 in a Sweet 16 tilt.
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