March Madness Final Four opening lines betting lines trends

Final Four first look: North Carolina vs. Duke odds and lines

Analyzing Saturday’s North Carolina vs. Duke odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The North Carolina Tar Heels (28-9) and Duke Blue Devils (32-6) clash in a Final Four showdown Saturday in New Orleans. The rivalry battle at the Superdome is slated for an 8:49 tip-off. Below, we look at the North Carolina vs. Duke odds and lines; check back for our college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The further we get down the road in these brackets, the more the journey has come to look like the backroads of Carolina. And now we edge closer to a rivalry that dates back more than a century — one with 256 games under its belt. But none like this.

North Carolina — the No. 8 seed from the East Region — is the fastest-paced team remaining in the tournament. The Tar Heels have averaged 77.5 points per game in going 11-1 since Feb. 19. Like their foes in this game, they are exceptional in keeping opposing shooters off the foul line. UNC is also a terrific defensive rebounding team.

Duke has advanced from the No. 2 seed in the East Region. The 10th-ranked team in the nation won the regular-season crown in the ACC. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski‘s final five in Durham is a young group but one among the best offensive teams in NCAA-I. Across four tourney games. the Devils have shot a robust 53.8% from the field.

Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

North Carolina vs. Duke 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 8 a.m. ET.

Money line: North Carolina +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Duke -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina +4.5 (-108) | Duke -4.5 (-112)
Over/Under (O/U): 150.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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2021-22 betting stats (including postseason):

ML: North Carolina 28-9 | Duke 32-6
ATS: North Carolina 20-16-1 | Duke 20-16-2
O/U: North Carolina 20-15-1 | Duke 21-16-1

North Carolina vs. Duke head-to-head

The Heels and Devils split two games in the regular season, with each side winning on the road. UNC and DU have split eight high-scoring games since 2018-19: the winning score in each of the last six meetings has been 87 points or more.

In the all-time series, North Carolina leads 141-115. The ACC foes have combined for 36 Final Fours and 11 national championships, but they have never met in the NCAA Tournament.

Across the last 10 meetings, UNC is 8-2 ATS. The Over has hit in six straight games.

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Final Four first look: Villanova vs. Kansas odds and lines

Looking at Saturday’s Villanova vs. Kansas NCAA Tournament Final Four odds, lines and trends. Here’s what you need to know.

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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If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

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