Pro Bookmaker Breaks Down Kansas-North Carolina NCAA Title Game
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Last month, 68 basketball teams began play in the NCAA men’s tournament, hoping March Madness magic would land them in tonight’s national title game.
At least one Cinderella team this year — remember Saint Peter’s? — threatened to slay every giant.
But in the end it came down to two blue blood programs, the Kansas Jayhawks (33-6) and North Carolina Tar Heels (29-9).
The title game tips off at 9:20 p.m. ET at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
A Bookmaker’s Analysis
To break down the championship game, Gambling.com reached out to professional bookmaker Casey Lewless, a former Nevada oddsmaker now running the sportsbooks at Penn National’s Louisiana casinos.
Below is Lewless’ analysis of the 2022 NCAA title game.
Kansas vs. North Carolina
Here we are with the No. 8 seed North Carolina Tar Heels vs. the No.1 seed Kansas Jayhawks.
Let's start with the important stuff.
The spread is Kansas -4, and the Over/Under combined point total for both teams is 152.5. Individual team totals are Kansas over/under 78.5 and North Carolina 74.5.
These two teams match up very well, with each going maybe seven deep.
The coaching edge you would assume has to go to Kansas’ Bill Self, as he is in his fourth Final Four and third title game. Kansas is the more experienced team.
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis is in his first year, and sometimes teams go on a mission to get to the final game and are just happy they made it.
For North Carolina, Armando Bacot's ankle could be an issue. Caleb Love is that good. I suspect Brady Manek will have a good game, and R.J. Davis is a tremendous point guard.
For Kansas, my gut feeling is Bacot will get David McCormack into foul trouble, and there is a gigantic drop-off to Mitch Lightfoot, who seems like he has been at Kansas for 10 years.
Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji will get his, Jalen Wilson will have to be big on the glass again, and the most underrated guy in the game, Christian Braun, will have to be huge.
The plays: Take Kansas at -4. Also take the Over for R.J. Davis in assists if the number is at 3.5 or fewer. Take Brady Manek over in points, which should be in the vicinity of 15.5. Take Christian Braun over on assists at 1.5.
The best part is that there's a chance that bettors from Kansas state will be able to support their favorite basketball teams once Kansas online sportsbooks go live.
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