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The Final Four is still to be played, but we can already take a look at how the oddsmakers view the potential NCAAM Championship game matchups.
BetOnline.ag released lookahead lines for the four possible matchups Monday night.
As you might expect, given that Arizona and Michigan are by far and away the two favorites to cut down the nets, those teams are heavily favored in all potential title games.
UConn vs. Arizona (-5.5)
Over/Under 143.5
Illinois vs. Arizona (-4)
Over/Under 152
UConn vs. Michigan (-6)
Over/Under 147
Illinois vs. Michigan (-4.5)
Over/Under 155.5
How UConn Got to the Final Four
Brandon Mullins sank a desperation 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to give UConn a 73-72 victory over top-seeded Duke on Sunday, earning the Huskies a spot in the Final Four after they rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit.
The Blue Devils (35-3) led by three before UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left. With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.
“We were trying to foul the worst free-throw shooter on the floor, and Silas ended up deflecting the pass,” Mullins said. “I knew I had to put one up. Man, I’m just happy that was the one that went down tonight."
How Michigan Got to the Final Four
It was Yaxel Lendeborg, Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara. Morez Johnson Jr., Trey McKenney and Nimari Burnett, too. The list goes on and on.
Michigan got it done together, just like it has all season long.
“The biggest focus is playing team basketball,” Lendeborg said. “We thrive off of that.”
Lendeborg scored 27 points, Cadeau had 10 assists and the deep, unselfish Wolverines rolled into the Final Four, overwhelming Tennessee for a 95-62 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
How Illinois Got to the Final Four
Illinois is heading to the Final Four for the first time in 21 years, and Andrej Stojakovic made clear the Fighting Illini have much bigger goals.
“I don’t want anybody to think this is it,” he said. “We didn’t get to the Final Four just to get there. We’re coming to win two more games.”
Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Illinois ended Iowa's underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 on Saturday to end a Final Four drought that dated to 2005.
“It’s better than I dreamt it would ever be,” coach Brad Underwood said. “Thirty-nine years in the business and that’s all I’m going to say about my side of this. This is about these guys.”
How Arizona Got to the Final Four
Coach Tommy Lloyd climbed the ladder, cut the last strand of the net and waved to the Arizona fans while they chanted, “Tommy! Tommy!”
Lloyd and the Wildcats are back in the Final Four for the first time since Lute Olson's heyday 25 years ago as Arizona once again looks like a threat to win it all.
Freshman Koa Peat scored 20 points with his strength inside and Arizona's defense bottled up Purdue in the second half to give the top-seeded Wildcats a 79-64 victory in the NCAA Tournament's West Region final on Saturday night.
“Just being a kid from Arizona, to take this team to a Final Four, man, it’s a blessing,” said Peat, who was named the region’s Most Outstanding Player. “I’m proud of these guys. We worked for this. We’re not done yet.”
- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
