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It doesn’t happen often where the top two teams heading into the college basketball season remain ranked as the top two teams for nearly an entire season. And for those teams to both advance all the way to the national championship is also very unlikely, but that’s the exact situation we have when the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs and No. 1 Baylor Bears compete for a national championship on Monday, April 5th from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
So where are sports bettors going as we get closer to game time? Let’s take a look. All odds and info were provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Point Spread
Baylor +4.5: 49% handle, 45% bets
Gonzaga -4.5: 51% handle, 55% bets
Is the public right?
Yes, Gonzaga will cover this spread so we’ll side with the public, which is taking the Bulldogs barely over the 50% mark in percentage of bets and the handle. The Bulldogs have won every game by more than 4.5 points this season except for Saturday’s incredible Final Four game against the UCLA Bruins. A blowout is unlikely to happen, but the Bulldogs make 73.1% of their free throws, which will be important down the stretch. If they can hit them in the closing minutes, Gonzaga should cover.
Over/Under
Over 159.0: 54% handle, 57% bets
Under 159.0: 46% handle, 43% bets
Is the public right?
No, we’re going with the under. While Gonzaga pushes the pace at an incredible rate with the 19th most possessions per game in the entire country, Baylor will try and slow this one down as they check in at No. 183 in that category. It’s dangerous going against the over in this spot with the two best offenses in the country according to KenPom adjusted efficiency ratings, but 159 is too much for a game of this magnitude when defensive effort should be at an all-time high on both sides.
Moneyline
Baylor +155: 62% handle, 57% bets
Gonzaga -190: 38% handle, 43% bets
Is the public right?
No, Gonzaga is going to win this game and finish off an incredibly dominant season. Defense likely won’t be talked about much heading into this game, but they rank No. 8 in adjusted efficiency on the defensive end, while Baylor will enter at No. 27. The Bulldogs will become the first team since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers to go through an entire college basketball undefeated.
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