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NCAA Championship Betting Info
Game of the Day: NCAA Tournament National Championship Game
By Covers.com
(1) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils (+1, 140)
The NCAA Tournament national championship game features two front-runners for the Wooden Award, two of the top coaches in the game and two teams looking to ride the momentum from impressive victories on Saturday. When fellow No. 1 seeds Wisconsin and Duke square off Monday in Indianapolis, all eyes will be focused on the matchup between the Badgers' Frank Kaminsky and the Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor, although both big men are complemented by plenty of talent.
Perhaps nowhere is the talent display greater than on the sidelines, where Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is aiming for his fifth national title - and his third in Indianapolis - while Wisconsin's Bo Ryan is trying to lead the Badgers to their first championship since 1941. Kaminsky scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday as the Badgers upset previously undefeated Kentucky 71-64. The Blue Devils took Saturday's first semifinal with an 81-61 triumph against Michigan State led by Okafor's 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. This game also is a rematch from a Dec. 3 contest that saw Duke shoot 65.2 percent in handing Wisconsin one of its three losses - and its only home defeat.
LINE HISTORY: Most shops opened the game at a pick'em, but that's since been moved to Duke +1.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Lots of moving pieces this championship game tilt, starting with revenge incentive for the Badgers from a 10-point loss earlier this season, Wisconsin's only home defeat this campaign. While Bo Ryan sports a 15-6 ATS career record in games versus ACC opposition, the Badgers will need to overcome the Big Ten’s nasty 1-7 SU and ATS mark in title games dating back to 1992. Meanwhile the Blue Devils enter off a 20-point thrashing of Michigan State knowing teams in this round off a spread win of 14 or more points are just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS when facing a greater than .840 foe. Then again ACC teams counter with a sharp 8-3 SU and ATS in Big Dance finales. Pick your poison. Either way this has all the earmarks of a classic confrontation." Covers Expert Marc Lawrence
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "This is the best matchup we could’ve hoped for. We’ve gotten, and will continue to get, very even action regarding the side. The public will be on Duke while the regular bettors, including a lot of wiseguys, that have been backing Wisconsin throughout the tournament aren’t about to back off the Badgers now. They are going to have to play another perfect game like the one against Kentucky to knock off the Devils. It’s certainly plausible because this is a disciplined, well-coached squad, but Duke has a clear advantage in most areas." John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker.eu.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (36-3): The Badgers have won 21 of their last 22 games, including each of the last four victories by exactly seven points, and avenged a 2014 Final Four loss to Kentucky with Saturday's emotional victory. “This is something we’ve been talking about since Day 1 this season,” Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker told reporters. “Look where we are now.” Kaminsky (18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) was recently named the Associated Press Player of the Year and is the favorite for the Wooden Award, while Dekker (13.9 points) has averaged 20.6 points on 61.3 percent shooting during the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT DUKE (34-4): The Blue Devils have won 17 of 18, capped by a rout of Michigan State in which Okafor was complemented by fellow freshman star Justise Winslow (19 points, nine rebounds) and sturdy senior Quinn Cook (17 points). "It's an amazing thing, I mean, just to be in the Final Four, but to play on Monday night is the ultimate honor," Krzyzewski said to the media. "I hope our guys get their rest and we can get the same type of effort we got tonight. Now they've got a chance to play for a national championship, and damn, damn, how great is that?" The keys for the Blue Devils will include getting off to a better start - they overcame an early 14-6 deficit versus Michigan State - and improved 3-point shooting, as they were 2-of-10 against the Spartans.
TRENDS:
*Under is 6-1 in Blue Devils last 7 overall.
*Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
*Badgers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
*Over is 5-1 in Badgers last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 51 percent of bettors are on the Badgers.
By Covers.com
(1) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils (+1, 140)
The NCAA Tournament national championship game features two front-runners for the Wooden Award, two of the top coaches in the game and two teams looking to ride the momentum from impressive victories on Saturday. When fellow No. 1 seeds Wisconsin and Duke square off Monday in Indianapolis, all eyes will be focused on the matchup between the Badgers' Frank Kaminsky and the Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor, although both big men are complemented by plenty of talent.
Perhaps nowhere is the talent display greater than on the sidelines, where Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is aiming for his fifth national title - and his third in Indianapolis - while Wisconsin's Bo Ryan is trying to lead the Badgers to their first championship since 1941. Kaminsky scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday as the Badgers upset previously undefeated Kentucky 71-64. The Blue Devils took Saturday's first semifinal with an 81-61 triumph against Michigan State led by Okafor's 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. This game also is a rematch from a Dec. 3 contest that saw Duke shoot 65.2 percent in handing Wisconsin one of its three losses - and its only home defeat.
LINE HISTORY: Most shops opened the game at a pick'em, but that's since been moved to Duke +1.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Lots of moving pieces this championship game tilt, starting with revenge incentive for the Badgers from a 10-point loss earlier this season, Wisconsin's only home defeat this campaign. While Bo Ryan sports a 15-6 ATS career record in games versus ACC opposition, the Badgers will need to overcome the Big Ten’s nasty 1-7 SU and ATS mark in title games dating back to 1992. Meanwhile the Blue Devils enter off a 20-point thrashing of Michigan State knowing teams in this round off a spread win of 14 or more points are just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS when facing a greater than .840 foe. Then again ACC teams counter with a sharp 8-3 SU and ATS in Big Dance finales. Pick your poison. Either way this has all the earmarks of a classic confrontation." Covers Expert Marc Lawrence
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "This is the best matchup we could’ve hoped for. We’ve gotten, and will continue to get, very even action regarding the side. The public will be on Duke while the regular bettors, including a lot of wiseguys, that have been backing Wisconsin throughout the tournament aren’t about to back off the Badgers now. They are going to have to play another perfect game like the one against Kentucky to knock off the Devils. It’s certainly plausible because this is a disciplined, well-coached squad, but Duke has a clear advantage in most areas." John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker.eu.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (36-3): The Badgers have won 21 of their last 22 games, including each of the last four victories by exactly seven points, and avenged a 2014 Final Four loss to Kentucky with Saturday's emotional victory. “This is something we’ve been talking about since Day 1 this season,” Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker told reporters. “Look where we are now.” Kaminsky (18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) was recently named the Associated Press Player of the Year and is the favorite for the Wooden Award, while Dekker (13.9 points) has averaged 20.6 points on 61.3 percent shooting during the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT DUKE (34-4): The Blue Devils have won 17 of 18, capped by a rout of Michigan State in which Okafor was complemented by fellow freshman star Justise Winslow (19 points, nine rebounds) and sturdy senior Quinn Cook (17 points). "It's an amazing thing, I mean, just to be in the Final Four, but to play on Monday night is the ultimate honor," Krzyzewski said to the media. "I hope our guys get their rest and we can get the same type of effort we got tonight. Now they've got a chance to play for a national championship, and damn, damn, how great is that?" The keys for the Blue Devils will include getting off to a better start - they overcame an early 14-6 deficit versus Michigan State - and improved 3-point shooting, as they were 2-of-10 against the Spartans.
TRENDS:
*Under is 6-1 in Blue Devils last 7 overall.
*Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
*Badgers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
*Over is 5-1 in Badgers last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 51 percent of bettors are on the Badgers.
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