Next weekend’s games are already being offered with odds by West Virginia sportsbooks as the Final Four has been officially set.
Before a 2021 champion is crowned, three more exciting contests will bring the March Madness betting in WV to a close.
After Tuesday night’s thrilling Elite Eight games, the matchups have been finalized. Gonzaga and UCLA emerged victorious, securing their spots alongside Baylor and Houston, who advanced on Monday night.
On Saturday, the highly anticipated Final Four begins on CBS with an exciting match-up between No. 1 Baylor and No. 2 Houston, scheduled to start at 5:14 p.m. Following that, No. 1 Gonzaga aims to maintain their flawless season as they face off against No. 11 UCLA.
The teams will enjoy a day off on Sunday before the highly anticipated title game on Monday evening. The game is set to begin at 9 p.m. and will be broadcasted on CBS.
In this analysis, we will examine the odds provided by online sports betting apps in West Virginia and provide a preview of the upcoming games.
Final Four odds at WV sportsbooks
Gonzaga vs. UCLA
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, the top seed in the Big Dance, are proving their worth on the court. With an undefeated record of 30-0 this season, they are on the verge of making history, needing just two wins to achieve their milestone.
In 1976, Indiana achieved an incredible feat by becoming the last men’s college basketball program to finish the year as undefeated champions. If Gonzaga succeeds this season, they would join the exclusive group of teams to accomplish this remarkable milestone.
Although the Bulldogs displayed an impressive performance throughout the regular season, they appeared to have elevated their game to a higher level during the tournament.
Up until now, they have been effortlessly dominating, consistently scoring a minimum of 83 points in every game. The Bulldogs’ most closely contested match occurred in the second round, where they triumphed over Oklahoma by a margin of 16 points.
Despite UCLA being a formidable adversary, it appears that Gonzaga has encountered a more advantageous route to the final. Their toughest opponent so far has been No. 5 seed Creighton in the Sweet 16.
The contrast in seeding becomes apparent when observing the odds for this particular match. According to WV sportsbooks, the point spread shows the Zags as favorites, with a margin of -14.
In West Virginia, bettors have the opportunity to wager on the moneyline as well. At FanDuel WV, Gonzaga is currently listed at -1150, whereas UCLA carries odds of +730.
Seeing Gonzaga struggle is a challenging sight due to the multitude of ways they possess to outplay their opponents. Whether it be through the dominance of Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, or Jalen Suggs, any of them can seize control of a game on any given night.
In the victory over USC, the trio collectively scored a total of 59 points.
UCLA remains a part of the tournament field for a valid reason, as they continue to demonstrate remarkable offensive prowess this March, primarily led by the exceptional performance of guard Johnny Juzang.
The second-year student is currently performing exceptionally well and single-handedly led his team to victory in the Elite Eight. Juzang displayed an impressive performance by scoring 28 points against Michigan, with a shooting accuracy of nearly 58% from the field.
In order for UCLA to potentially cause another upset, their star player must deliver another outstanding performance. To ensure an exciting match, it is hoped that the underdog can remain competitive throughout the majority of the game.
Baylor vs. Houston
On paper, the other National Semifinal presents a more enticing matchup. The formidable No. 1 ranked Baylor Bears will go head-to-head with the second-seeded Houston team.
Baylor’s status as an elite team was questioned by numerous critics following their COVID-19 related hiatus. Their performance suffered as they faced multiple losses towards the end, including a defeat against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament.
Ever since then, the Bears have made a remarkable comeback and are excelling in the game of basketball. Just like Gonzaga, Baylor is encountering minimal challenges in the Big Dance.
The Bears achieved their narrowest win in their most recent game, defeating No. 3 Arkansas with a nine-point margin.
A notable distinction in their journey to the Final Four is that they have emerged victorious against highly esteemed teams. Arkansas had an exceptional year, while No. 5 Villanova and No. 9 Wisconsin were formidable opponents.
Baylor’s distinctiveness lies in its exceptional capacity to obtain scoring contributions from all players. Notably, guards Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, and Davion Mitchell achieved an average of over 14 points per game throughout the regular season.
Someone else always seems to deliver quality output as well. Junior Matthew Mayer scored 17 points in the Sweet 16, while Adam Flagler contributed a total of 26 points in the last two games.
Houston’s primary objective is to stifle the Bears’ progress, and thankfully, it has excelled in achieving this against the majority of its adversaries.
The Cougars have won four tournaments, and they have limited their opponents to scoring over 60 points in only one of those games.
Despite their efficient defense, Houston may require an improvement in their scoring performance. In the opening round, the team managed to score their highest of 87 points, but they have struggled to exceed 67 points since then.
In order to advance, the team might have to score more than just relying on its strong defense against Baylor.
Houston has been struggling with their shooting from beyond the arc recently. In the past two games, they have only made 31% of their shots from deep out of 58 attempts.
It is undeniable that the Cougars defense will present challenges for Baylor. However, in order to progress further, they will also require an improved offensive performance.
Related Articles
