Ricky Dimon
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Through the end of March Madness, we will be providing a daily update with everything you need to know about the NCAA Tournament. Covering line movements to betting trends, statistics, quotes, and more, we will provide you with everything you need to know about all of happenings in Indiana.
With the Final Four coming up on Saturday, let’s take another daily in-depth look at the Big Dance.
Line movements
Move for the favorite
Gonzaga -13.5 to -14 vs. UCLA
Move for the under
Baylor-Houston 135.5 to 134.5
Gonzaga-UCLA 145.5 to 145
Public Money
Let’s take an early look at where the money is going in advance of Saturday’s Final Four showdowns.
Baylor -5 vs. Houston
Per DraftKings, the public is hammering Baylor in the first national semifinal between the Bears and Cougars. A total of 89 percent of the handle and 83 percent of the wagers are coming in on Baylor -5. The value on the -225 money line may not be as enticing, but 78 percent of the handle and 65 percent of the bets are backing the Bears to win outright.
Gonzaga -14 vs. UCLA
Bettors have been all over the Gonzaga throughout this NCAA Tournament, and nothing appears to be changing in advance of the Final Four. Early money is on the Zags against UCLA on Saturday night; despite the lofty spread, they are getting backed by 86 percent of the handle and 72 percent of the bets.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. UCLA Bruins preview and picks
Stat of the Day
55 percent – Percentage of UCLA’s points scored Johnny Juzang in Monday’s 51-49 win over Michigan in the Elite Eight
It would be accurate to say that Juzang led UCLA to the Final Four on Monday. But it would also be a gross understatement. The sophomore scored 18 of the Bruins’ 27 first-half points against the Wolverines and the trend continued over the last 20 minutes. He finished with 28 of his team’s 51 points. That is all well and good for Juzang, but head coach Mick Cronin’s squad is going to need a lot more from other sources if it wants to keep up with high-powered Gonzaga. Only Juzang (28) and Tyger Campbell (11) scored more than four points against Michigan.
Quote of the Day
“Starting Wednesday (or) Thursday, we’ll probably be locked in and won’t talk as much. We’ll talk in passing and get ready to play. It’s all love, but he’s as competitive as I am.”
— Houston assistant coach Alvin Brooks on his son, Alvin Brooks III—an assistant coach at Baylor
Yes, it will be a father-son showdown when Baylor and Houston square off in the first Final Four game on Saturday evening. Alvin Brooks was the Cougars’ head coach from 1993 to 1998 and he has been an assistant since 2010 (currently under head coach Kelvin Sampson). Alvin Brooks III has been an assistant for the Bears since 2016. Baylor and Houston previously went head-to-head with the Brooks boys on the benches in a 2017 preseason exhibition. Needless to say, the stakes will be just a bit higher this time around!
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