No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 1 Kansas
Kansas to WIN the game and Ochai Agbaji to SCORE at least 15 PTS, +136 (bet $100 to win $136)
Why pick Agbaji to score 15?: KU’s fast-paced, high-pressure rim game is led by first-team All-American Ochai Agbaji, who’s coming off an impressive 18-point dub over Miami. He’s averaging 18.9 points and shooting 39.7 percent from deep in the tourney. We loooooove Agbaji’s matchup advantage over the Wildcat wings.
Why pick Kansas?: Unfortunately Nova – who was already rolling with a six-man rotation – will be without Justin Moore, who tore his Achilles in the Elite Eight victory over Houston. This Jayhawks team excels on both ends of the floor, and could be too much for a short-bench Wildcat squad that struggles to block shots and crash the defensive boards.
No. 8 UNC vs. No. 2 Duke
Duke to WIN the game and Paolo Banchero to SCORE at least 15 PTS, +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
Why pick Duke?: Forget stats for a minute — this game is just cosmic. Coach K’s Final Ride, UNC upsets Duke in the ACC Championship, and now they meet in the Final Four. It’s been a helluva ride for the Heels, but we think this might be the end of the road.
Why pick Banchero?: The Farewell Tour cannot be stopped with Duke hitting 50% or more of its shots in each of its last four contests. Banchero is averaging 18.5 points and shooting 50.9% in the tourney as the engine that makes the Blue Devils’ offense go.
