The Final Four is set. And it will be historic.
For the first time in NCAA tournament history, college basketball’s fiercest rivals will face off, coincidentally, Saturday in the national semifinals in New Orleans.
With North Carolina’s win at this year’s Cinderella Saint Peter’s tournament on Sunday and Duke’s win over Arkansas on Saturday night, the Tar Heels (28-9) and Blue Devils (32-6) will now face off in the Final Four. The two have never played each other in the NCAA tournament, although they have played 257 times since 1920.
There are many storylines in this game as legendary Duke Mike Krzyzewski is on the bench in his final season with a team he led to a record 13 Final Fours. The Blue Devils will not only look to send Coach K out with his sixth national championship, but also avenge the season finale loss to UNC in Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor.
And that is just the beginning.
In the other national semifinal game, Kansas meets Villanova. The Jayhawks (32-6), who halted Miami’s run in the Elite Eight on Sunday, are the only No. 1 seed left in the tournament. The Wildcats (30-7) defeated a really tough Houston team on Saturday to earn their ticket to the Big Easy. Villanova will be without junior guard Justin Moore, who tore his right Achilles tendon in the win over Houston.
Stay tuned for more on both of those Final Four encounters here at FrontPageBets all week. But first, let’s take a look at the opening betting lines as of Sunday night, according to DraftKings. All odds are subject to change.
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 1 Kansas, Saturday 6:09 p.m. TBS
Spread: Kansas -4 (-110); Villanova + 4 (-110)
money line: Kansas-180; Villanova +155
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Duke, Saturday 8:49 p.m. TBS
Spread: Duke -4 (-110); North Carolina +4 (-110)
money line: Duke -190; North Carolina +160
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