The 2024 March Madness Tournament’s Final Four begins this Saturday at 6:09 PM on TBS/TNT. The first game pits the defending national champions against an SEC team that has exceeded expectations.
Alabama Crimson Tide (#4) vs. Connecticut Huskies (#1)
- Point Spread: +11.5 UConn -11.5
- Moneyline: Alabama +500, UConn -750
- Over/Under 161.5
Online sportsbooks have created lines for betting on the Final Four that heavily favor the Huskies to beat the Crimson Tide. The Huskies’ first four wins in this year’s tournament have been by margins of 39, 17, 30, and 25.
UConn is favored against Alabama in the Final Four, but the Crimson Tide have done well to separate themselves from their March Madness opponents. Their closest game was against the 1-seeded North Carolina Tarheels, where they won by 2 points.
Later Saturday evening at 8:49 PM on TBS/TNT, an 11-seed faces a 1-seed for a trip to the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Game.
NC State Wolfpack (#11) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (#1)
- Point Spread: NC State +9.5, Purdue -9.5
- Moneyline: NC State +375, Purdue -525
- Over/Under: 146.0
Online March Madness sportsbooks are suggesting that the Wolfpack’s Cinderella story will end in the Final Four against the Boilermakers, as Purdue holds a 9.5-point edge in the spread.
One reason Purdue has experienced so much success thus far is the outstanding play of center Zach Edey. He has scored 30, 23, 27, and 40 points in his four tournament games, and college basketball prop bets are posted that imply his total will be north of 26 against NC State.
Total Points – Zach Edey
- Over 25.5 -130
- Under 25.5 -110
Edey’s massive physical presence in the paint also results in the collection of several rebounds. He has gathered 21, 14, 14, and 16 boards in four March Madness games, and NCAAB props favor an outcome where he’ll get 14 or more on Saturday.
Total Rebounds – Zach Edey
- Over 13.5 -125
- Under 13.5 -115
The Wolfpack’s DJ Burns, Jr., a 6’9″ senior forward who weighs 275 pounds, is seeking to challenge Edey. Burns is coming off his season-high scoring performance, dropping 29 against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite 8.
UConn still tops the futures odds for betting on the College Basketball National Championship, just as they have since before the tournament began. Their lead has diminished by 100 points, as they previously held a 300-point advantage over the now-eliminated Houston Cougars.
2024 March Madness Futures
- Connecticut (#1) -200
- Purdue (#1) +210
- Alabama (#4) +1500
- NC State (#11) +1500
Edey and the Boilermakers have closed the gap on the Huskies, trailing by 190 points in the moneyline odds to win. If both 1-seeds advance to the Final, early betting lines have Purdue placed as a 5-point underdog.
2024 March Madness National Championship Game
- Alabama/UConn Winner vs. NC State/Purdue Winner
- April 8th At 9:20 PM On TBS/TNT
Sources:
- Bovada (Bovada March Madness Betting Site Review)
- CBS Sports
- ESPN – Zach Edey Statistics
- Official 2024 NCAA March Madness Bracket
