NCAA MENS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BETTING

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Sunday NCAA Gameday

NCAA Mens Basketball Championship Betting At Bodog Sportsbook

The Cinderella runs are now done - it's time to let the big boys battle for the title.

True, all of the tournament's top seeds were eliminated before Saturday's semi-final matchups took place, but title game contenders UCLA and Florida aren't slouches when it comes to high-level hoops. The Bruins were the No. 2 seed in their region, while the Gators had been a No. 3 seed in their part of the bracket.

And each of those teams easily won their Final Four game on Saturday night.

The Gators got 19 points from both Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey in a 73-58 win over the George Mason Patriots. Taurean Green picked up 15 points in the victory, while Joakim Noah tossed in 12 points and grabbed eight boards. The Gators were up by five points at the break, and cruised to the win and the cover.

Meanwhile, Luc Mbah a Moute led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds for UCLA in a 59-45 win over the LSU Tigers in their semi-final game. Jordan Farmar scored 12 points and added four assists, while Arron Afflalo had nine points and picked up six boards. The Bruins had been the underdog in the game.

And that underdog victory ran UCLA's against-the-spread record in the NCAA Tournament to 3-2. The Bruins covered a big spread in the first round against Belmont, won but didn't cover in their next two games, and then rattled off two straight underdog victories. Here is the Bruins' path to the championship game:

Round 1: Defeated Belmont 78-44 (UCLA -17.0, Posted Total 135.0)
Round 2: Defeated Alabama 62-59 (UCLA -8.5, Posted Total 128.0)
Round 3: Defeated Gonzaga 73-71 (UCLA -3.5, Posted Total 136.5)
Round 4: Defeated Memphis 50-45 (Memphis -2.5, Posted Total 135.0)
Round 5: Defeated LSU 59-45 (LSU -2.0, Posted Total 122.0)

Those taking the UNDER on UCLA games have been rewarded four out of five times to this point in the tournament. The Bruins' only OVER result came in their game against Gonzaga, when they were forced to score 44 points in the second half to secure the win. In their last two games, UCLA has given up only 90 points.

Florida has paid off even better for their supporters in the tournament, compiling a 5-0 record against-the-spread. Only their third-round victory over Georgetown, in which they were favored by 2.5 points and won by four points, was close to an against-the-spread loss. Here is the Gators' path to the championship game:

Round 1: Defeated South Alabama 76-50 (Florida -8.5, Posted Total 143.0)
Round 2: Defeated Wisc-Milwaukee 82-60 (Florida -7.5, Posted Total 144.5)
Round 3: Defeated Georgetown 57-53 (Florida -2.5, Posted Total 128.5)
Round 4: Defeated Villanova 75-62 (Villanova -1.5, Posted Total 138.5)
Round 5: Defeated George Mason 73-58 (Florida -6.0, Posted Total 132.0)

The Gators have been pouring in the points during the tournament, but solid defense and high posted game totals have made them 0-5 OU through five rounds. Florida has scored 73 or more points four times in the tourney, and have not allowed their opponents to score more than 62 points in any of their contests.

Florida has played in only one other title game in school history, back in 2000 when they lost 89-76 to the Michigan State Spartans. The Bruins last won the NCAA Championship in 1995 by an 89-78 score over the Arkansas Razorbacks; that was UCLA's first trip to the title game since losing to Louisville in 1980.

Oddsmakers like Florida's chances in the championship game, setting the Gators as 2-point favorites on the opening line. The opening total was set at 127 points. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:21pm ET on Monday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

 

NCAA Mens Basketball Championship Betting at Bodog Sportsbook

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