Pedro Oliveira
In the first NCAA national semifinal we have a spectacular encounter between Villanova University and the University of Kansas. The Wildcats looked like the underdogs against the University of Houston and emerged victorious thanks to a score of 50-44, while the Jayhawks ended the dreams of the University of Miami with a dominant score of 76-50.
Only one of them will go to the grand final of March Madness and will be able to face Duke University or North Carolina to define the national champion.
Picks and Predictions for the Villanova Wildcats vs Kansas Jayhawks NCAA Basketball Championship Final Four Game on April 2
- Where: Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
- When: Saturday, April 02, 07:09 PM ET
- Betting Line: Villanova Wildcats (+4.5) vs Kansas Jayhawks (-4.5)
Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 30-7
- Conference Record: 16-4
- Spread: +4.5
- Over/Under: Over 132.5
- Moneyline: +165
The win against the Cougars was an impressive demonstration that this Villanova team is made to win even if all odds are against them. Without a doubt, they are the most correct team and discipline in terms of fundamentals in the entire NCAA, having an 83% free throw percentage (the highest so far in the history of the tournament) and averaging only 9.9 losses per game.
Despite having had a poor offensive night against Houston, they beat one of the most complicated opponents in that area in the defensive duel and thanks to these offensive qualities that we mentioned before they took the duel in their favor. The only problem within the Wildcats is their short roster, as they typically deploy only seven players through their games, and with Justin Moore finishing the game on crutches without yet knowing the severity of his injury, it must be considered a sensitive casualty for the team led by Jay Wright.
The Wildcats will face the strongest team they’ve had in front of them so far this competition: the Jayhawks are a team with no apparent weaknesses and the talent to be national champions without any problems. It will all depend on how well they can control the paint and not decay from the offensive side. Both Jermaine Samuels (16 points, 10 rebounds vs Houston) and group leader Collin Gillespie must have great displays to achieve their team’s rankings.
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 32-6
- Conference Record: 14-4
- Spread: –4.5
- Over/Under: Under 132.5
- Moneyline: -195
The biggest advantage Kansas has in this game is its ability to dominate the boards: taking about 33% of its missed shots as offensive rebounds, it creates a range of possibilities to diversify the points where to hurt Villanova, which is not a very prominent team in terms of defensive or offensive rebounds. Nor do they possess a presence capable of nullifying stars like David McCormack and Jalen Wilson in the paint.
Although Remy Martin did not have the quality he had shown in previous games, he did not need much as the Jayhawks finished the game midway through the second quarter, but against the Wildcats his participation will be of great importance to compete against the great star Collin Gillespie, who is the most key point of the offense carried out by Villanova.
In turn, Ochai Agbaji has to continue his dominance as the team’s top scorer and will represent a nightmare on the perimeter and inside the paint for the Villanova team. At the end of the day, the University of Kansas has the most talented roster loaded with names that could have an impact on the NBA in the future, and that we know is a big advantage, the deeper your roster, the fewer people you depend on having a flawless game.
For Kansas, the task is simple: match Villanova in ball care, press defensively without sending them to the free throw line and dominate rebounds at both ends of the game. Doing all this, there’s no way the Jayhawks will lose the pass to the national finals.
JefeBet Prediction
It’s a very close and exciting game, but Kansas’ dominance during the tournament and throughout the NCAA season cannot be underestimated, as can the string of games in which the Wildcats have emerged victorious. Because of the talent on the roster and the lack of casualties, the Jayhawks have the best chance of taking this game, and could largely limit the Wildcats’ offense with extra pressure on Collin Gillespie.
Although anything can happen at March Madness, this game is from the University of Kansas to lose.
