No. 8 UNC (+4) over No. 1 Kansas
There has not been a team with a more impressive run this tournament than UNC. The Tar Heels have racked up significant wins against the nation’s best teams, including Baylor, UCLA, and Duke, to their resume. They have been explosive on offense, led by sophomore guard Caleb Love and junior forward Armando Bacot. UNC’s defense has stepped up, too, limiting their longtime rival Duke to shooting only 5-for-22 from the 3-point line in their Final Four matchup. The Tar Heels sealed the storybook ending for Coach K’s career in that win as the legendary coach will finish his tenure with his last two losses courtesy of the Tar Heels. There has not been a more dynamic and consistent team this tournament than the Tar Heels. They have proven so by barreling through the competition, ending Baylor’s hopes of repeating its title last year and shutting the door on St. Peter’s Cinderella story.
On the other hand, Kansas has quietly made its way to the Finals. The Jayhawks were fortunate enough to have a relatively easy road to the Championship, avoiding powerhouse teams like Auburn and Wisconsin and squaring off against squads such as No. 10 Miami and No. 4 Providence. They have yet to play a team even close to the Tar Heels’ caliber, especially since Villanova played without their No. 2 star Justin Moore in their Final Four matchup. In that win, the Jayhawks put away the Wildcats early as forward David McCormack cashed in with 25 points to lead Kansas to victory. They also had key contributions from guard Ochai Agbaji who contributed 21 points, and sophomore Jalen Wilson, who pounded the board with 12 rebounds. Just because the Jayhawks have quite faced elite competition doesn’t take away from the fact that they are deserving of a No. 1 seed and have been one of the most dangerous teams in the NCAA all season.
If Kansas wants to win this game, the Jayhawks will need to step up the tempo. UNC tends to play at a fast pace and is at its best in transition. The Tar Heels will look to create turnovers and end the Jayhawks’ methodical approach on offense. If UNC can hit their shots, the Jayhawks will have difficulty keeping up the pace.
As a Tar Heel fan, I have refrained from using my bias all tournament. I had them losing in the second round to Baylor in my bracket and even picked both UCLA and Duke to cover the spread and defeat them in their matchups. However, I’m backing my Tar Heels to win the Championship behind first-year head coach Hubert Davis, who took over for the legendary Roy Williams, who retired last April. UNC has simply blown away the top competitors in this tournament, despite having the odds stacked against them. Not only will the Tar Heels cover, but they will triumph against the Jayhawks and be crowned NCAA Champions. Take the points and back the Moneyline.
