NCAA Picks: UConn vs. Butler

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 November -0001 16:00
Written by Super User
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A year removed from missing the tournament altogether, the UConn Huskies are playing in the NCAA championship title game tonight against the Butler Bulldogs.

Tip-off for the game is at 9:20 pm ET and the current line at bodog is UConn (-3) with an Over/Under of 129.

When the line opened for this game several sportsbooks were posting a line of -4 and we can still see a lot of -3.5’s on the board but it finally seems as if the Bulldogs are getting some respect. Before their 70-62 win against VCU, Butler was an underdog in all four games for this year’s March Madness tournament.

UConn is 2-0 SU in two National Championship games all-time

Last season the Bulldogs were dogs three times in the big dance, including their 61-59 loss to Duke in the final and Butler’s record as a tournament dog the past two seasons is a perfect 7-0 ATS. Butler also has a strong record against teams with record above .600 (22-4-2 ATS) but they have not faced the likes of Kemba Walker during that run and this year’s leading candidate for tournament MVP is proving to be unstoppable.

WALKER FACTOR

Walker has averaged 23.7 points throughout the season and during the tournament he’s upped the ante to 25 points per game. Great players find a way to turn up their game when it matters most and Mr. Clutch has risen the occasion consistently while helping the others around him elevate their game as well.

PREDICTION
The Huskies have won 10-straight games including a sweep of the Big East tournament and with the challenges they faced all season, we feel Coach Jim Calhoun’s squad if more prepared for this matchup. Shelvin Mack will present challenges for Walker but with Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Jeremy Lamb making big contributions we’re backing the Huskies to get the cover.

Pick: Take UConn

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