UConn Opens as a Favorite Against San Diego State in NCAA Championship Game

UConn Opens as a Favorite Against San Diego State in NCAA Championship Game

In the final AP Poll at the end of the regular season, UConn was ranked #10 in the nation, and Miami was ranked #16. Neither team earned a preseason ranking.

UConn obliterated everyone in their path to the championship game, and they won four March Madness games by at least 23 points. The Huskies became only the sixth team in March Madness history to win their first five tournament games by a double-digit margin. They blew out #13 Iona, #5 St. Mary s, #8 Arkansas, and #3 Gonzaga to lock up a spot in the Final Four.

Miami fell behind early but tied the game at 19-19 midway through the first half. Propelled by a 18-5 run, UConn headed into halftime with a 13-point lead. Miami trailed by 20-plus in the second half, but their last-gasp rallies fell short. UConn held on to win, 72-59.

We re able to kind of body blow our opponent, said UConn head coach Danny Hurley.

We feel like we re the best defense in the nation, added senior guard Tristen Newton.

UConn forward Adama Sanogo led all scorers with 21 points in the victory. The junior, originally from Mali, also hauled down ten rebounds and blocked two shots.

Miami was designated with a #5 seed in March Madness. They defeated #12 Drake, #4 Indiana, #1 Houston, and #2 Texas to earn a spot in the Final Four.

When the tournament began, UConn was +1600 odds to win March Madness. At the start of the Final Four, UConn saw their championship odds improve to -125.

UConn is the second-best betting team in the country this season, with a 26-11-1 ATS record. They covered all five March Madness games and were 10-1 ATS in their previous 11 games.