Dean Etheridge
The UConn Huskies (4) take on the Miami Hurricanes (5) in the second Final Four match on Saturday. The Huskies are the only team remaining in this year’s NCAAB Tournament to have previously competed in the Final Four. Standing in their way is a Hurricanes team who have defeated the first and second seeds in the Midwest region. So who will take their place in Monday’s Championship match? Here we try to answer that with our latest NCAAB betting picks.
- What; NCAA Tournament, Men’s Basketball – Final Four
- Who; Connecticut Huskies (4) vs Miami Hurricanes (5)
- Where; NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- When; Saturday, April 1st, 2023
- Tip Off; 8.49 pm ET
This year’s NCAAB tournament has lived up to its name. And it really has been absolute madness. All four top seeds have gone out already, and at No.4, the Huskies are the highest-ranked team left in the competition.
This is also the first time since seeding began in 1979 that none of the top three seeds have made it to the Final Four. And also just the fourth time since seeding began that there won’t be a No.1 seed in the last four. The 2023 NCAA Tournament truly has been a mad competition.
Betting to win the NCAA Tournament
Okay, with just four sides remaining, the pecking order to win the 2023 NCAA Tournament reads: UConn (-145), San Diego State (+400), Miami Hurricanes (FL) (+475), and Florida Atlantic (+600). The best college basketball betting sites clearly see the UConn Huskies as their overwhelming favorites to win the NCAA Tournament for a fifth time.
| 2023 NCAAB Tournament; Final Four Betting |  |  |  |
| Connecticut | -145 | -145 | -145 |
| San Diego State | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Miami Florida | +475 | +475 | +475 |
| Florida Atlantic | +600 | +600 | +600 |
You can find out even more information about these highly rated basketball betting sites at our top rated US sportsbooks reviews page.
The Road to the Final Four
Now, let’s take a look at the form of both sides, and check out how the teams have made it to this stage of the NCAA Tournament. Starting with the Connecticut Huskies.
The Huskies are looking for a fifth NCAA Championship title
The Huskies finished fourth in the Big East. They had a conference record of 13-7, and overall this season they are currently 29-8. When they face the Hurricanes on Saturday night, they will be looking for their 30th win of the season.
So far in the NCAA Tournament, the Huskies have defeated Iona (13), St Mary’s CA (5), Arkansas (8), and Gonzaga Bulldogs (3). The win over the Bulldogs is their only victory over a higher seed, and what a win it was.
To beat one of the higher ranked seeds 82-54 in the Elite Eight was outstanding. The Huskies led by seven points at the halfway stage. But they then smashed the Bulldogs in the second period by 21 points to win the match by 28 points.
(4) UCONN IS FINAL FOUR BOUND 👏
The Huskies steamroll (3) Gonzaga 82-54 and are headed to Houston for the Final Four! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ajJghFGbFL
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2023
Superb Miami should fear no one by now
The journeys of both sides to get to the Final Four have been impressive, but in the case of Miami’s, it has been spectacular. The Hurricanes have knocked out Drake (12), Indiana (4), Houston (1), and Texas (2). For Miami, it has simply been an astonishing run to get this far in the competition.
In the win over Texas in the Elite Eight, the Hurricanes were 45-37 down at the halfway stage. A great second half fightback saw them eventually win the match 88-81. A comeback like that would be great in any circumstances, but to complete it in the Elite Eight against the No.2 seeds was remarkable.
The Hurricanes also smashed the Houston Cougars by 14 points in the Sweet 16, in what was a totally dominant win over the former favorites and No.1 seeds. At this moment in time, they must feel like they have the beating of anybody.
In the regular season, Miami topped the Atlantic Coast with a conference record of 15-5. Overall this season, they are now 29-7.
(5) MIAMI IS ON TO THE ELITE 8 🔥
The Hurricanes win big over (1) Houston 89-75 and will keep dancing 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yzzFx4e6Cj
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2023
UConn vs Miami FL; Final Four Betting
In the betting to win this match, the best March Madness betting sites are firmly behind the Huskies to win.
On the moneyline, UConn are -255, with Miami Florida at +215. This equates to a +5.5 points start for Miami on the handicap. At +5.5, Miami is -108. Starting from -5.5 points, UConn is -112. The total points spread has been set at 149. Both over and under is -110.
Our NCAAB Pick
Almost universally every college basketball expert seems to think UConn is the bet. Out of the four sides remaining in the competition, the Huskies are the only team that regularly mixed it with the betting favorites throughout the season. Whereas, Miami were never really in the mix until now.
We’re not putting much emphasis on Dan Hurley’s team being the only side to have made it to this stage of the competition before though. The last time the Huskies made it this far was in 2014. So that shouldn’t have any bearing on the outcome of Saturday’s match.
What might influence it though is the form of Jordan Hawkins and the fact that the Huskies have won 19 games this season by 15 or more points. The chances are if the Huskies win, they will win big. So we’re making a UConn win on the handicap, our NCAA betting pick for the second match of the night.
