2011 Final Four Odds, Predictions and Free Picks – Spread and Totals on VCU vs Butler and Uconn vs Kentucky: To say that the 2011 NCAA tournament has had a few surprises would be the understatement of the decade. Not a single No. 1 seed made it to the Final Four, and the No. 2 seeds were all sent packing as well. The No. 3 Connecticut Huskies are the highest remaining seed, and one side of the bracket contains a No. 8 and No. 11 seed.
Needless to say, the bettors that went for the smart money are looking foolish, and the true gamblers have had the chance to make some serious cash. Upsets have been the theme of this year’s tournament, and crowning a champion from outside of the supposed power conferences is a very real possibility. Brackets have been destroyed throughout the month of March, but there are three games left for bettors to try to recoup some losses.
2011 Final Four Matchup Previews
No. 3 UConn vs. No. 4 Kentucky: Both programs are among the most decorated in college basketball, but neither team was expected to add to its legacy in 2011. Instead, the Huskies and the Wildcats are back in the Final Four, and one team will play for a national title. Throw in the fact that Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun and Kentucky coach John Calipari have a rivalry that dates back to a recruitment war over Marcus Camby, and you have all the makings for an intense showdown.
There are a lot of similarities between the two squads. UConn is led by star guard Kemba Walker, and UK is led by star guard Brandon Knight. Both players have been taking and making big shots throughout the tournament, and at times, both players have carried their teams. Neither team has a lot of depth, but at this stage in the tournament, everyone is playing on adrenaline anyway.
The Huskies are going to continue to lean on Walker, but the emergence of freshman guard Jeremy Lamb has given UConn a 1-2 punch that is tough to contain. However, Kentucky isn’t shy about playing defense, and holding Ohio State to 60 points is evidence of that. Containing Walker and Lamb will be the key for the Wildcats, but Walker has been a marked man throughout the tournament, and no one has been able to stop him yet.
For Kentucky, big men Josh Harrellson and Terrence Jones could be game changers. Both players are growing more confident by the game, especially Harrellson. The Huskies’ post players have been up and down all season, and if Jones and Harrellson continue their efficient play, the game is going to be at the Wildcats’ pace.
Walker’s big shot ability has been the deciding factor for UConn throughout this tournament, but Knight gives Kentucky an equalizer.
2011 Final Four Semifinal Projected Winner: Kentucky
No. 8 Butler vs. No. 11 VCU: At the start of the tournament, Butler and VCU were both popular picks to pull a second-round upset, but the fact that both teams are in the Final Four is nothing short of remarkable. The fact that Butler, a team from a mid-major conference, was able to make back-to-back Final Four appearances is even more incredible. The clock will finally strike midnight for one of these Cinderella teams, but one will be marching on to play for the national title.
The path through the field of 68 couldn’t have been different for the two squads. For starters, VCU had to defeat USC in one of the play-in games to even be a part of the 64-team field. The Rams have more or less been the superior team in every game thus far. Double-digit wins have been common, and they even controlled the tempo against No. 1 Kansas.
Meanwhile, Butler has used last second shots and overtime to get to the Final Four. Survive and advance has been the Bulldogs’ motto, and they have done just that. From its buzzer beater against Old Dominion in the opening game to the rally from 11 points down in the second half against Florida, Brad Stevens’ squad has been pushed to the limit time and time again but always answers the bell.
With the precision passing of Joey Rodriguez and the scoring ability of Jamie Skeen, the fast and athletic backcourt of the Rams has dominated the competition. Rodriguez gets everyone on the court involved in the offense, and the team approach keeps the rest of players active on both ends of the court. The Bulldogs have a stud guard of their own in Shelvin Mack. Along with the timely buckets from Matt Howard, Mack gives Butler enough fire power on offense to complement the Bulldogs’ physical defense. The style of play keeps most games close, but Butler has proven to be more than capable of winning close games.
The game could come down to the play of Ronald Nored. Butler’s junior guard has been an absolute lockdown defender on defense. If he can bother VCU’s Rodriguez enough to disrupt the Rams offense, the Bulldogs could slow down the VCU offense just enough to pull out another tight win.
2011 Final Four Projected Winner: Butler
2011 National Championship Prediction: Butler
It has been an unpredictable tournament, and almost every game seems to be coming down the final minutes. No team has been able to pull off late game heroics better than the Butler Bulldogs. They came within a few inches of winning the national title one year ago, and the experience of playing in the big game could be the difference in closing the deal this year. They flat out know how to win and know how to stay composed in pressure-packed situations. They aren’t the quickest team left in the field. They aren’t the biggest. They don’t have the best player. However, they may just be the best team, and that is what it is going to take to win the title.
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2011 Final Four Semifinal Game 1: No. 11 VCU (28-11) vs No. 8 Butler (27-9)
Vegas Odds – Favorite: Butler -2.5 Total: Over/Under 133
Time: 6:09 PM EST
TV: CBS
FREE PICK: Play Butler -2.5
2011 Final Four Semifinal Game 2: No. 4 Kentucky (29-8) vs No. 3 Connecticut (30-9)
Vegas Odds – Favorite: Kentucky -2 Total: Over/Under 141.5
Time: 8:49 PM EST
TV: CBS
FREE PICK: Play Kentucky -2
2011 Final Four Odds and Lines UPDATED Instantly from BoDog Sportsbook