Kansas Is the Team to Beat at NCAA Final Four, Oddsmakers Say

[clevfan]

Kansas Is the Team to Beat at NCAA Final Four, Oddsmakers Say
By Erik Matuszewski

Las Vegas, April 1 (Bloomberg) -- The University of Kansas Jayhawks, led by the experience of senior All-American candidates Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, are favored to win this year's college basketball title, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Kansas is listed at 7-5 to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship, Texas is 9-5, Syracuse 7-2 and Marquette ranges from 7-2 to 9-2. With Kansas's odds, a successful $5 bet would win $7.

The Jayhawks have shorter odds than Texas -- the only regional top seed remaining -- because of their experience and because they face Marquette, seen as an easier opponent, in Saturday's semifinal, oddsmakers said.

``Kansas is a little more seasoned than the rest,'' said Cesar Robaina, operations manager at Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which helps casinos set betting lines. ``The Jayhawks were in the Final Four last year, and they have a slightly better road to the championship game.''

Kansas is a 4 1/2-point favorite at most sports books for the game against Marquette in New Orleans. Texas is a 3-point favorite over Syracuse in Saturday's other national semifinal.

``These teams are all pretty evenly balanced,'' said Jeff Sherman, manager of the Race and Sports Book at the Palms in Las Vegas. ``Any one of them can win it.''

Kansas was at 10-1 odds last week, but emerged as the Final Four favorite after No. 1 seeds Arizona and Kentucky lost in their regional finals. Second-seeded Kansas beat Arizona 78-75 in the West Regional final, while third-seeded Marquette ended Kentucky's 26-game winning streak 83-69 in the South final.

Top Choices Fall

Kentucky and Arizona, which were 1-2 in the Associated Press media poll for the final month of the season, entered the NCAA tournament as the top choices to win the championship.

``Once you got Kentucky and Arizona out of the mix -- the two one seeds that carried the most weight as point-spread monsters -- Kansas became the favorite,'' Robaina said. ``They easily could have been a No. 1 seed.''

The Jayhawks not only have the leadership of Hinrich and Collison, they have the experience of being in last year's Final Four and the guidance of Roy Williams, who has the highest winning percentage among all active coaches.

Kansas is making its fourth Final Four appearance under Williams, who is seeking the first national title of his 15-year coaching career. The Jayhawks have a 1-3 record in their previous three appearances, including a loss to eventual champion Maryland in last year's semifinals.

``A lot of people feel it's their year finally,'' said Chuck Esposito, assistant vice president of the sports book at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. ``And Roy Williams is a sentimental choice for a lot of folks.''

Kansas-Texas Matchup

If Kansas and Texas reach the championship game, the Jayhawks would probably be favored by a point, oddsmakers said. Kansas won the regular-season meeting between the teams 90-87 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Kansas would be about a 4-point favorite over Syracuse in the final, while Texas would be about a 3 to 4-point favorite over Marquette, oddsmakers said.

If the two underdogs win Saturday, Syracuse would probably be favored by about a point over Marquette, oddsmakers said.