There is no clear front-runner to win the 2023 college basketball national title. Three teams have been installed as favorites at Las Vegas sportsbooks.
NCAA Tournament
Kansas bettors, including one who made a $1 million wager at Red Rock Resort sportsbook shortly before tipoff, were hoping for a cover in the final seconds.
“It was the greatest comeback in Mattress Mack history,” said Linda McIngvale, the wife of Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, after Kansas rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit.
It took a comeback for the ages, but the Jayhawks prevailed over North Carolina 72-69 on Monday night for the national championship.
Former Oklahoma forward Brady Manek has made a major impact in his only season at North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels to the NCAA title game against Kansas.
Kansas is a 4½-point favorite over North Carolina after opening as low as -3½, and the total is 152 for Monday’s NCAA championship game in New Orleans.
The Kansas Jayhawks had the nation’s No. 1-ranked basketball team two years ago before the NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
Kansas has dominated as a top seed, winning its five NCAA Tournament games by an average of 16.2 points, while North Carolina has had a tougher path as a No. 8 seed.
North Carolina edged Duke in an NCAA Tournament Final Four semifinal that ended the coaching career of Mike Krzyzewski.
Houston furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale wagered $3.3M to win $6.2M at Caesars Sportsbook in Louisiana and $2.2M to win $4.2M at Barstool Sportsbook.
Longtime rival North Carolina is set to face Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke team in a second national semifinal on Saturday at the Caesars Superdome.
Caleb Daniels has come home to New Orleans to play in a Final Four, after having twice contracted COVID-19 and being diagnosed with a heart condition.
Breaking down each of the national semifinals — Kansas vs. Villanova and Duke vs. North Carolina.
Long considered college basketball’s best-dressed head coach, Jay Wright has followed the lead of peers and opted for a polo over a suit the last two seasons.
The Kansas Jayhawks are consensus 4½-point favorites over the Villanova Wildcats after the line opened as low as -3 at the South Point sportsbook.
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