Final Four 2011: VCU Tries To Knock Off Butler In A Clash Of Cinderellas

During March Madness, everyone is a know-it-all, and that’s why Saturday’s Final Four showdown between Butler and VCU is so great. Nobody saw this coming. Not even after No. 11 George Mason pulled off a similar run back in 2006.
The Bulldogs and Rams barely made it in to the Big Dance in the first place. Butler needed a late-season surge to win the Horizon League title, while the so-called experts derided Virginia Commonwealth’s inclusion as a First Four No. 11 seed. Both teams have embraced the underdog role to keep winning upsets, but Butler is the favorite here.
(For updated info on the Final Four game odds, check out SB Nation’s lines partner Odds Shark.)
VCU Rams vs. Butler Bulldogs (-2.5, 133.5)
Butler (27-9 SU, 19-13-2 ATS) plays the rare role of favorite when it takes on Virginia Commonwealth (28-11 SU, 18-20 ATS) in the first national semifinal on Saturday at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The voting and betting community at OddsShark.com was picking Butler at a 62% clip on Thursday.
The No. 8 Bulldogs have been dogged throughout the Tourney, but they’ll be giving away points to the Rams on Saturday. Butler opened as 3-point chalk following the conclusion of the regional finals on Sunday, but it’d been bet down to the current number as of press time. [ College basketball trends ]
The Bulldogs are on a tear since a disappointing three-game SU and ATS losing skid in Horizon League play in late January and into early February. Butler has won 13 straight games SU (9-3-1 ATS) including its 74-71 overtime win as 4-point underdogs over No. 2 Florida in the Southeast Region final last Saturday at New Orleans Arena.
If bettors have learned anything over the last two years, it’s the Bulldogs know how to win ugly, and that’s what makes them hard to bet against for Saturday’s contest. Butler overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to force overtime against Florida, even if it shot only 27.3% (9 of 33) from downtown on the day.
Still, bettors have to like the Rams as pups because of their sparkling 5-0 SU and ATS record in the Dance. VCU has been getting it done in style, too, while Butler has been pulling games out of a hat.
Including their 71-61 victory as 11-point dogs over No. 1 Kansas in the Southwest Region final at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Sunday, the Rams have won by an average of 12 points in the Madness. In the other Final Four matchup, Kentucky is a 2-point favorite against Connecticut. The national championship game goes on Monday night.
Live odds, matchups, links to remaining Final Four games and more every day, visit Odds Shark.