The North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-2 straight up and against the spread in their last nine games as a favorite of 1.5 points or less. If the Tar Heels can earn a win as a small favorite on Monday over the Gonzaga Bulldogs, they will be the 2017 NCAA basketball champions.
Gonzaga vs. North Carolina odds, NCAA tournament championship: Tar Heels small favorites
After falling one game short last season, North Carolina will try to win it all against Gonzaga as betting chalk in the NCAA tournament championship game on Monday night.
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North Carolina is a 1.5-point favorite in Glendale, Arizona at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Tar Heels are 1-2-1 ATS over their last four tournament games.
North Carolina Tar Heels
After beating Kentucky 75-73 on the last shot of the game last Sunday, North Carolina made sure that the last shot of the game didn’t end up in Oregon’s hands on Saturday. The Tar Heels secured their 77-76 lead by grabbing an offensive rebound twice in a row off missed free throws in the closing seconds of the game.
The path back to the championship game wasn’t easy, but North Carolina has successfully traveled it.
The last time these two teams met, North Carolina came out on top in a 98-77 win. The Tar Heels are 0-4 ATS in their last four games after winning the previous game in a matchup while the Bulldogs are 6-0 SU and ATS in their last six games after losing the previous game in a matchup.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga survived as 16-0 second-half run from South Carolina on Sunday to escape with a 77-73 victory. The Bulldogs are best known for their offense, but this is a well-rounded team with a defense that has allowed only 61.8 points per game this postseason.
This game marks the first time all season that the Bulldogs have been an underdog, and they enter with a 1-5 SU record in their last six games as one per the OddsShark College Basketball Database.
Monday’s total is set at 153.5 points. The UNDER is 5-0 in Gonzaga’s last five games against ACC teams.
For all of the excitement that the NCAA tournament provided this season, the cream eventually rose to the top with two No. 1 seeds battling for the title. North Carolina will be shooting for its sixth title in school history while the Bulldogs will be going for their first.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
When: Monday, April 3, 9:20 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
