The percentages vary at different sportsbooks, but the public is clearly taking the favorite in Monday night’s NCAA Championship Game.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan is dominating spread tickets and handle at theScore Bet.
- FanDuel has seen a UConn lean on the moneyline.
- BetMGM is sweating out a potential $225,000 payout on a Huskies win.
No. 1 seed Michigan (-6.5) is getting the majority of spread bets and money at FanDuel, BetMGM, and theScore Bet following its throttling of No.1 Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday.
UConn, which upset Illinois in the other game as a slight underdog, is seeing more love on the moneyline. A FanDuel spokesperson told Covers on Monday afternoon that Michigan is getting 52% of the spread handle, the lowest percentage among the three operators. The Huskies are also close in bets, receiving 46% at FanDuel.
BetMGM has seen the widest margins, with the Wolverines getting 70% of the spread bets and 75% of the handle, while theScore Bet is around 65% in both categories.
However, UConn, with odds of +245 at FanDuel, is getting nearly 80% of the wagers. BetMGM reported that the underdog has seen 67% of the bets there. Michigan is still taking the most moneyline handle, even with odds of over -300.
| UConn-Michigan | FanDuel | BetMGM | theScore Bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | UM 54% bets UM 52% handle |
UM 70% bets UM 75% handle |
UM 66% bets UM 64% handle |
| Moneyline | UConn 78% bets UM 51% handle |
UConn 67% bets UM 66% handle |
UM 59% bets UM 79% handle |
Long odds
Books are pulling for Michigan in the futures market. UConn opened the season with March Madness odds of +1,400 at BetMGM, and they grew to +2,800 after the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, as the Huskies were in a competitive East Region with top-seeded Duke. Even after UConn won that region to make the Final Four, it still had the longest odds at +550 to win the national championship at theScore Bet.
BetMGM reported it is sweating out a $25,000 bet on UConn at +900 that will pay out $225,000 if the Huskies win Monday night. Adam Landeka, vice president of theScore Bet Sportsbook, told Covers last Friday it needed any team but UConn to capture the title, so its futures hopes are only with the Wolverines.
Michigan had odds of +2,000 or higher when the market opened, but operators didn’t take much action that early. The Wolverines had a stellar season that kept their odds below +400 entering the tournament. They were the +165 favorites entering last Saturday’s semifinals.
Other markets
The public is also backing the over 144.5 points. BetMGM and theScore Bet have both taken the majority of bets and money on the over, with BetMGM reporting 84% of the handle coming in on a high-scoring game.
FanDuel said its most popular game special is for each team to score 40+ points in each half Monday night.
BetMGM said Michigan’s Aday Mara to score 15+ points at +120 is the operator’s most-bet player prop for the game by tickets. UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. to score 15+ points (-110) is second. Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg to score 15+ points (+110), UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. under 4.5 rebounds (+270), and Trey McKenney over 1.5 3-pointers (+110) round out the top five.
Mara has the shortest odds at +175 to be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player at BetMGM. Lendenborg has the highest handle and ticket percentage of any player in the market, and he’s BetMGM’s biggest liability to win the award.
