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UNC vs Kansas Public Betting Splits – Bettors Hammering Over 152

Sascha Paruk

by Sascha Paruk in College Basketball

Updated Apr 4, 2022 · 8:44 AM PDT

Kansas' Remy Martin, Christian Braun react to win
Kansas' Remy Martin and Christian Braun celebrate after the second half of a college basketball game in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament against Providence Friday, March 25, 2022, in Chicago. Kansas won 66-61. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
  • The 2022 national championship game takes place tonight at 9:20 pm ET at the Superdome in New Orleans
  • The spread, moneyline, and total have been open for betting since Saturday night
  • Below, see the Kansas vs North Carolina public betting trends

The 2022 national championship game between Kansas and North Carolina takes place tonight (9:20 pm ET) at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Kansas vs UNC odds show the Jayhawks as a four-point favorite on gameday, which is the same as the opening line.

This game represents one of the few instances where the betting public has more than 24 hours to wager on a college basketball game. The table below shows how the public has bet on the point spread, moneyline, and game total for the Kansas vs UNC title game.

North Carolina vs Kansas Public Betting Splits

Team Spread % Handle Moneyline % Handle Total % Handle
UNC +4 44% +160 46% Over 152 73%
Kansas -4 56% -190 54% Under 152 27%

Odds and percentages as of April 4, 2022, at DraftKings Sportsbook

 

The moneyline and ATS betting handle for this game are quite narrow. Kansas is getting a little more of the ATS action (56% of the betting handle as four-point favorites) and slightly more moneyline money as well (54%). This is in keeping with the NCAAB public betting tendency to side with the favorites, both straight-up and against the number.

But as the NCAAB public betting splits from the regular season and NCAA Tournament show, siding with the public against the spread has been a major losing play over the past five months.

Over 152 Getting a Lot of Betting Action

The major discrepancy in the Kansas vs UNC betting splits comes on the game total. The public has put a full 73% of its money on over 152. It’s not surprising to see the over getting the bulk of the betting money.

Notably, the major analytics sites both predict this game to go over the total. KenPom has it as an 80-74 Kansas win (154 total points) while Torvik has an identical predicted outcome.

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In addition, both teams play at an up-tempo pace. UNC plays at the 40th-fastest tempo out of 358 DI teams; Kansas is 65th. Both teams are also considerably more gifted at the offensive end. The Kansas offense rates 6th in the country in efficiency while its defense is 17th. UNC’s offense is 18th compared to a 39th-rated defense.

In the Kansas vs UNC player props, no fewer than eight players have an over/under point total in double digits, led by UNC guard Caleb Love (17.5 ppg) and Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji (16.5 ppg), who also happens to be a top-five favorite in the Wooden Award odds.

Kansas  Scores Trending Lower in the Tournament

If tonight’s game does go over 152, it will be the highest-scoring Kansas game in the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks’ totals has landed on 139, 149, 127, 136, and 146. But don’t put too much weight on those previous totals. Kansas has not played a team that ranks in the top 100 in tempo during its March Madness run.

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UNC’s totals have been considerably higher on average and have exceeded 152 in three of five tournament games (158, 179 in OT, 139 ,119, 158). Even their OT game with Baylor hit 160 in the first 40 minutes.

The KanPom and Torvik predictions both take into account the Jayhawks recent lower-scoring games and still have this UNC/Kansas matchup going over 152.

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