Virginia opens as a slight betting favorite over Texas Tech in the National Championship Game and the total is historically low.
The betting odds are in for the National Championship Game between Texas Tech and Virginia are in and the oddsmakers aren’t expecting very much scoring.
Virginia opens as a 1.5-point favorite per OddsShark, and the total is 119, which is the lowest total in NCAA history. The previous record was 128, which was tied between Florida/UCLA in 2006 and Duke/Butler in 2010.
With both teams having elite defenses, points are going to be at a premium, so it might not be an entirely exciting game to watch for casual fans of college basketball. However, it should be a competitive game decided in the final seconds.
The 1.5-point spread matches the line for the 2017 National Championship Game between North Carolina and Gonzaga. The only smaller spreads were in 2015 when Wisconsin was a one-point favorite over Duke, 2006 when Florida was a one-point favorite over UCLA and in 2986 when Duke was favored by one vs. Louisville.
You don’t have to be a gambling pro to know that this spread indicates Monday night’s championship game is going to be a close one, even if it’s not lighting up the scoreboard.
Be sure to check the line before tip on Monday night in case there are some mild fluctuations, which there almost always are.
Do you agree with the oddsmakers that Virginia should be the favorite? Or do you think the way Texas Tech has played that they should be the betting favorite?
Sound off which way you’re leaning and if you’re willing to take the over or the under.