Final Four Betting Trends in New Orleans (Using 2012 Final Four to Find Betting Value)

The Final Four is upon us this weekend with four historic programs travelling to New Orleans, Louisiana to play inside the Superdome.

Duke will face ACC rival North Carolina in the Final Four while Villanova and Kansas will battle in the other national semifinal.

This is the third time since the turn of the century that New Orleans is hosting the Final Four, most recently in 2012 and the other being in 2003. How have teams fared in those settings? Let's take a look back before we project this weekend's slate of games.

New Orleans' Final Four History

In the four semifinal matchups in the 'Big Easy' totals went over in both games in 2003, but under in each game in 2012. As for sides, the two Final Four's split in 2003, but each dog covered in 2012.

Overall, there hasn't been a massive edge to blindly betting any sort of side or total in the Final Four, and the limited sample on the Final Four's in New Orleans specifically don't show much either.

Dating back to 2005, so not including the 2003 Final Four that had both games go over, totals are 16-16 and favorites are 16-15-1.

Ironically, Kansas has played in both of the most recent Final Four's in NOLA, winning each of their Final Four meetings but losing in the National Championship. KU won both times outright as an underdog, winning as a 3-point dog against Ohio State in 2012 and a 4-point pooch in 2003 against Marquette.

The Jayhawks will be in a different role in their third trip to New Orleans for the Final Four, as they are 4.5-point favorites against Villanova on Saturday night at WynnBET Sportsbook.

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