March Madness 2022 Final Four predictions and stats to know before Saturday

Solely three video games separate us from crowning the 2022 nationwide champion, however for now, our focus stays on Saturday’s nationwide semifinals.

Upfront of Duke-North Carolina and Villanova-Kansas, we’ll be breaking down each the facet and complete angles to every sport earlier than sharing finest bets for these angles.

Right here, we’ll be specializing in the perimeters. So with out additional delay, right here’s my analysis of the unfold for every contest and my finest wager throughout the 2.

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Duke Blue Devils (-4) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Blue Devils opened as four-and-a-half-point favorites, however bettors within the favorites can discover it at -4 as of this writing.

Duke and North Carolina cut up the season collection, with every group’s victory approaching the opposition’s flooring. On paper, although, Duke is clearly the superior group. The Blue Devils are second among the many closing 4 when it comes to adjusted effectivity margin and first of 4 in adjusted offensive effectivity, per kenpom.com.

On the flip-side, North Carolina is fourth out of 4 groups in adjusted effectivity margin and final in adjusted offensive effectivity. The intense spot for North Carolina is its offense which ought to be capable to expose a Duke protection that ranks final among the many remaining match groups in adjusted defensive effectivity.

However this Duke offense is clearly superior to the Tar Heels, even in case you simply take into account the 4 match video games. Per sports-reference.com, Duke’s common offensive ranking comes out to 118.25. As for head coach Hubert Davis’ squad, its offensive ranking throughout 4 match video games comes out to 110.25, regardless of taking part in just about the identical opposition energy stage.

Final four analysis
Duke’s AJ Grifin runs down the court docket in opposition to Arkansas
USA TODAY Sports activities

Plus, Duke’s offense carries just a few additional statistical benefits into this assembly. The Blue Devils are 18th nationally in field-goal proportion on the rim whereas North Carolina ranks one hundred and seventieth within the corresponding defensive class. Duke can be thirty third nationally in three-point field-goal proportion, whereas North Carolina ranks exterior the top-200 in defending the arc, per hoop-math.com.

Lastly, given this shapes up as an excellent revenge spot for Duke’s loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium in March, I consider that is the tip of the street for the Tar Heels.

Last 4 prediction: Duke (-4)

Kansas Jayhawks (-4.5) vs. Villanova Wildcats

Set the seeding apart and this feels just like the extra evenly-matched nationwide semifinal.

Villanova’s protection is not any joke. The Wildcats are first among the many remaining 4 groups when it comes to adjusted defensive effectivity, per kenpom.com. Nonetheless, Kansas’ offense ought to show a worthy opponent because it ranks solely behind Duke in adjusted offensive effectivity.


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The one statistical fear for head coach Jay Wright’s squad is that it’s closely reliant on the three-point shot and Kansas defends the arc very effectively. By 4 match video games, the Wildcats have tried a minimum of 40 p.c of all subject objectives from past the arc. And, per hoop-math.com, Kansas ranks twenty fourth nationally in three-point subject purpose proportion in opposition to, permitting slightly below a 30 p.c success price.

Moreover, Villanova has been fairly efficient at crashing the offensive glass thus far within the match – they posted a minimum of a 30 p.c offensive rebounding proportion in three of 4 video games – however I’m not sure that can proceed in opposition to the Jayhawks. By its 4 match video games, the Jayhawks have posted a median defensive rebounding price of 82 p.c, per sports-reference.com.

Kansas' Remy Martin celebrates after scoring a three-point basket against Miami during the second half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at United Center on March 27, 2022 in Chicago.
Kansas’ Remy Martin celebrates after scoring a 3-pointer in opposition to Miami.
Getty Photographs

Lastly, this Kansas protection does very effectively within the half-court and will be capable to restrict Villanova. The Jayhawks are nineteenth nationally in efficient field-goal proportion in opposition to in non-transition conditions, whereas Villanova’s offense is 99th nationally within the opposing offensive class.

All that stated, I've little interest in stepping in entrance of a Villanova offense whose three-point shooters may get scorching at any second. I lean to the Jayhawks advancing, however four-and-a-half factors are too many to put for me.

Last 4 prediction: Lean Kansas (-4.5), however am staying away

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