Tonight’s NCAA Championship between Duke and Butler is of historic proportions. The Horizon League champions have marched through the competition beating the likes of #1 Syracuse, #2 Kansas State and, most recently, #5 Michigan State. The Bulldogs are on the longest winning streak in the country at 25 games. Duke hasn’t had an easy road either with #4 Purdue, #3 Baylor and #2 West Virginia in the last three rounds.
Still, what Butler has done is unmatchable. There are cases of mid-major teams slipping through the cracks to knock off major conference schools like Davidson getting to the Elite Eight of 2008 or St. Joseph’s in 2004. George Mason is the most notable case, reaching the Final Four in 2007. But, Butler has a chance to win it all. No school from any non-Big Six conference has won the title since UTEP did it to Kentucky in 1966.
The Bulldogs are the first Horizon League team to make it to the Elite Eight, Final Four, or the NCAA Championship. Their defense has been stellar and carried them through the tournament. They are the only team to ever hold their five opponents under 60 points in five wins in the NCAA Tournament. Butler is allowing only 55.2 points per game on average, even better than its regular season average of 59.4 points per game.
Duke and coach Mike Kryzyzewski are making their first appearance in the title game since they won it in 2001. The Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS. North Carolina covered all six spreads on the way to a national championship last year but a perfect 6-0 run ATS last occurred in 2006 with Florida. Duke’s Jon Scheyer, Kyle Single and Nolan Smith all finally played to their potential against West Virginia and showed how deadly they can be to opponents. If the trio can replicate that performance, Butler will have no chance. But, the Bulldogs have shut down some of the nation’s best offenses.
Butler center Matt Howard suffered a mild concussions in the win over Michigan State and is a game-time decision. Butler is listed as 8-point underdogs but are 15-5 ATS in the last 20 games when listed at 8 points or less.
Duke vs. Butler Odds
Duke: 2/7 Party Bets
Butler: 29/10 Ladbrokes