2024 Final Four Weekend
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
The Final Four
The conclusion of the 2024 March Madness tournament has fans and bettors alike on the edges of their seats. Featuring two number 1 seeds that were likely on just about everyone's bracket, as well as 2 unexpected contenders in Alabama and NC State. This blend of Men's college basketball powerhouse teams and unexpected underdogs sets the tournament finale up to be a thrilling affair. Check out our March Madness Prediction page for more info about the tournament, how to pick the best odds and how to predict an NCAAB match.
Matchup Previews
Let's take a closer look at these two games coming up this Saturday and hear from our Men's college basketball experts as they weigh in on what to expect in these matchups.
Purdue (1) vs. NC State (11):
This is without a doubt THE match to watch this weekend, featuring this year's Cinderella story, NC State as they take on the formidable Goliath Purdue team. Similarly to all of the opponents the Wolfpack has taken down this tournament, Purdue enters the match as the overwhelming favorite, currently sitting at an 8.5-point advantage. This matchup at State Farm Arena will be the ultimate test thus far for an NC State team with nothing to lose and riding a huge wave of momentum.
In our opinion:
NC State have gone above and beyond just about everyone's expectations this year. In their last match against Duke, the team really showed their strengths and the sheer aggression they bring to each game. Who doesn't love a good underdog story? They face their toughest opponent yet in Purdue who are easily living up to the high expectations set for them this tournament. We expect a close match despite the sportsbooks clearly favoring Purdue in this matchup. Our prediction is for NC State to cover +9.5!
UCONN (1) vs Alabama (4):
Our second matchup is less of a surprise, despite many brackets favoring the Tar Heels over Alabama in the Sweet 16. UCONN is on track to claim back-to-back tournament championships, a feat that has only been accomplished 7 times in the tournament's history. The Tournament favorites looked shaky in the first period against a rallying Illinois team but put up a 30-0 run in the second period, finishing with a resounding victory. UCONN is currently favored by 11.5-points against a high0scoring Alabama team. With both teams boasting impressive offenses, this game is likely to be a shootout.
In our opinion:
Our experts predict a resounding win for UCONN by a margin of at least 10 points. Given UCONN's dominance in the tournament and their incredible defense, the Huskies are expected to comfortably cover the spread at -12.
Where to watch
The 2024 Men's College basketball Final Four matches are scheduled for this Saturday, April 6th at 6:00 PM ET and 8:49 PM ET. Both matches will be played at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. You can catch the match on TBS or tune into ncaa.com and head over to their live match section for a free preview!
| Final Four Match | Date | Time | Channel / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue (1) vs NC State (11) | Sat. April 6th | 6 PM ET | TBS / NCAA.com |
| Alabama (4) vs UCONN (1) | Sat. April 6th | 8:49 PM ET | TBS / NCAA.com |
In Summary
The Final Four is always an exciting time for sports fans and the top sportsbooks offer extra incentives which are totally worth taking advantage of during the tournament. Our rule of thumb is to never favor a team simply due to their seeds as the tournament is notorious for its upsets. Another key to growing your bankroll this March/April is to leverage the promos and bonuses offered by sportsbooks to get the most out of your bets. Stay informed, find the value bets, and enjoy the games!
