Final Four 2022: Prediction, Betting Odds For Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Villanova

March Madness 2022 has featured shocking upsets and a historic Cinderella story, but only traditional college basketball powerhouses are in the Final Four. No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Duke, No. 2 Villanova and No. 8 North Carolina will compete for the national championship at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Duke and North Carolina will meet in the Final Four on April 2, pitting the two rivals against each other in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. The winner of that contest will face either Kansas or Villanova in the national championship game on April 4.

Which team will win the 2022 NCAA Tournament? Here’s a look at the Final Four betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.

Duke +155

The Blue Devils are favored to cut down the nets at the end of March Madness in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season. It’s not a position Duke was expected to be in, even when the team advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Duke opened as a betting underdog against No. 3 Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen. Only half the field started the Sweet Sixteen with worse championship odds than the Blue Devils.

Duke avoided a matchup with No. 1 Gonzaga in the Elite Eight, but the Blue Devils probably would’ve taken down March Madness’ top overall seed with the way they played in the West Region. Paolo Banchero, Jeremy Roach, and Mark Williams have all played extremely well in the NCAA Tournament, turning Duke into an offensive machine that will be difficult to stop.

Kansas +185

The Jayhawks are the only No. 1 seed in the Final Four. While the rest of the top seeds didn’t even reach the Elite Eight, Kansas was barely threatened in the first four rounds. A 79-72 win over No. 9 Creighton in the second round was Kansas’ biggest scare. The Jayhawks outscored No. 10 Miami 47-15 in the second half of the Midwest Regional Final.

Kansas’ defense has led the way in the Big Dance, surrendering fewer than 60 points per game. Remy Martin has been a game-changer, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists off the bench. Ochai Agbaji is arguably the best all-around player in the Final Four, giving Kansas a great chance to win the national title.

Villanova +450

Making the Final Four should almost be expected for Villanova at this point. The Wildcats are seeking their third national title since 2016. Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, Villanova’s two best players in the Final Four, were on the 2018 team that won the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova’s Final Four odds would’ve been better had it not been for the injury suffered by Justin Moore late in the Elite Eight over No. 5 Houston. The Wildcats will be without their No. 2 scorer because of a torn Achilles. Villanova hasn’t given up more than 61 points in any game during March Madness. The team’s defense and knack for making big shots still give it a chance to pick up two more victories.

North Carolina +500

As the No. 8 seed in the East Region, North Carolina is the only Final Four team that was expected to be knocked out early in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels started March Madness with around +2000 odds to win their portion of the bracket. When UNC upset No. 1 Baylor in the second round, it became clear that the team was a real threat to make a deep run.

North Carolina has arguably been the most impressive team of the tournament. The Tar Heels beat No. 9 Marquette by 32 points and ended No. 15 Saint Peter’s magical run with an easy 69-49 victory. With wins over defending champion Baylor and No. 4 UCLA, North Carolina eliminated half of the 2021 Final Four field.

Prediction: Duke

Duke has the most talent of any team in the Final Four, as well as the greatest coach in college basketball history. The combination didn’t lead to a perfect regular season, but the group has put it all together at the right time. With five potential first-round picks on the roster, the Blue Devils are on their way to giving Krzyzewski a storybook ending to his legendary coaching career.