NCAA Basketball Championship Picks – It’s David vs. Goliath as Butler Looks to Slay Duke

The fifth-seeded Butler Bulldogs will look to finish off their miraculous run to the 2010 NCAA Championship game and take down the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils when the ‘David and Goliath’ ballclubs meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in the NCAA Tournament title tilt tonight at 9 PM ET.

Monday, April 5, 9:15 PM ET
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
TV: CBS

NCAAB Betting Odds: Duke -7
(O/U) 128.5

Butler Bulldogs (33-4 SU, 17-20 ATS, 15-20 O/U)
Duke Blue Devils (34-5 SU, 23-13-2 ATS, 16-22 O/U)

Butler a mid-major program, has knocked off some of the biggest names in college basketball by beating Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State in its last three games to reach the national final.

Duke hasn’t had quite the treacherous trek to the finals, but has looked mostly phenomenal in winning two of their last three games by double digits to reach the national championship.

Butler 411

• Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
  
• Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
  
• Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
  
• Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
  
• Bulldogs are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games as an underdog.

The Bulldogs squeaked past the Michigan State Spartans 52-50 in their Final Four matchup on Saturday as sweet-shooting sophomore forward Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 19 points while grabbing eight rebounds.

Sophomore point guard Join Now!

Duke 411

• Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
  
• Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
  
• Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

The Blue Devils jumped all over the West Virginia in their emphatic 78-57 win in their Final Four matchup on Saturday. The Blue Devils got a game-high 23 points from senior guard Jon Scheyer and 21 points and nine rebounds from junior forward Kyle Singler as they covered the college basketball betting odds as a 2.5-point favorite.

Duke averages 77.4 points per game while allowing just 61.0 points per contest defensively.

Analysis: I guess it’s true when they say ‘all good things must come to and end’ because I just don’t see the spirited Butler Bulldogs winning this game over a Duke team that looks like the only team in the country that can match the Bulldogs special mental capabilities.

Unfortunately for the ‘David-like’ Bulldogs, they are also a lesser physical specimens than the taller, slightly more athletic ‘Goliath-like’ Blue Devils.

Duke has been on fire when it comes to covering the spread for college basketball betting enthusiasts throughout the course of the NCAA Tournament, going a perfect 5-0 ATS through five games while winning every game they’ve played except one by double digits.

Butler’s last three victories tell me they’re capable of beating any team in the nation – and I believe the Bulldogs’ dogged (pardon the pun) defense will be enough to help them narrowly cover the NCAA Basketball championship game betting odds with just a bit of room to spare as huge 7.5-point underdogs.