Charlotte, North Carolina is synonymous with college basketball excellence and tradition. Also known as a hub for the Atlantic Coast Conference it will host two of its top teams this weekend. Virginia was the regular season and tournament champ of the ACC. Yet North Carolina may be more of a chalk with NCAA basketball championship odds. Both teams will bring plenty of cache and fans. But only one will make the Final Four. On a collision course for most of the year UVA and UNC were highly profitable this year. How each team succeeds could not be more different.
2018 NCAA Tournament from Charlotte
Date and Time: March 16 and March 18, 2018
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click here!
2018 NCAA Tournament TV Coverage: CBS and TNT
Matches and Schedules
Breakfast in Charlotte opens at 11:15 a.m. with #10 Providence vs. #7 Texas A&M. Next will be #15 Lipscomb facing #2 North Carolina. Evening play opens with #9 Kansas State vs. #8 Creighton at 5:50 p.m. Friday’s nightcap features #16 UMBC against #1 Virginia at 8:20 p.m. North Carolina and Virginia are big chalks with the NCAA basketball championship odds.
Virginia
Virginia is the top seed of the entire NCAA tournament. Just as impressive is their online sportsbook record of just nine losses in 30 games vs. the odds. Head coach Tony Bennett has built the top defensive team in the entire country. Worrisome to gamblers is an offense that ranks a clunky 310th nationally. Of no surprise is that UVA went under the total in 20 of 30 games. Bennett produced a Sweet Sixteen berth in 2014. Even better was an Elite Eight appearance in 2016. Someone will need to emerge as a scorer for a Final Four trip.
North Carolina
North Carolina is the defending national champion. Roy Williams’ team lost only 14 of 34 games vs. the board this season. Williams uses an opposite coaching approach than Bennett. Offensively the Tar Heels rank 26th best in the nation. Offsetting that scoring prowess is a defense that ranks 195th. Over the total paid in 19 of 34 UNC games on the season. Matching up in the ACC title game Virginia scored a 71-63 payout vs. North Carolina. During his time as coach at Chapel Hill Williams has three national championships.
Creighton
Creighton is interesting as the tenth highest scoring team in the land. Noteworthy is their win over Villanova last month. Problematic is a defense that ranks 226th for points permitted. Red ink flowed at the end with only two payouts in their final ten games. Kansas State is a tough defensive team that could give the Bluejays fits. However, the Wildcats cannot match Creighton’s scoring power. KSU did cover six of their last ten vs. the spread.
Matchup to Watch
While there is no doubt that Virginia and North Carolina rate high, overlays are a concern. Defense is paramount for NCAA basketball championship odds success. For sure Virginia brings a relentless defense. Most relevant was their ability to cover the number consistently. Topping all of that however is North Carolina’s March Madness record of dominance. Lipscomb ranked a poor 294th in the country for defense. Matchup wise that sets up perfectly for UNC.
2018 NCAA Tournament from Charlotte Betting Odds Picks
In conclusion North Carolina will he playing a virtual home game on Friday. They should score at will against Lipscomb.
NCAA Betting Online Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Tar Heels 88, Bison 61