Final Four odds list North Carolina on the board this week but it is not like last year when they were the favorite in the NCAA Tournament. This time they are underdogs in Final Four betting in the NIT. Final Four odds a year ago were all about the Tar Heels and the team did not disappoint as they won the national championship. It has not been a good year for North Carolina this season but the team has turned it on of late since they got into the NIT. Roy Williams lost a lot of talent from last year’s team and it has been a struggle for the Tar Heels. They came ready to play in the NIT though and will be facing Rhode on Tuesday.
If you think that the Tar Heels have won in the NIT just because they are the home team you would be incorrect as they have had to win at Mississippi State and UAB. Senior Deon Thompson is playing his best ball of the season and North Carolina actually looks like a quality team again heading into Tuesday’s Final Four odds. That could not be said for much of this season. Marcus Ginyard is also playing well and Larry Drew has led the team from the point. North Carolina won the NIT back in 1971 but college basketball was different back then with not nearly as many teams making the NCAA Tournament. There were only 16 teams in the NCAA field in 1971 and 16 in the NIT.
With three wins in the NIT, the Tar Heels have improved their overall record. They are also improving what was a horrible mark against the spread. North Carolina still has poor overall numbers as they are 12-21 this season against the point spread. North Carolina is a one-point underdog in Final Four odds in the NIT against Rhode Island.
North Carolina has gone under the total quite a bit this season as 20 of their 30 games have gone under. There is a total in Tuesday’s matchup of Final Four betting in the NIT. That total is 149 and that is a high number considering the trends point to a lower scoring game. The question for the Tar Heels will be whether or not they can carry over their recent good play into New York as they face Rhode Island in the semifinals of the NIT.