The 2022 NCAA Championship Game is set for Monday, April 4, with the tip-off at 9:20 PM ET at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, so we bring you the best North Carolina vs. Kansas betting pick and odds.

According to Bookmaker Sportsbook, the Jayhawks are 4.5-point favorites with a total of 153.5 points. Kansas meets North Carolina for the first time since 2013, and the Jayhawks have gone 3-0 straight up and ATS in their previous three encounters with the Tar Heels.

North Carolina aims for its seventh NCAA title               

The No. 8 Tar Heels (29-9; 21-16-1) made it to the Final Four for the first time since 2017 when they beat Gonzaga 71-65 to earn the sixth NCAA championship in program history. Last Saturday, the Tar Heels outlasted the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils 81-77 as 4.5-point underdogs to secure their spot in the championship game.

North Carolina beat Duke in an epic back-and-forth battle. Caleb Love led the way for the Tar Heels with 28 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 28 seconds left on the clock in the second half. The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard went 8-for-10 from inside the arc and 3-for-10 from downtown, while junior forward Armando Bacot added a double-double of 11 points and 21 rebounds.

The Tar Heels have dropped only one of their last 12 games overall, suffering a 72-59 defeat to Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Tournament Semifinals. They’ve covered the spread in ten of those 12 contests, and the Tar Heels are 5-0 ATS through their previous five showings in the 2022 NCAA tournament. 

Kansas shoots for its fourth national championship                 

The No. 1 Jayhawks (33-6; 20-19 ATS) had no problems reaching the 2022 championship game. Through the first three rounds of March Madness, they eliminated No. 16 Texas Southern 83-56, No. 9 Creighton 79-72, and No. 4 Providence 66-61. After routing No. 10 Miami 76-50 in the Elite Eight, the Jayhawks easily defeated No. 2 Villanova 81-65 in the Final Four.

Kansas enjoyed a wonderful shooting night at Caesars Superdome last Saturday. The Jayhawks made 53.7% of their field goals and 54.2% of their 3-pointers (13-for-24). They dominated the Wildcats from start to finish, and senior forward David McCormack led the charge with 25 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Ochai Agbaji scored 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from deep, while sophomore forward Jalen Wilson posted a line of 11 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.

Now, the Jayhawks are rolling on a ten-game winning streak. They’ve covered the spread seven times in that stretch. The Jayhawks couldn’t beat the line against Providence and Creighton, but they’ve covered comfortably as 5-point favorites against Miami and 4-point favorites against Villanova. 

Trends:

North Carolina:

  • 3-6 ATS in the last nine outings in the NCAA Tournament as underdogs

Kansas:

  • 7-2 ATS in the last nine games overall 
  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games against the No. 8 seed 

North Carolina vs. Kansas Pick

The ultimate game of the 2021-22 college basketball season is upon us, and I’m expecting to see a tremendous battle between a couple of well-balanced teams. The Tar Heels and Jayhawks match up with each other very well, so I would take Any Team to Win by 5 or Fewer Points, looking for a tight contest down the stretch.

This game could easily go either way. The Tar Heels have improved a lot over the last few weeks, playing their best basketball of the season. On the other side, the Jayhawks possess plenty of experience and rely heavily on three seniors. I lean the Jayhawks because of their defense. Kansas has allowed more than 65 points only once in its last nine games overall. 

Pick: Take Kansas -4.5 at -110                       

The Total:

The Tar Heels are not a top-notch defensive team, but they possess plenty of dangerous offensive weapons. In my opinion, Kansas is a better defensive team than UNC, but I would be surprised if we get a low-scoring affair Monday in the championship game.

The line is a tricky one at 153.5 points. The Jayhawks’ last 12 games have produced fewer than 154 points in total. On the flip side, three of the Tar Heels’ previous five contests have produced 158 or more points in total. Both teams prefer to play at a fast pace, so I’ll take the over. North Carolina registers 70.2 possessions per 40 minutes (40th in the country), while Kansas records 69.3 (65th).

Pick: Go over 153.5 points at -110