A ruling by the Supreme Court this week caused the NCAA to act swiftly by removing its outdated blinders in regard to staging championship competition in states that offer sports gaming.
Betting
The NCAA has at least temporarily changed its policy toward legalized sports betting, clearing the way for Las Vegas to bid on championship events such as the Final Four.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a nationwide ban on single-game legalized sports betting outside of Nevada. That could help Las Vegas’ case to host NCAA championship events, which currently is prohibited.
A record $436.5 million was wagered on basketball, college and pro, at Nevada sports books in March, with the NCAA Tournament accounting for an estimated $305.5 million.
Derek Stevens, who owns the D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate, lost his $25,000 futures bet to win $1 million on the Wolverines but he won $100,000 on a $330,000 hedge bet he placed on the Wildcats on the money line Monday afternoon.
The Westgate listed odds on 190 of the 353 Division I college basketball teams.
Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens is guaranteed to end up a winner in the NCAA Tournament after placing a $330,000 money-line wager to win $100,000 on Villanova over Michigan at the William Hill sports book.
Villanova is a 6½-point favorite over Michigan and the total is 145½ in Monday’s NCAA championship game. Here’s a survey of opinions from Review-Journal staff members, other media, oddsmakers and professional handicappers.
Derek Stevens has gained priceless promotional value with his NCAA Tournament gambit. Before the tournament, the aggressively loyal Michigan grad bet $25,000 on the Wolverines to win the championship at 40-1 odds.
Villanova has won 10 straight games and is 8-2 ATS during the streak. The Wildcats have rolled through the NCAA Tournament, going 5-0 straight-up and ATS while winning each game by an average of 18 points.
Bruce Marshall’s daughter went to Loyola-Chicago, but the handicapper’s wife won’t be rooting for the Ramblers and Sister Jean — America’s favorite 98-year-old nun — in Saturday’s NCAA semifinals.
Michigan plays Loyola-Chicago and Villanova meets Kansas in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio.
Yes, I’m going against Sister Jean during Easter weekend, but I’m not completely on my own. Remember this bit of history: Villanova was named after St. Thomas of Villanova.
On an alternate point spread, Loyola-Chicago is a 3½-point favorite, at plus 290, over Michigan in Saturday’s national semifinal.
Handicapper Bruce Marshall went 12-5 ATS and hit both of his best bets to edge handicapper Kelly Stewart (12-5 ATS) by one point in the Review-Journal Madness Challenge.
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