Michigan played the villain to the underdog Final Four narrative on Saturday, using a huge second-half effort to beat Loyola-Chicago 69-57 in San Antonio.
NCAA Tournament
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.
Villanova made a Final Four-record 18 3-pointers Saturday night, playing long ball to snuff out the Kansas Jayhawks early in a 95-79 victory.
Michigan is moving on to the national championship game for the first time since 2013 after ending Loyola-Chicago’s incredible run in the NCAA Tournament.
Arike Ogunbowale’s jumper from the corner with a second left lifted Notre Dame to a 91-89 overtime victory over UConn on Friday night in the national semifinals.
The popular Final Four storyline that is No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago and its 98-year-old team chaplain on Friday did, in fact, relegate the Wildcats and Jayhawks to the back seat of media attention at the Alamodome.
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.
The mid-major is becoming less and less of a presence in the 68-team bracket, a shame when you consider the terrific storyline that has been Loyola Chicago this NCAA Tournament.
Some featured comments from Sister Jean-Dolores Schmidt, the 98-year-old team chaplain for Loyola Chicago, at a news conference featuring her on Friday at the Final Four 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.
To get you ready, we’ve got a rundown of the teams, the top players, the coaches and other tidbits about this year’s Final Four.
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.
Review-Journal sports betting columnist Todd Dewey, handicapper Kelly Stewart and CG Technology sports book vice president Matt Holt preview Saturday’s Final Four.
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE