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The 2009 NCAA Championship betting offered a rare middling opportunity at a great number.
If you were looking to find out who the public liked in tonight's 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Michigan State Spartans, the answer would be UNC, but not by a whole lot. In fact, the line had moved down some heading into game time. After opening at North Carolina -7, Super Book had the Tar Heels at -6 ½.
Approximately 65 percent of the betting public was on North Carolina and that -6 ½ spread.
"The books won't get killed should North Carolina cover," said Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com. "But they would realize a small profit should the Spartans come through."
And there was quite a difference between the professional shops and recreational online bookmakers.
For example, Bookmaker.com had Michigan State getting more of the action with a line of -7 ½.
"Obviously, savvy sports bettors will wager on the Spartans at Bookmaker.com and the Tar Heels at Super Book in hopes North Carolina wins by 7 points and both sides come through," says Shapiro.
An outright win by the Spartans might have a negative effect on the books as 70 percent of those betting the money line were on Michigan State. This would pay 3 to 1 odds or $300 for every $100 bet.
North Carolina has dismantled Michigan State the last two times these teams played one another. An interesting footnote is that the Spartans will have home field advantage as the 2009 NCAA Championship game just happens to be played in Detroit.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
