North Carolina entered the season as the team to beat. Seems the Tar Heels are trying to end the season that way as well.
Saturday’s win at Duke not only moved UNC up to No. 4 in the AP poll and a 1 seed in our latest NCAA tournament bracket projection, it also moved them up in the eyes of another group that provides a helpful assessment of the college basketball field.
Oddsmakers.
The Tar Heels (27-4) now feature the second-best odds to win the NCAA tournament, according to Sportsbook.com. No. 1 Kentucky is the favorite (9:5), but UNC’s right on its heels (9:4). In fact, UNC far outpaces the likes of Syracuse (6:1), Kansas (8:1) and Ohio State (8:1).
Turns out months of onlookers dismayed by the Heels’ performance has provided some motivation.
“We get tired of listening to that crap,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams told Sporting News. “We’re pretty doggone good. But the best thing about my team is that they’re pretty tough. I mean, that’s some big things to have to bounce back from, and I think we’ve done a nice job of it.”
Vegas is betting on it.
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