Duke favored to win NCAA title; Mich. St. underdog

[March 30, 2010]  LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Duke is the favorite among the Final Four to win the NCAA title, while Michigan State is a longshot despite its trip to the finals last year, oddsmakers in Las Vegas said Monday.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants made Duke a 7-5 favorite to win the title and a 2.5-point favorite to beat West Virginia in the semifinals on Saturday night, oddsmaker Kenny White said.

"They've probably had the easiest run," White said of the Blue Devils (33-5), who beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, California and Purdue before beating Baylor 78-71 on Sunday to reach the Final Four.

White said either Duke or West Virginia would likely be favored over Butler or Michigan State in the finals.

The Las Vegas-based firm that recommends betting lines to 90 percent of sports books in Nevada said Butler had a 5-2 chance of winning the title and put West Virginia's chances at 2-1 and Michigan State's at 17-5.

The firm said Butler is favored by 1.5 points in its game against Michigan State.

Michigan State (28-8) has reached the Final Four six of the past 12 years, but was expected to be an underdog with the Bulldogs playing near their home court in Indianapolis. Butler is listed as the host school for the Final Four.

"(The Spartans) were there last year -- that's quite an advantage -- but they are matched up on the road basically playing in Indianapolis," White said. "They'll be the underdog in both games."

The Las Vegas Hilton, which listed Duke as a 6-5 favorite and Michigan State as an 11-2 underdog, saw bettors flocking to Butler at 7-2 odds to win the title, said Chris Graham, race and sports coordinator.

"Butler's definitely the Cinderella," Graham said.

White said that despite the odds, the Final Four teams were not very far apart, with the widest spread for the finals expected at 4.5 or 5 points if Duke plays Michigan State.

"Anything could happen here, believe me," White said.

[Associated Press; By OSKAR GARCIA]

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