Villanova Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Odds, Analysis, Final Four Betting Pick

Following their Midwest regional final victory over Duke, the Kansas Jayhawks are now 6-1 both straight up and against the spread their last seven times out as underdogs. Kansas will play as an underdog again when it meets up with Villanova at the Final Four in San Antonio on Saturday night.

March Madness point spread: The Wildcats opened as four-point favorites; the total is at 155.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

March Madness betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 79.3-71.3, Wildcats (March Madness picks on every game)

Why Villanova can cover the spread

The Wildcats are back in the Final Four for the second time in the last three seasons after topping Texas Tech in the East regional final Sunday 71-59. Villanova fell down to the Red Raiders right off the bat 9-1, then went on a 35-14 run to take a 36-23 lead into halftime. The Wildcats pushed their lead to 15 early in the second half, allowed Texas Tech to pull within five with six minutes left but re-asserted control and covered as six-point favorites.

On the afternoon Villanova only shot 33 percent from the floor, a season low, but showed they're more than just offensive-minded by holding Texas Tech to the same 33 percent shooting and winning the battle on the glass 51-33.

The Wildcats have now held each of their last 13 opponents under 50 percent FG shooting.

Villanova began this NCAA tournament with an 87-61 win over Radford, then beat Alabama 81-58, then defeated West Virginia 90-78. So the Wildcats are 16-3 SU and 14-5 ATS this season against Big Dance qualifiers.

Why Kansas can cover the spread

The Jayhawks reached the Final Four for the first time since 2012 by outlasting the Blue Devils Sunday in overtime 85-81. Kansas trailed Duke by three at the half but went on a 13-3 run out of the locker room to take a seven-point lead. The Jayhawks later needed a three-pointer by Svi Mykhailiuk with 25 seconds left to force overtime, where they outscored the Blue Devils 13-9 for the outright win as four-point underdogs.

On the night Kansas shot 44 percent from the field, held Duke to 43 percent FG shooting and won the battle on the boards 47-32. Also, after making 13 of 36 from three-point land the Jayhawks are now 39 for 96 (41 percent) on three-pointers in this NCAA tournament.

KU began this Big Dance with a 76-60 victory over Penn, then beat Seton Hall 83-79, then held off Clemson 80-76. So the Jayhawks are now 22-3 SU and 15-9-1 ATS against teams that made the NCAA tournament this season.

Smart betting pick

This should be a dandy of a Final Four bout, but ultimately Villanova is the better team here. The Wildcats are also shooting 78 percent from the free-throw line, and that comes in handy when trying to clinch victories and cover spreads down the stretch. Smart money sides with Villanova.

March Madness betting trends

Villanova is 4-1 ATS in its last five games against Kansas.

The total has gone under in Villanova's last three games against Kansas.

Kansas is 6-1 SU and ATS in its last seven games as an underdog.

All college basketball odds and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.