March Madness Final Four Preview
Connecticut’s Biggest Weekend
Forget the Super Bowl. Forget the World Series. This weekend, nothing on the planet touches this. March Madness is almost over — and Connecticut is right in the middle of it.
Both Husky programs are alive. Both are hunting championships. Both believe this is their year. The question is whether the state of Connecticut can handle the stress.
The Men: Heart Attacks Included
The Shot Heard Round New England
Let’s start with Saturday night’s opener in Indianapolis, because UConn has already given us one of the great moments of this tournament and shows zero signs of slowing down.
Down 19 to Duke. Cold from three. Looked dead. Then Tarris Reed started bullying his way through the paint, the Huskies chipped and clawed and scraped, and with 0.4 seconds on the clock, freshman Braylon Mullins launched a shot from somewhere near the parking lot. It went in. Duke went home. And Connecticut went absolutely berserk.
UConn vs. Illinois — Don’t Call Them Underdogs
That’s who Dan Hurley’s team is. They don’t panic. They don’t flinch. They’ve been in this building before — this is their third Final Four in four years — and they carry themselves like it. Illinois is the opponent Saturday at 6:09 p.m., and the oddsmakers have opened the Illini as slight -2.5 favorites. Let that sink in. A program going for three titles in four years, and they’re not even the chalk.
Illinois is for real. Freshman Keaton Wagler has been sensational, the Illini have the top-rated offense in the country, and they’re the tallest team in Division I. This is not a gimme. But Illinois has never won a national title. UConn has done this twice in the last three years. Tournament experience and coaching is a real thing in April, and Hurley has more of it than almost anyone alive right now.
Michigan vs. Arizona — The Heavyweight Nightcap
After that, Michigan and Arizona tee it up at 8:49 p.m. in what amounts to a championship game preview. Two No. 1 seeds, a combined five losses all season, and a 157.5-point total that tells you the oddsmakers expect fireworks. Michigan at +160 and Arizona at +165 are co-favorites for the title — and either could easily be hoisting the trophy Monday night.
UConn? Listed as 7/1 longshots to win it all. Dan Hurley has heard worse.
Men’s Schedule (TBS/truTV/HBO Max, all times ET)
Saturday April 4 — UConn vs. Illinois, 6:09 p.m. | Spread: Illinois -2.5, Total 139.5
Saturday April 4 — Michigan vs. Arizona, 8:49 p.m. | Spread: Michigan -1.5, Total 157.5
Monday April 6 — National Championship, 8:50 p.m.
The Women: History Being Made in Phoenix
A Final Four We’ve Never Quite Seen Before
While the men are scrapping it out in Indianapolis, something genuinely historic is unfolding in Arizona. All four No. 1 seeds reached the women’s Final Four — and not just any four teams. It’s the exact same Final Four as last year, which has only ever happened twice in the history of the tournament.
UConn: Unbeaten, Unbothered, Unstoppable
UConn is undefeated. 38-0. On a 54-game winning streak. Chasing what would be a seventh perfect season in program history. And they’re doing it without Paige Bueckers, the player who carried them to last year’s title. This team has a different look — Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, freshman sensation Blanca Quiñonez — and a familiar result. Nobody has come close.
UConn vs. South Carolina — The Rematch Nobody Asked For But Everyone Wanted
Friday night they get South Carolina in a rematch of last year’s national championship. The Gamecocks have won 35 games and have been blowing teams out all tournament long. Joyce Edwards has been a problem all month. This is a genuine heavyweight collision — two programs that simply don’t lose — and it’s happening in the semis, not the final.
UCLA vs. Texas — The Other One That Matters
Then there’s UCLA against Texas in the nightcap. Four No. 1 seeds. Zero easy games. The national championship is Sunday afternoon and the whole thing could, could, feature UConn in the final again.
Geno Auriemma has been doing this for forty years. Don’t bet against him.
Women’s Schedule (ESPN/ABC, all times ET)
Friday April 3 — UConn vs. South Carolina, 7:00 p.m.
Friday April 3 — UCLA vs. Texas, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday April 5 — National Championship, 3:30 p.m.
Betting the Final Four in Connecticut
The Window Is Open — With One Important Catch
Here's the situation for CT bettors this weekend. Almost everything on the board is fair game at the Fanatics Sportsbook counters in every Winners and MyWinners venue. Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas — bet them all freely.
The catch? Individual UConn games are off the table at licensed CT sportsbooks, and all future/outright wagers — including NCAA Championship Odds — remain locked until Connecticut teams are eliminated from the tournament. Connecticut law restricts wagering on in-state college teams in single-game betting, and that applies even in the Final Four. The only way to have a legal CT bet riding on UConn this weekend is if you placed an outright tournament winner bet before March Madness tipped off — in which case, congratulations, you're sweating it out in the best possible way.
For everyone else, the action is still plentiful. Here's where to look:
Men's Best Bets
Illinois -2.5 vs. UConn — Unfortunately this game is not available for betting at licensed CT sportsbooks. Connecticut law restricts wagering on any game involving in-state college teams, so the UConn vs. Illinois semifinal is off the board entirely. Skip this one and focus your action on Michigan vs. Arizona instead.
Michigan -1.5 vs. Arizona — Michigan has been the most complete team in this tournament. They dismantled Tennessee by 33 in the Elite Eight, they score 95 points a game and their defense has been suffocating all season. Arizona is a beautiful basketball team but they can't shoot threes, and Michigan will make them pay for it. Slight lean to the Wolverines to win outright and cover the small number.
Men's Value Play
Under 139.5 — Illinois vs. UConn — Both of these teams play physical, grinding basketball. UConn's halfcourt offense has been plodding, Illinois's defense quietly held Houston well below their average in the Sweet 16, and Final Four nerves tend to tighten games up in the first half. This total feels a touch high. The under has been UConn's friend all tournament.
Men's Prop to Watch
Keaton Wagler over his points line — Whatever the number is, look at it seriously. The Illinois freshman has been the tournament's most underrated performer, averaging 17.5 points while shooting 44% from three. UConn's perimeter defense is good but they'll be focused on protecting the paint around Reed. Wagler will find pockets.
Men's Same-Game Parlay — Illinois vs. UConn
Illinois -2.5 + Under 139.5 + Wagler over points. If you believe this is a slow, physical, defensive grind that Illinois edges, all three legs point the same direction. The SGP odds will be attractive because the public is still conditioned to back UConn in April. Use that to your advantage.
Women's Best Bets
South Carolina +points vs. UConn — UConn are rightly heavy favourites but the Gamecocks are the one team in this tournament built to trouble them. Dawn Staley's defence is suffocating, Joyce Edwards has been their best player all month, and South Carolina have been blowing opponents out by nearly 40 points a game. They won't get blown out here. Back them to keep it closer than the market expects and cover the spread.
UCLA -points vs. Texas — UCLA have been the most dominant women's team outside of UConn this tournament, winning every game by double digits and scoring at least 50 paint points in each one. Texas play good defence but struggle to match up with Lauren Betts and the Bruins' frontcourt. Back UCLA to control this game from the jump and cover.
Women's Value Play
Over — UConn vs. South Carolina — Two elite offences, two teams who don't slow down for anyone. UConn are averaging well over 80 points a game and haven't faced a defence this good all season, which means they'll have to work harder — but South Carolina will rack up their own points in the process. This has the feel of a high-scoring, physical battle that goes deep into the fourth quarter. Back the over.
Women's Prop to Watch
Azzi Fudd over her points line — The projected WNBA No. 1 pick has been shooting 55% from three in the tournament and is the player South Carolina will struggle most to contain. If she gets going early the game could be over by half-time. Whatever her line is, it deserves serious consideration.
Women's Same-Game Parlay — UConn vs. South Carolina
South Carolina +points + Over total + Fudd over points. You're essentially saying South Carolina make this a real game, both teams score freely, and Fudd puts up big numbers in a competitive fight. The parlay reflects a genuine heavyweight battle rather than a blowout, which is exactly what this matchup sets up to be.
Find Your Nearest Winners or MyWinners Venue
Don’t watch this weekend from your couch. Get in the room. There is nothing quite like watching March Madness with a crowd that has real skin in the game — and at Winners and MyWinners venues across Connecticut, the atmosphere this weekend is going to be something else entirely.
Find your nearest location here and get your bets in to Fanatics Sportsbook before tip-off, because when Mullins is launching from the logo and the place goes up, you want to be there.
The Bottom Line
Two programs. Two shots. One state going completely mad. Clear your weekend, get to your nearest Winners venue, and brace yourself — because if both UConn teams are still standing Sunday night, the collective anxiety level in Connecticut may be measurable from space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Individual UConn games are off the table at licensed CT sportsbooks. Connecticut law restricts wagering on in-state college teams in single-game betting, and that applies even in the Final Four. The only way to have a legal CT bet riding on UConn this weekend is if you placed an outright tournament winner bet before March Madness tipped off.
Fanatics Sportsbook is the book at MyWinners and Winners venues. Head to mywinners.com/venues to find your nearest location and get set up before the games tip off.
The men face Illinois on Saturday April 4 at 6:09 p.m. ET on TBS. The women take on South Carolina on Friday April 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. If both teams win, the men's championship is Monday April 6 and the women's is Sunday April 5.
On the men's side, Michigan and Arizona are co-favourites at around +160/+165, with Illinois at 4/1 and UConn at 7/1. In the women's tournament, UConn are the heavy overall favourites — undefeated at 38-0 and on a 54-game winning streak.
Yes. You must be 21 or older to place a legal sports wager in Connecticut, whether online or at a retail venue. Connecticut gambling winnings are also subject to a 13.75% state tax, so keep that in mind when sizing your bets.
