North Carolina has been the Final Four betting favorite all season, and Monday’s national-championship game against Michigan State should be a coronation for the NCAA’s best team.

Michigan State vs North Carolina odds - Monday, April 6, 9:21 PM ET

The Spartans went toe-to-toe with a bigger UConn team, and came away with an 82-73 win on Saturday. The Spartans definitely felt their homecourt advantage, as the majority of the 72,000-plus at Ford Field were backing Michigan State. Kalin Lucas led the way with 21 points, while Raymar Morgan had 18 points and nine boards while playing with a broken nose.

The Tar Heels continued their improved defensive play with an 83-69 win over Villanova, holding the Wildcats to 32.9% from the floor. Ty Lawson had a brilliant all-around game with 22 points, eight assists and seven boards for Carolina, who have won their five Tournament games by an average margin of 20.8 points.

Final Four odds have the Tar Heels as a 7.5-point favorite, and they’re 5-2 alltime against the Spartans, including 3-0 in the Tournament. Carolina have already played Michigan State at Ford Field this year, and it ended with a 98-63 romp for the Tar Heels. The Spartans are better now, but the scary thing is, so is Carolina. With the way they are playing defense right now, the Tar Heels would probably give some NBA teams a run for their money. The crowd will play a role, but Carolina has been destined to win this title, since Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all decided to come back and win a championship instead of playing in the NBA. Take North Carolina and their Final Four odds on Monday.

The biggest news in college hoops outside of Final Four betting has been an attempted return to glory by the University of Kentucky, who missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 19 years this year, then got bounced from the NIT in the quarterfinals. Off came the head of Billy Gillespie after only two years, and in comes a coach that transformed a mid-major into a perennial Final Four betting contender.

John Calipari was given an 8-year, $31.7 million contract to take the programs with the most wins in NCAA history to the promised land, and he’s built a great reputation for himself. Back in 1998, UMass went 10-18 in Calipari’s first season, but by season two, they were in the NIT. Following another NIT appearance, UMass went to the NCAAs five straight years, capped by an appearance in the Final Four by a Marcus Camby-led squad. Then after a few years in the NBA, Calipari returned to take Memphis to the NITs in 2000, and they won a year later. Calipari ended his Memphis career with four straight invitations to the “Big Dance”, including a heart-breaking overtime loss in last year’s final, and that team won an NCAA-record 38 games. In fact, the last four years of Calipari’s reign saw the program win the most games in that time period for any NCAA team, but his loss should see the Tigers’ Final Four odds drop next year.

Now, does this mean an NCAA title will come to Kentucky? No…..well, not right away. Calipari’s never coached a “big” program, but his recruiting skills are lauded as some of the best in the nation. He could even persuade Jodie Meeks, a second-team All-American, and Patrick Patterson to come back, which would be a great foundation. Guaranteed, Kentucky’s Final Four odds for next year have gotten a giant boost from gaining Calipari. We know Ashley Judd will be ecstatic.

Two players make a repeat appearance in the Team of the Weekend as we head into Final Four betting, and although one of them won’t get to play this weekend, he probably played himself into a high draft pick in the NBA.

C - Goran Suton, Michigan State

The man in the middle for the Spartans averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 boards in wins over Kansas and Lousiville, and Suton is looking to close out his career at Michigan State with a national title. He’ll be counted on heavily if the Spartans are to stage a Final Four betting upset over Connecticut, but Suton can match up with UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet.

F- Sam Young, Pittsburgh

Young was easily Pitt’s best player during their NCAA run, and he put up 23.5 points against Xavier and Villanova, including 28 in the loss to the Wildcats. Young has an NBA-ready body and game, and staying four years at Pitt was definitely an asset. NBA betting players should keep an eye on this kid.

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Griffin was the first player since 1969 to put up 25 points and 10 boards in his first three Tournament games when he had 30 and 14 in Oklahoma’s Sweet 16 win over Syracuse, and he went down fighting in the loss to North Carolina, notching 23 points and 16 boards. We’ve surely seen the last of Griffin in the NCAA ranks, as a No.1 spot in the NBA draft awaits him, but Final Four betting players will remember the damage Griffin did in this Tournament.

G -Ty Lawson, North Carolina

It’s business as usual for the ACC Player of the Year, whose toe seems to be 100% now. Lawson averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 assists while leading the Tar Heels to double-digit wins over Gonzaga and Oklahoma, and he had only one turnover in each game. No one player is as important to one team’s Final Four odds as Lawson is to North Carolina’s, and they’re a much more relaxed and free-flowing team with him at the helm.

G - Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

Reynolds raised his game in the wins over Duke and Pitt, averaging 15.5 points, and he essentially sealed his spot in this team when he hit the game-winner against the Panthers to win the East region. Like Lawson, Reynolds is essential to his team’s Final Four odds, and the matchup between Lawson and Reynolds will likely decide the winner of the ‘Nova-UNC game.

Just because my March Madness betting is over, doesn’t mean I’ll stop watching and giving the scoop on each game. But really……Memphis deciding to give up on defense just ahead of the Final Four makes me sick to my stomach. I have a buddy who’s a UConn fan, and we were all ready to throw down on Saturday.

Missouri vs Connecticut - Saturday, March 28, 4:40 PM ET

The Huskies have a March Madness betting spread of 5.5 over the Tigers, who made Memphis look like a high school team. The Tigers will try to get UConn in a track meet, but the Huskies will focus on their size advantage, mainly with Hasheem Thabeet, who was a monster against Purdue. Take UConn to cover their March Madness betting spread against the pesky Tigers.

Villanova vs Pittsburgh odds - Saturday, March 28, 7:05 PM ET

The Panthers are 2-point March Madness betting favorites in this contest of Big East rivals, and they’ll be out to avenge a 10-point loss at ‘Nova back in January. Pitt still hasn’t played their best basketball, but it’s coming, as they showed in the second half of their win over Xavier. ‘Nova has been destroying the competition since their first-round scare, but San Young and DeJuan Blair are due to have a big game at the same time. Bet on Pitt to cover their March Madness betting spread for the first time this year.

While you wait for tonight’s games to start, here are your March Madness betting picks for tomorrow night’s games in the Midwest and South regions.

Arizona vs Louisville (Midwest) - 7:07 PM ET

The No.1 Cardinals are 9-point favorites in this contest, and with Arizona’s Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill going up against Louisville’s Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, NBA scouts should be drooling. The No.12 Wildcats won’t be able to keep up with Louisville’s pressure defense for 40 minutes and Williams played out of his mind in the last game. Take Louisville to cover the March Madness betting spread.

Syracuse vs Oklahoma (South) - 7:27 PM ET

The No.2 Sooners are a 1-point favorite against the No.3 Orangemen, who beat Oklahoma in the Elite Eight en route to the ‘03 championship. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone will cause problems for Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, but freshman Willie Warren can burn the Orangemen from outside. The Sooners’ supporting cast don’t get a lot of credit, so expect them to come up big as Oklahoma covers the March Madness betting spread.

Kansas vs Michigan State (Midwest) - 9:37 PM ET

The No.3 Jayhawks are a 1.5-point underdog against the No.2 Spartans, who beat Kansas at home in January. These young Jayhawks are much better now, and in Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, they have one of the top inside/outside duos in the country. Go with the defending national champs in a March Madness betting upset.

Gonzaga vs North Carolina (South) - 9:57 PM ET

The No.1 Tar Heels are 8.5-point favorites as they try to hold off the No.4 Bulldogs, and this should be a high-scoring game for sportsbook players to take the over on. Ty Lawson should be ready to go for UNC, and when he’s on, there aren’t many teams that can run with the Tar Heels. Bet on North Carolina in this March Madness betting shootout, but they won’t cover.

March Madness betting took a break after an exciting weekend, but it all starts up tomorrow night. This is how you should make your sportsbook picks, beginning

Purdue vs Connecticut (West) - 7:07 PM ET

The top-seeded Huskies are 6.5-point favorites, and while the No.4 Boilermakers have one of the toughest defenses in the country, UConn was probably the best team in the Tournament’s first weekend. If Hasheem Thabeet stays out of foul trouble, the Huskies win running away. If he doesn’t, they’ll still cover the March Madness betting spread.

Xavier vs Pittsburgh (East) - 7:27 PM ET

The top-seeded Panthers have a 7-point spread over the No.4 Muskateers, who will be able to match Pitt’s physical play. Pitt’s stars will be the difference, especially Sam Young, who is one of the toughest players in the country to guard. Bet on Pitt, but they won’t cover the March Madness betting spread.

Missouri vs Memphis (West)  - 9:37 PM ET

No.2 Memphis is a 4.5-point favorite over No.3 Missouri in this battle of the Tigers, and while Mizzou has one of the top offenses in the country, they’re running into a Memphis team that regained their swagger in a romp over Maryland, and they may be the best defensive team in the nation. Memphis will harass their way to a win while covering the March Madness betting spread.

Villanova vs Duke (East) - 9:57 PM ET

The No.2 Blue Devils are a 2-point favorite against the No.3 Wildcats, who romped all over UCLA in the second round. Duke were a bit fortunate to beat Texas, but Villanova will have too much in the post for the smaller Blue Devils to handle. Go with ‘Nova in a March Madness betting upset.

March Madness betting players know the importance of team play, but most champions have at least one player that can take over a game when they need to. Here is a look at the top stars of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and they should already be familiar to sportsbook players.

C- Cole Aldrich, Kansas

The sophomore put up the first triple-double since Dwayne Wade did it in 2003 for Marquette, as he ripped Dayton for 13 points, 20 boards and 10 blocks in a 17-point romp. Of course, there may have been some motivation for Aldrich, who is from Minnesota, where the Jayhawks played their first two games. Aldrich put up 18.0 points, 16.5 boards and 6.0 blocks over the first weekend, and he’ll be need to be just as good in the Sweet 16, where Kansas will face Michigan State.

F- Terrence Williams, Louisville

Everyone talks about Earl Clark as an NBA player, but it’s Williams who makes the No.1 overall seeds go. Williams had 18.5 points, 12.0 boards and 3.5 assists over the first weekend, and his 24-point, 15-rebound performance against Siena in the second round was brilliant. The Cardinals will meet Arizona next, and if Williams has a big game against the Wildcats’ Chase Budinger, who is being touted as a lottery pick, March Madness betting players will have to look for Williams in the NBA next year.

F- Sam Young/DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh

Rather than waste time picking one, both of Pitt’s forwards deserve a spot here for the struggling Panthers, who barely avoided a pair of March Madness betting upsets. Blair, the Big East co-Player of the Year, was the star in the first round, powering his way to 27 points and 16 boards against East Tennessee State, and then it was Young who lit up Oklahoma State for 32 points in the second round. The Panthers aren’t playing their best ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup with Xavier, but with these two in the lineup (along with point guard Levance Fields), Pitt is never out of a game.

G - Ty Lawson, North Carolina

You saw just how important Lawson, the ACC Player of the Year, who missed a first-round blowout of Radford, is to the March Madness betting favorites, as they struggled to play with LSU in the second round. But Lawson shook off the pain in his jammed toe and scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime, and the Tar Heels cruised to a 14-point win. When Lawson is in the lineup, the Tar Heels play more freely, and it’s doubtful that anyone can stop that offense if he’s even close to full strength. With Gonzaga looming in the Sweet 16, the Tar Heels need Lawson as much as any team needs an individual player.

G- A.J. Price, Connecticut

The Huskies were the dominant team of the first weekend, beating Chattanooga and Texas A&M by an average of 41 points. Price is trying to make up for lost time, as he was injured early in last year’s first-round loss to San Diego, which many people say was the reason UConn was bounced. Price has put up 24.5 points and 5.5 assists over the first two games, and he’s had to assume an even bigger role since Jerome Dyson went down in February. UConn will face a tough Purdue defense in the Sweet 16, but having a healthy and motivated Price is a huge boost to the Huskies’ March Madness betting chances.

Well, what a first March Madness betting weekend….my pick to win is still in it (Memphis), while my pick to bow out early (Duke) ruined a perfect online betting day on Saturday. Here is a look at the top team over the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, as well as the biggest disappointment.

UConn had no problems with Chattanooga in a 103-47 romp, outrebounding the No.16 seed 57-33 as three of their players scored 20 points or more. Then the Huskies shot 57.9% and outrebounded Texas A&M 36-22 in a 92-66 thumping on Saturday. UConn covered the March Madness betting spreads easily, dominating their opponents on both ends of the floor, but the road will get tougher in the Sweet 16, where they’ll meet a tough Purdue team, and March Madness odds are giving the Huskies a 6.5-point spread in this contest.

Pittsburgh has been known as one of the great underachievers among March Madness betting players, and they proved why in wins over East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State. The Panthers had a 20.5-point line against ETSU, and had to overcome 18 turnovers to win by 10, then they just missed the 8.5-point spread against the Cowboys, winning by eight points. Next up is Xavier, and the Huskies are favored by seven points according to sportsbook odds, but they’ll have their hands full with the Muskateers, who are just as physical as the Panthers and have a great Tournament pedigree, so don’t be surprised by a March Madness betting upset.

March Madness betting players everywhere were preparing to rip up their brackets on two separate occasions yesterday, as Memphis and Villanova were almost sportsbook casualities on the first day of the “Big Dance”.

Roburt Sallie? Who? That’s right, a player who averaged 5.4 points during the regular season and never scored more than 13 all year made a name for himself in Memphis’ 81-70 win over Cal.St.-Northridge, scoring 35 points in 36 minutes, including ten from beyond the arc. His shooting was all that kept the Tigers in it, as the first half may have been their worst defensive 20 minutes of the season. The game was pretty much up in the air until Cal State ran out of gas at the end, and the Tigers will need to be much better on Saturday, when they meet Maryland, who upset California on Thursday. March Madness odds have the Tigers as a 9-point favorite, and they’ll cover, but it won’t be easy.

Villanova were down by as many as 14 in the second half against American on Thursday, but a late surge powered them to an 80-67 victory to avoid a huge March Madness betting upset. Dante Cunningham and Dwayne Anderson had 25 each for the Wildcats, who must get a better performance out of Scottie Reynolds. The junior guard was only 2-of-7 for eight points, and more importantly, he had only two assists and four turnovers. The Wildcats are 1.5-point March Madness betting favorites in their Saturday meeting with UCLA, and Darren Collison is one of the top defensive point guards in the country, so Reynolds will have his hands full. Cunningham should have his way inside to power Villanova to a close victory, and they should cover their March Madness odds, but barely.

I wonder if Barack Obama has ever done any March Madness betting? I’d be willing to bet that he has, you know, before this whole political career and being the President-type thing got in the way. But President Obama is still a big fan, and we all know the dude can probably ball better than any leader on the world stage:

Obama filled out a bracket on ESPN.com, and his Final Four includes three No.1s (Louisville, North Carolina and Pittsburgh) and a No.2 (Memphis, who I’m backing to win it all). In the final, the President has the March Madness betting favorites, North Carolina, taking down the top overall seed, Louisville. Surely, he knows that Ty Lawson will miss the first game of the Tournament and may not be 100% at any point. Sportsbook players (and probably Obama as well) are watching the March Madness odds on North Carolina very closely to see if they fall, as they should if Lawson misses the Tournament.

Now, Obama: Get on that BCS playoff.