gonzaga-wins.jpg

The dust has mostly settled, and the Final Four set for Saturday night in Indianapolis as the 2021 NCAA Tournament quickly reaches its conclusion. Storylines fill every crevice with a pair of top seeds -- Gonzaga and Baylor -- making the group as well as underrated Houston and a Cinderella story in UCLA. The Bruins are just the second team since the tournament expanded to 68 to go from First Four to Final Four. They are also the fifth No. 11 seed to make the national semifinals.

The first matchup will be historic in nature as the Zags are a massive favorite over the Bruins. In fact, Gonzaga is the biggest favorite in a Final Four game since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The Bruins have made a habit of stunting expectations this postseason and a win over the Bulldogs would be the icing on the cake and set up a shot at a 12th national championship.

Meanwhile, No. 1 seed Baylor is a five-point favorite over No. 2 seed Houston in the first National Semifinal. The Bears have met little resistance on their path to reaching a third Final Four in program history and first since 1950. The Cougars, on the other hand, have quietly been among the best teams in the sport this season in their effort to reach the Final Four for the first time since the 1980s. 

Here are the lines, per William Hill Sportsbook: 

  • No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (-14)
  • No. 2 Houston vs. No. 1 Baylor (-5)