The No. 5 seed Miami Hurricanes (29-7) face the No. 4 seed UConn Huskies (29-8) in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament! Action tips off at 8:49 p.m. ET. Below we continue our March Madness odds series with a Miami-UConn prediction, pick, and how to watch.
Here are the Miami-UConn March Madness odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
March Madness Odds: Miami-UConn Odds
Miami: +5.5 (-110)
UConn: -5.5 (-110)
Over: 149.5 (-105)
Under: 149.5 (-115)
How To Watch Miami vs. UConn
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+
Time: 8:49 p.m. ET/ 5:49 p.m. PT
*Watch college basketball LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why Miami Could Cover The Spread
Path to the Final Four: No. 12 Drake, No. 4 Indiana, No. 1 Houston, No. 2 Texas
ATS Record: 22-14 (61%)
Over Record: 17-18-1 (49%)
Miami has had a miraculous tournament run as they've faced the toughest possible path to get here thus far. Despite being considered under-seeded after winning the ACC regular season, Miami received a five seed and had to face mid-major darling Drake in the first round. Despite being down at the half, the Hurricanes rallied and advanced to take on Indiana. Against IU (and then again against Houston), Miami built a small first-half lead before dismantling them in the second half. Finally, the Hurricanes orchestrated an incredible second-half comeback to defeat Texas in the Elite Eight. Despite their heroics and tough path, Miami is a sizable underdog coming into the Final Four.
If Miami is going to cover against the field's heavy favorite, they're going to do so on the offensive end. Miami has averaged 81.3 PPG thus far – a continuation of their regular season fireworks. The Hurricanes ranked 15th nationally in scoring during the regular season and featured KenPom's fifth-most efficient offense. While UConn boasts a strong defense, they haven't seen anything like Miami's spread attack. Despite being undersized, the Hurricanes are among the most efficient shooting teams in the country, ranking 10th with a 48% team field goal percentage.
Miami possesses arguably the most dangerous backcourt in the country. Isiah Wong won ACC Player of the Year after averaging 16.2 PPG. After a rocky opener against Drake, Wong has bounced back with two 20-point games in their last three wins. Meanwhile, Jordan Miller dominated the Elite Eight in a way we haven't seen in years. In their comeback win over Texas, Miller scored 27 points and didn't miss a shot – going 7/7 from the floor and 13/13 from the free-throw line. Finally, graduate transfer Nigel Pack has taken off, averaging 18.5 PPG while nailing 13 threes.
Why UConn Could Cover The Spread
Path to the Final Four: No. 13 Iona, No. 5 St. Mary's, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 3 Gonzaga
ATS Record: 25-11-1 (69%)
Over Record: 20-17 (54%)
UConn looked like a juggernaut at the beginning of the season but they were up and down during conference play and thus received a four-seed for their efforts. Thus far, UConn survived an early scare from Rick Pitino's Iona Gaels before making short work of St. Mary's, Arkansas, and Gonzaga. The Huskies have increased their margin of victory in each of the last three rounds and look to be playing their most dominant stretch of basketball heading into the semifinals. As it currently stands, UConn is a heavy favorite to win the championship with -130 odds.
UConn features one of the most well-balanced rosters in the country and they have blown through every team they've faced thus far. They rank first overall in KenPom thanks to the fifth-rated offense and 11th-rated defense. UConn is highly efficient on the offensive end, ranking 21st nationally in scoring, fourth in assists, and 32nd in effective field goal percentage. Perhaps their biggest advantage tonight is their size as UConn boasts incredible talent down low. As a result, they rank third in offensive rebound rate and 20th in defensive rebound rate.
If UConn is going to cover tonight they'll need their bigs to continue to dominate. Center Adam Sanogo has led the way for the Huskies with 20 PPG and 9.8 RPG this postseason. The 6'9″ junior led the team in scoring during the regular season before he began lighting up the tournament. He's hardly their only option down low as 7'2″ freshman Donovan Clinton gives them huge spurts despite his limited minutes.
Final Miami-UConn Prediction & Pick
Pay close attention to the status of UConn guard Jordan Hawkins – their second-leading scorer. That being said, this game really comes down to Miami's ability to keep Norchad Omier out of foul trouble and hit shots. The longer Omier is out there and the more open looks their guards get, the more I like Miami's chances. Hammer the Hurricane in a game they should keep closer and potentially could win outright.
Final Miami-UConn Prediction & Pick: Miami +5.5 (-110)
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