Final 4 Free Pick – MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2010 – NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT INDIANAPOLIS
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Team records:
No. 5 Butler Bulldogs (33-4, 18-0 Horizon)
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (35-5, 13-3 ACC)
Duke vs Butler Odds
The odds makers have the Blue Devils as -7 ½ -point favorites.
The Over/Under is set at 129
Bulldogs vs. Blue Devils Preview:
It’s David vs. Goliath as the No. 5 Butler Bulldogs prepare to tip off in their first National Championship bout in school history against the No. 1, three-time National Champion Duke Blue Devils on Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
These two teams have met just once in the last three decades with the Blue Devils routing the Bulldogs 80-60 in a regular season match up back on Jan 30, 2003.
But this year’s Bulldogs are a different lot all together. While some are calling them this year’s Cinderella story, Coach Kryzezwski has aptly named his squad one of the best teams in the country.
The Bulldogs extended their win-streak to 25 as they knocked off Izzo’s mighty Michigan State Spartans 52-50 on Saturday night. Gordon Hayward led the charge with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, including Butler’s only field goal in the final 12 minutes and a critical block on Draymond Green’s potential game tying basket in the closing seconds.
Shelvin Mack, limited by both fouls and injuries in the second half, contributed 14 points for Butler, which shot just 5-of-21 from three-point range and a dreadful 30.6 percent from the field.
Meanwhile, the Blue Devils pushed their win streak to nine and themselves back into a national championship game for the first time since 2001 after thrashing the West Virginia Mountaineers 78-57. Duke’s trio of Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer, and Kyle Singler played possessed, combining for 63 points on 12-23 shooting from three-point range.
Scheyer had 23 points and six assists, Singler chipped in 21 points along with nine rebounds, and Smith contributed 19 points and six assists in the win.
The key to wining the game was definitely the defense of Singler against Da’Sean Butler, combined with Bryan Zoubek and Lance Thomas’ dominating presence in the paint. Zoubek grabbed 10 rebounds while Thomas had a pair of takeaways. 
Duke is going to be the heavy favorite against Butler, but they are not taking them lightly, which is key.
The Devils have the size advantage in the interior and strong repeat performances by Zoubek and Thomas should open offensive options for Dukes three-point trio of Smith, Scheyer, and Singler. If that happens Butler will have a difficult time keeping pace.
Two words — stingy defense. What the Bulldogs will face and what they will need to play if they are going to become the first number five seed to ever win it all.
This shouldn’t be an issue for a team whose tendency is to keep games in low-scoring modes. But now they will face their biggest challenge thus far in the tournament, as they try to keep track of Duke’s wide array of offensive weapons, while contending with the Devils own brand of in-your-face defense.
The ‘Dogs will also need to force turnovers, something Duke does not do often, and take better care of the glass. They will also want to have a healthy Mack and Matt Howard, both of whom are suffering nagging injuries.
Betting Trends:
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Duke is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Butler has won 25 straight games
Duke has won 9 straight games
Blue Devils vs Bulldogs Free Final Four Championship Pick
This is generating some real excitement for this year’s NCAA Tourney. However, I am afraid this Hoosier-esque run will come to abrupt end against Duke.
Let’s just hope the Bulldogs can keep it close.
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Matt Martz is a freelance writer located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
