Monday, April 04, 2022 North Carolina vs. Kansas (NCAAB) - 9:20 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -190 Kansas Rating: 8* Mike's National Championship Smart Play (WIN) The cinderella Tar Heels & first-year HC Hubert Davis come into this 29-9 SU & pegged as an underdog 8th-seed who was a 100-1 long shot when the tourney first began. Elite HC Bill Self (29th season) & his #1 seed Jayhawks (riding a 10-game winning streak & were tabulated with 12-1 pre-Madness odds to win it) come in 33-6 SU & playing with a crutch for not getting a golden opportunity to win in 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown. Ironically, both of these coaches took over their respective programs replacing the same HC in Roy Williams. The often reliable Ken Pom rankings have Kansas clearly in @ 3rd while North Carolina comes in a distant 16th. As I pointed out in my semi-final selection, Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin & sharp-shooting Christian Braun get my nod for the superior backcourt in this matchup. Besides that duo, I look for Norfolk Academy/Oak Hill Academy product & 6'10" C David McCormick to flex his muscles down low as he finally gets a golden opportunity to win it after being shut down last March Madness due to a positive COVID-19 test (Kansas was eliminated in the 2nd round their last 2 Madness runs before this season). A meaningful category separating these 2 has to be strength of schedule where we find KU ranking a high 3rd while UNC roll in a distant 23rd. As far as freshness is concerned, the Tar Heels left a lot on the court after a hard-fought victory over their bitter rival Duke. The took quick of a turn-around time will prove too fatal to UNC's charges down the stretch. The other side of the table, Kansas won comfortably without a major challenge & got to rest pivotal personnel down the stretch which translates into some key lasting power needed to win the national championship. Other key analytics show these Jayhawks #26 in eFG% defense & play a UNC starting 5 that played all but 13 minutes on Saturday night. Remember, Duke couldn't knock down 3's & pretty much lost the game on the free throw line late with North Carolina excelling @ the charity stripe. The Jayhawks already proved they can shoot from the perimeter @ this venue by going a brilliant 13-for-24 from beyond the arc Saturday night versus Villanova. My bottom line says Kansas can play pressure "D" & should defend shots by R.J. Davis & Caleb Love from the perimeter. Brady "Grizzly Adams" Manek may get his 15 points but not much more up against McCormack. Let's take the fresher & more-experienced team (HC & players) in the KANSAS JAYHAWKS on the ML as my National Championship Smart Play! NOTES: Final Notes This Week Mike Handzelek's 2021-22 CBB Final Overall Record: 20-17 for a disappointing 54% Mike's Overall Record Last 61 Plays (All Sports): 42-19 for a very profitable 69%