Butler Bulldogs 2010 NCAA Final Four Odds, Picks & Predictions: For the third time in eight years and for the fourth time overall, Butler is returning to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The Bulldogs, seeded No. 5 in the West Region, earned their trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a first-round victory over No. 12 UTEP, 77-59, and a second-round win over 13 Murray State, 54-52, in San Jose, Calif. So what are the odds Butler can advance beyond Thursday's game and into the Final Four?
Oddsmakers at online super-sportsbook Bodog.com list Butler on its NCAA Tournament Board as somewhat of a long shot at 13-to-2 odds to win the Western Region. Favored in the West are Syracuse at 5-to-6 and Kansas State at 8-to-5.
As impressive as Butler has been during the season and post season, the Bodog.com futures board doesn't give the Bulldogs much of a chance to win the NCAA Tournament listing them at 35-to-1 odds.
Sophomore guard Ronald Nored turned in big plays at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor in the final 30 seconds to help lead Butler past Murray State, 54-52, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in San Jose, Calif. Nored broke a 50-50 tie with a lay-up and a free throw with 0:25 left on the clock, and then, with the Bulldogs hanging on to a two-point lead in the closing seconds, he joined teammate Gordon Hayward on a defensive double-team that stopped Murray State from getting off a potential game-winning shot. Hayward knocked the ball into Butler’s backcourt and dove on it as time expired, sending Butler to the Sweet 16. Butler appeared to take control of the game with a 9-0 run that put the Bulldogs on top, 46-38, midway through the second half. But Murray State answered with its own 12-1 run to take a 50-47 lead with 2:48 left.
Looking at some betting trends in games Butler has participated in we see the Bulldogs have are on a five games SU winning streak with the UNDER cashing in five of Butlers last seven games.
If Butler can survive its matchup with Syracuse, it will have a great shot at winning a national title. Looming ahead if Butler gets a win in the regional semifinals are a matchup with the Xavier/Kansas State winner. While both of those teams are very good, Butler is absolutely on a par with them. If the Bulldogs make it to the Final Four in their home town of Indianapolis they would probably face South No. 1 Duke, providing the Blue Devils take care of business this weeknend.
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