The Final Four officially gets underway this Saturday, April 2nd with a battle between the Butler Bulldogs and Virginia Commonwealth Rams. Tip off in this weekend's first National Semifinal contest is scheduled for 6:09pm ET at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. College Basketball Lines have Butler listed as a -2.5 against the spread 2011 Final Four Picks favorite; the Over/Under is set at 133.5.
Just as everyone expected when the 2011 NCAA Tournament kicked off on March 15th, the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 
captured the Southwest Region as a No. 11 play-in seed. Obviously, the only truth that statement holds is the fact that VCU did, indeed, win its region as not a soul expected the Rams to even sniff the second weekend, yet alone Houston.
But in the Lone Star State they are, and, after their most improbable of runs, ready to inflict even more damage (if that is possible) on unsuspecting brackets everywhere.
Of all the Rams feats over the past two and a half weeks, their win over Kansas on Sunday was the most shocking. The Jayhawks, the last remaining one seed, were barely challenged in the lead up to their meeting with VCU, beating Boston University, Illinois, and Richmond by an average of 17.7 points per game. But the Rams slayed the Big 12 giant despite being outrebounded 42 to 32 and shooting just 39.6 percent from the field.
Now Joey Rodriguez and company will face another team that is equally adept at crushing college basketball titans in Butler. The Bulldogs, the Southeast Region's eighth seed, knocked off No. 9 Old Dominion (VCU's conference rival), No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Wisconsin, and No. 2 Florida in route to their second consecutive National Semifinal appearance.
So, how did the Butler, a dog in each of its first four tournament games, blaze its trail to Texas? By knowing how to win close games. The Bulldogs average margin of victory in this year's tourney is a scant 3.3 points per game.
Butler also possesses an uncanny knack for playing its game, regardless of who the opponent is or how good that opponent may be. The Bulldogs do not get caught up in emotion or wild momentum swings, they simply execute and play extremely hard.
Given Butler's track record, as well as the experience of Matt Brown, Shelvin Mack, and their cohorts, it will have the upper hand come Saturday. Consequently, Brad Stevens and his squad will get another shot at the national title they nearly secured last year.
Virginia Commonwealth vs Butler 2011 Final Four Picks:
Virginia Commonwealth Rams +2.5 (-110), Over 133.5 (-110), +125 (Moneyline)
Butler Bulldogs -2.5 (-110), Under 133.5 (-110), -140 (Moneyline)
