A matchup of two of the sports books’ hottest teams

By Jeff Haney

Monday, April 7, 2008 | 2 a.m.

When Kansas cruised past favored North Carolina in Saturday’s NCAA Tournament semifinals, it marked the fourth time in their five tournament games the Jayhawks had covered the point spread.

Yet in its past three outings, Memphis, the Jayhawks’ opponent in today’s national championship game, has been even more impressive against the betting number.

Before beating UCLA by 15 as a 2-point favorite Saturday, the Tigers had defeated Texas by 18 as a 3 1/2-point favorite and Michigan State by 18 as a 5 1/2-point favorite.

Given its recent hot run, it’s no surprise Memphis has settled in as a clear — if small — betting favorite in today’s championship game at San Antonio (6 p.m., CBS, KLAS Channel 8).

After opening at pick ’em or even plus-1 at some properties late Saturday night, Memphis was listed as a favorite of 1 1/2 to 2 points in Las Vegas sports books Sunday.

The Las Vegas Hilton sports book had Memphis posted as a 1 1/2-point favorite, although Hilton assistant manager Jeff Sherman said betting trends pointed to the line settling in at 2 points.

“The money has been coming in slowly but surely on Memphis to push the line off pick ’em,” Sherman said. “We’ve seen bettors play Memphis at pick, then they laid the 1 point, then they laid 1 1/2.

“I can’t fault them, the way Memphis has looked so strong in the past three games.”

The over/under, or “total,” on today’s game is 145 1/2 to 146 1/2 in Las Vegas sports books, with a money line of about minus-125 (risk $1.25 to win $1) on Memphis. As recently as Friday, bettors in Las Vegas could have found the Tigers at 7-2 to win the title. That price was available at Leroy’s properties, although most other casinos had Memphis at 3-1 or less heading into Saturday’s semifinals.

The Hilton has posted more than 30 special proposition wagers — or “props” — on today’s game.

Among the most intriguing ...

• Number of different players to score in the game: over/under 15 (over, minus-130).

• Number of players to score 10 or more points: over/under 6 1/2 (over, minus-170).

• Points by Brandon Rush: over/under 15 1/2.

• Points by Darnell Jackson: over/under 10 1/2.

• Points and assists by Russell Robinson: over/under 11.

• Points by Chris Douglas-Roberts: over/under 20 1/2.

• Free throws by Douglas-Roberts: over/under 5 1/2.

• Points by Derek Rose: over/under 19 1/2.

• Points by Antonio Anderson: over/under 9 1/2.

• 3-pointers by Anderson: over/under 1 1/2.

• Points and rebounds by Robert Dozier: over/under 14 1/2.

For more props and odds, see the sports section of the Sun’s Web site (lasvegassun.com).

Prop review

The Hilton sports book posted 14 props on each of Saturday’s tournament semifinal games.

Considering the point spreads in Saturday’s games suggested close matchups, it might have surprised some bettors that the “over” in the prop on the largest lead of the game by either team cashed in both games.

In the Memphis-UCLA game, the over/under on the largest lead was set at 12 1/2 points, and Memphis led by as many as 18.

In the Kansas-North Carolina game, the over/under on the largest lead was set at 15 points, and Kansas led by as many as 28.

Memphis guards Rose, Douglas-Roberts and Anderson exceeded expectations in the victory. The over/under on Rose’s total points was 16 1/2, and he finished with 25. The over/under on total points, rebounds and assists by Douglas-Roberts was 24, and he finished with 32. The over/under on total points and rebounds by Anderson was 10 1/2, and he finished with 15.

In an indication of how disappointing North Carolina’s performance was, the over/under on the Tar Heels’ total points was 81 1/2, and they scored only 66.