I have gone back in history and dug up the scores from previous Final Four & NCAA Championship games. The information you will find in the tables below stems back to 1985, which is when the NCAA Tournament was expanded to 64 teams.
I was only able to find the lines for all Final Four games dating back to 2003. I was able to find all of the lines for the NCAA Championship Game since 1985. I’ll make a couple of notes about what I have found that will hopefully help you handicap not only this year’s Final Four, but the Final Four in years to come.
Unfortunately there was no NCAA Tournament, and therefore no Final Four or Championship game, in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
| Year | Matchup | Line | Score | SU Winner | ATS Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | San Diego State (5) vs Florida Atlantic (9) | San Diego State -2.5 | 72-71 | San Diego State | Florida Atlantic +2.5 |
| 2023 | UConn (4) vs Miami (5) | UConn -5.5 | 72-59 | UConn | UConn -5.5 |
| 2022 | Duke (2) vs North Carolina (8) | Duke -4.5 | 81-77 | North Carolina | North Carolina +4.5 |
| 2022 | Kansas (1) vs Villanova (2) | Kansas -4 | 81-64 | Kansas | Kansas -4 |
| 2021 | Baylor (1) vs. Houston (2) | Baylor -5 | 78-59 | Baylor | Baylor -5 |
| 2021 | UCLA (11) vs Gonzaga (1) | Gonzaga -14 | 93-90 | Gonzaga | UCLA +14 |
| 2020 | None | None | None | None | None |
| 2020 | None | None | None | None | None |
| 2019 | Virginia (1) vs. Auburn (5) | Virginia -6 | 63-62 | Virginia | Auburn +6 |
| 2019 | Texas Tech (3) vs. Michigan State (2) | Michigan State -2 | 61-51 | Texas Tech | Texas Tech +2 |
| 2018 | Villanova (1) vs. Kansas (1) | Villanova -5 | 95-79 | Villanova | Villanova -5 |
| 2018 | Michigan (3) vs. Loyola-Chicago (11) | Michigan -5.5 | 69-57 | Michigan | Michigan -5.5 |
| 2017 | Gonzaga (1) vs. South Carolina (7) | Gonzaga -6.5 | 77-73 | Gonzaga | South Carolina +6.5 |
| 2017 | North Carolina (1) vs. Oregon (3) | North Carolina -4.5 | 77-76 | North Carolina | Oregon +4.5 |
| 2016 | Villanova (2) vs. Oklahoma (2) | Villanova -2.5 | 95-51 | Villanova | Villanova -2 |
| 2016 | North Carolina (1) vs. Syracuse (10) | North Carolina -10 | 83-66 | North Carolina | North Carolina -10 |
| 2015 | Kentucky (1) vs. Wisconsin (1) | Kentucky -5 | 71-64 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin +5 |
| 2015 | Michigan State (7) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -5 | 81-61 | Duke | Duke -5 |
| 2014 | Florida (1) vs. Connecticut (7) | Florida -7 | 63-53 | Connecticut | Connecticut +7 |
| 2014 | Wisconsin (2) vs. Kentucky (8) | Kentucky -1 | 74-73 | Kentucky | PUSH |
| 2013 | Louisville (1) vs. Wichita St (9) | Louisville -9.5 | 72-68 | Louisville | Wichita St +9.5 |
| 2013 | Michigan (4) vs. Syracuse (4) | Michigan -1.5 | 61-56 | Michigan | Michigan -1.5 |
| 2012 | Kentucky (1) vs. Louisville (4) | Kentucky -8.5 | 69-61 | Kentucky | Louisville +8.5 |
| 2012 | Ohio State (2) vs. Kansas (2) | Ohio State -3 | 64-62 | Kansas | Kansas +3 |
| 2011 | Kentucky (4) vs. Connecticut (3) | Kentucky -2 | 56-55 | Connecticut | Connecticut +2 |
| 2011 | VCU (11) vs. Butler (8) | Butler -3.5 | 70-62 | Butler | Butler -3.5 |
| 2010 | Michigan St (5) vs. Butler (5) | Butler -1.5 | 52-50 | Butler | Butler -1.5 |
| 2010 | W. Virginia (2) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -2.5 | 78-57 | Duke | Duke -2.5 |
| 2009 | Michigan St. (2) vs. Connecticut (1) | Connecticut -4.5 | 82-73 | Michigan St | Michigan St +4.5 |
| 2009 | Villanova (3) vs. N. Carolina (1) | N. Carolina -7 | 83-69 | N. Carolina | N. Carolina -7 |
| 2008 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Kansas (1) | N. Carolina -2.5 | 84-66 | Kansas | Kansas +2.5 |
| 2008 | Memphis (1) vs. UCLA (1) | Memphis -2 | 78-63 | Memphis | Memphis -2 |
| 2007 | Florida (1) vs. UCLA (2) | Florida -3 | 76-66 | Florida | Florida -3 |
| 2007 | Georgetown (2) vs. Ohio State (1) | Georgetown -1 | 67-60 | Ohio State | Ohio State +1 |
| 2006 | LSU (4) vs. UCLA (2) | LSU -1.5 | 59-45 | UCLA | UCLA +1.5 |
| 2006 | George Mason (11) vs. Florida (3) | Florida -6 | 73-58 | Florida | Florida -6 |
| 2005 | Illinois (1) vs. Louisville (4) | Illinois -3 | 72-57 | Illinois | Illinois -3 |
| 2005 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Michigan St (5) | N. Carolina -5.5 | 87-71 | N. Carolina | N. Carolina -5.5 |
| 2004 | Ga Tech (3) vs. Oklahoma St (2) | Oklahoma St -4 | 67-65 | Ga Tech | Ga Tech +4 |
| 2004 | Duke (1) vs. Connecticut (2) | Connecticut -2 | 79-78 | Connecticut | Duke +2 |
| 2003 | Marquette (3) vs. Kansas (2) | Marquette -4 | 94-61 | Kansas | Kansas +4 |
| 2003 | Texas (1) vs. Syracuse (3) | Texas -3 | 95-84 | Syracuse | Syracuse +3 |
| 2002 | Indiana (5) vs. Oklahoma (2) | 73-64 | Indiana | ||
| 2002 | Maryland (1) vs. Kansas (1) | 97-88 | Maryland | ||
| 2001 | Arizona (2) vs. Michigan St (1) | 80-61 | Arizona | ||
| 2001 | Duke (1) vs. Maryland (3) | 95-84 | Duke | ||
| 2000 | Wisconsin (8) vs. Michigan St (1) | 53-41 | Michigan St | ||
| 2000 | Florida (5) vs. N. Carolina (8) | 71-59 | Florida | ||
| 1999 | Duke (1) vs. Michigan St (1) | 68-62 | Duke | ||
| 1999 | Ohio State (4) vs. Connecticut (1) | 64-58 | Connecticut | ||
| 1998 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Utah (3) | 65-59 | Utah | ||
| 1998 | Stanford (3) vs. Kentucky (2) | 86-85 (OT) | Kentucky | ||
| 1997 | Kentucky (1) vs. Minnesota (1) | 78-69 | Kentucky | ||
| 1997 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Arizona (4) | 66-58 | Arizona | ||
| 1996 | Mississippi St (5) vs. Syracuse (4) | 77-69 | Syracuse | ||
| 1996 | UMass (1) vs. Kentucky (1) | 81-74 | Kentucky | ||
| 1995 | Arkansas (2) vs. N. Carolina (2) | 75-68 | Arkansas | ||
| 1995 | Oklahoma St (4) vs. UCLA (1) | 74-61 | UCLA | ||
| 1994 | Arizona (2) vs. Arkansas (1) | 91-82 | Arkansas | ||
| 1994 | Florida (3) vs. Duke (2) | 70-65 | Duke | ||
| 1993 | Kentucky (1) vs. Michigan (1) | 81-78 (OT) | Michigan | ||
| 1993 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Kansas (2) | 78-68 | N. Carolina | ||
| 1992 | Cincinnati (4) vs. Michigan (6) | 76-72 | Michigan | ||
| 1992 | Duke (1) vs. Indiana (2) | 81-78 | Duke | ||
| 1991 | UNLV (1) vs. Duke (2) | 79-77 | Duke | ||
| 1991 | N. Carolina (1) vs. Kansas (3) | 79-73 | Kansas | ||
| 1990 | Ga Tech (4) vs. UNLV (1) | 90-81 | UNLV | ||
| 1990 | Duke (3) vs. Arkansas (4) | 97-83 | Duke | ||
| 1989 | Illinois (1) vs. Michigan (3) | 83-81 | Michigan | ||
| 1989 | Duke (2) vs. Seton Hall (3) | 95-78 | Seton Hall | ||
| 1988 | Kansas (6) vs. Duke (2) | 66-59 | Kansas | ||
| 1988 | Arizona (1) vs. Oklahoma (1) | 86-78 | Oklahoma | ||
| 1987 | UNLV (1) vs. Indiana (1) | 97-93 | Indiana | ||
| 1987 | Providence (6) vs. Syracuse (2) | 77-63 | Syracuse | ||
| 1986 | LSU (11) vs. Louisville (2) | 88-77 | Louisville | ||
| 1986 | Duke (1) vs. Kansas (1) | 71-67 | Duke | ||
| 1985 | St. John’s (1) vs. Georgetown (1) | 77-59 | Georgetown | ||
| 1985 | Memphis State (2) vs. Villanova (8) | 52-45 | Villanova |
| Year | Matchup | Line | Score | SU Winner | ATS Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | San Diego State (5) vs UConn (4) | UConn -7.5 | 76-59 | UConn | UConn -7.5 |
| 2022 | Kansas (1) vs. North Carolina (8) | Kansas -4 | 72-69 | Kansas | North Carolina +4 |
| 2021 | Baylor (1) vs. Gonzaga (1) | Gonzaga -4.5 | 86-70 | Baylor | Baylor +4.5 |
| 2020 | None | None | None | None | None |
| 2019 | Virginia (1) vs. Texas Tech (3) | Virginia -2 | 85-77 | Virginia | Virginia -2 |
| 2018 | Villanova (1) vs. Michigan (3) | Villanova -7 | 79-62 | Villanova | Villanova -7 |
| 2017 | North Carolina (1) vs. Gonzaga (1) | North Carolina -1 | 71-65 | North Carolina | North Carolina -1 |
| 2016 | Villanova (2) vs. North Carolina (1) | North Carolina -2 | 77-74 | Villanova | Villanova +2 |
| 2015 | Duke (1) vs. Wisconsin (1) | Wisconsin -1 | 68-63 | Duke | Duke +1 |
| 2014 | Kentucky (8) vs. Connecticut (7) | Kentucky -2.5 | 60-54 | Connecticut | Connecticut +2.5 |
| 2013 | Michigan St (4) vs. Louisville (1) | Louisville -4 | 82-76 | Louisville | Louisville -4 |
| 2012 | Kansas (2) vs. Kentucky (1) | Kentucky -6.5 | 67-59 | Kentucky | Kentucky -6.5 |
| 2011 | Butler (8) vs. Connecticut (3) | Connecticut -3 | 53-41 | Connecticut | Connecticut -3 |
| 2010 | Butler (5) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -7 | 61-59 | Duke | Butler +7 |
| 2009 | Michigan St (2) vs. N. Carolina (1) | N. Carolina -7.5 | 89-72 | N. Carolina | N. Carolina -7.5 |
| 2008 | Memphis (1) vs. Kansas (1) | Memphis -2 | 75-68 (OT) | Kansas | Kansas +2 |
| 2007 | Ohio State (1) vs. Florida (1) | Florida -4 | 84-75 | Florida | Florida -4 |
| 2006 | Florida (3) vs. UCLA (2) | Florida -1 | 73-57 | Florida | Florida -1 |
| 2005 | Illinois (1) vs. N. Carolina (1) | N. Carolina -2 | 75-70 | N. Carolina | N. Carolina -2 |
| 2004 | Ga Tech (3) vs. Connecticut (2) | Connecticut -5 | 82-73 | Connecticut | Connecticut -5 |
| 2003 | Syracuse (3) vs. Kansas (2) | Kansas -5.5 | 81-78 | Syracuse | Syracuse +5.5 |
| 2002 | Indiana (5) vs. Maryland (1) | Maryland -7.5 | 64-52 | Maryland | Maryland -7.5 |
| 2001 | Arizona (2) vs. Duke (1) | Arizona -4 | 82-72 | Duke | Duke +4 |
| 2000 | Florida (5) vs. Michigan St (1) | Michigan St -4 | 89-76 | Michigan St | Michigan St -4 |
| 1999 | Connecticut (1) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -9.5 | 77-74 | Connecticut | Connecticut +9.5 |
| 1998 | Utah (3) vs. Kentucky (2) | Kentucky -3.5 | 78-69 | Kentucky | Kentucky -3.5 |
| 1997 | Arizona (4) vs. Kentucky (1) | Kentucky -7 | 84-79 (OT) | Arizona | Arizona +7 |
| 1996 | Syracuse (4) vs. Kentucky (1) | Kentucky -14 | 76-67 | Kentucky | Syracuse +14 |
| 1995 | Arkansas (2) vs. UCLA (1) | UCLA -3 | 89-78 | UCLA | UCLA -3 |
| 1994 | Duke (2) vs. Arkansas (1) | Arkansas -6 | 76-72 | Arkansas | Duke +6 |
| 1993 | Michigan (1) vs. N. Carolina (1) | N. Carolina -2.5 | 77-71 | N. Carolina | N. Carolina -2.5 |
| 1992 | Michigan (6) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -5.5 | 71-51 | Duke | Duke -5.5 |
| 1991 | Kansas (3) vs. Duke (2) | Duke -3 | 72-65 | Duke | Duke -3 |
| 1990 | Duke (3) vs. UNLV (1) | *No Line | 103-73 | UNLV | *No Line |
| 1989 | Seton Hall (3) vs. Michigan (3) | Michigan -2 | 80-79 (OT) | Michigan | Seton Hall +2 |
| 1988 | Kansas (6) vs. Oklahoma (1) | Oklahoma -8 | 83-79 | Kansas | Kansas +8 |
| 1987 | Syracuse (2) vs. Indiana (1) | Indiana -4.5 | 74-73 | Indiana | Syracuse +4.5 |
| 1986 | Louisville (2) vs. Duke (1) | Duke -1 | 72-69 | Louisville | Louisville +1 |
| 1985 | Villanova (8) vs. Georgetown (1) | Georgetown -8 | 66-64 | Villanova | Villanova +8 |
Oddsmakers have expected close games in the Final Four. That’s indicated by the fact that only six teams have been underdogs of 7 or more points since 2003.
Favorites in the NCAA Championship Game have been a good bet historically, however, the underdog has won against the spread in five of the last nine years.
There have been some huge upsets in the history of the NCAA Championship Game. The biggest of them all was Connecticut beating Duke 77-74 as 9.5-point underdogs back in 1999. Kansas won as an 8-point underdog to Oklahoma 83-79 in 1988, while No. 8 Villanova defeated No. 1 Georgetown 66-64 as 8-point dogs in 1985. Arizona won as a 7-point underdog to Kentucky in overtime by a final of 84-79 in 1997 as the fourth-biggest upset in history.
There were a lot bigger point spreads dating back further in the Championship Game than there are now. From 1985 to 1999, there were four instances where one team was favored by at least 8 points, with the biggest being Kentucky (-14) over Syracuse in 1996. Since 2000, there hasn’t been one instance where a team was favored by more than 7.5 points. That just goes to show the parity in college basketball these days compared to before the turn of the century.