Monday, Feb. 13, 2006 | 12:34 p.m.
Heading into today's Big East clash at Villanova, the Connecticut Huskies have won 11 games in a row, covered the point spread in seven of their past eight games and solidified their position atop both the Associated Press and coaches' polls.
It was impressive performances in its past three games, however, that summarily knocked down UConn's odds to win the NCAA men's basketball championship in Las Vegas sports books.
On Feb. 4, UConn topped nonconference opponent Indiana by eight points in a game in which the Huskies were favored by four points on the road.
UConn easily handled Big East rival Syracuse in its next game, winning 73-50 at home as a 12-point favorite.
Then in another road game Saturday, the Huskies pulled away from Seton Hall to win 99-57 in a game in which they were favored by eight points.
Toward the beginning of that torrid run, you could have found odds on UConn to win the NCAA tournament as high as 6-1 (at the Palms) or 9-2 (at Caesars Palace).
As of late last week, before the Seton Hall game, you still could have snagged UConn to win the tourney at 4-1 (Las Vegas Hilton or Stardust).
The bad news is those prices are gone - and with good reason, as UConn has emerged as a clear front-runner to garner a No. 1 seed in the tournament and advance to the Final Four.
The good news for college basketball future-book bettors is you can still add UConn to your portfolio at odds of 7-2.
UConn was available at 7-2 to win the tournament at the Palms and at Binion's downtown Sunday, the best price remaining in Las Vegas.
In recent days, the odds on UConn dropped to 3-1 at the Stardust and 5-2 at Caesars Palace and the Hilton. The Golden Nugget evidently has all the Connecticut money it needs, as it has the Huskies at even money to win it all.
The differing odds at various properties on second-ranked Duke, another likely top seed come tournament time, and Villanova, looking to knock off UConn today at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia (4 p.m., ESPN, Cox cable channel 30) illustrate the importance of shopping for the best available price before wagering.
If you like Duke to win the tournament, you could still find the Blue Devils at odds of 3-1 at the Venetian on Sunday, the most attractive price in town. The odds on Duke were 5-2 or less elsewhere, including only even money at the Stratosphere and related properties.
The disparity in the odds on Villanova to win the tournament is starker. The Wildcats, ranked fourth in both major polls and projected by ESPN to receive a No. 2 seed in the tournament, could be found at odds as high as 20-1 Sunday at the Golden Nugget. The least attractive odds were again found at the Stratosphere, which had Villanova at 3-1.
So a $100 wager would pay $2,100 (including your original stake back) at the Golden Nugget but only $400 at the Stratosphere - quite a difference by anyone's standards. Particularly in futures wagering, insist on getting the best price before investing your money at the betting windows.
Connecticut (22-1, 9-1 Big East) opened as a favorite of anywhere from 1 1/2 to three points against Villanova (19-2, 9-1) on Sunday's early line.
Professional handicapper Brent Crow has taken over the lead from Alan Boston in the $50,000 "Beat Boston" college basketball betting competition sponsored by Leroy's sports books.
Crow, online at sportsmemo.com, went 3-3 in his six selections on Saturday's card, including a winner with his best bet when BYU held off UNLV as a 1 1/ 2-point favorite.
Boston, backed by Leroy's in the winner-take-all contest, went 1-5 Saturday, including a loser with his best bet when Mississippi State failed to cover against South Carolina.
Crow has a record of 17-13 for 18 1/2 contest points (best bets count for 1 1/2 points); Boston is 16-14 for 17 1/2 points heading into the competition's final two weeks. Both men are 3-2 on their best bets.
The next round will take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Riviera sports book.
Jeff Haney can be reached at 259-4041 or at [email protected].
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