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The expert in betting, Evan Abrams, of Action Network, thinks that Auburn and Texas Tech could play well in the Final Four and that he has numbers to prove it. See ActionNetwork.come for even more analysis.
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When this year's NCAA Final Four kicks off in Minneapolis, the traditional mistake of taking place on a Saturday will continue, with the league game played on a Monday.

This is a big problem that needs to be corrected by the NCAA, an organization that always seems ready to do things wrong.

But seriously, why are we still living in the world of Monday night games? An evening of work / school with the game starting after 21h. AND?

How stupid and out of touch is this?

If you looked up from your phone, or whatever you were reading, just now and you said "really stupid" to that question, congratulations, because you're right on that point. And if you disagree with that, you're not right. You are wrong.

Virginia head coach Tony Bennett celebrates after defeating Purdue 80-75 in overtime at the NCAA Regional University Basketball Tournament Final on Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Louisville, CA. Kentucky (AP Photo / Michael Conroy) ORG XMIT: KYDC179

The schedule of Thursdays / Saturdays has all kinds of meanings. First, most teams are used to playing so fast in the tournament after the previous round, so that there would be no problem of preparation. The teams will be more than ready for their semi-finals.

As a spectator, Thursday is a good way to kick off a sporty weekend. Waiting for Sunday's Elite 8 matches at Saturday's Final Four matches can really get you out of the tournament stream, especially if your media is broken and you do not really care who wins. There are chances that some fans will move away from the Final Four because of this and the long break between games. This change could help eliminate that.

Move these semifinal matches to Thursday and the momentum of something like the crazy games of Elite 8 last weekend will make you feel good. Maybe invite people to work, get down to work on Friday and make a nice three-day weekend.

Having the title on Saturday night is even more logical. And yes, I know some of you will shout that Saturday is hard for TV ratings and that people have too many options for the game to be played on Saturdays. . But the semi-finals are played on a Saturday and people watch without problems. So stop with this argument.

Most of the major college games of the season are held on Saturdays and Saturdays. The fans are therefore more than programmed to watch the games that night.

But the big problem is that the game does not take place on Monday night because it's not good for anyone, especially for spectators.

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Suppose you participate in the complete Final Four as it is currently planned. You get there on Friday, your team wins on Saturday, you stay there Sunday, then all day Monday, then the game Monday night, then you go home Tuesday.

In a better world, you will go Wednesday night, attend the Thursday night games, have fun in the city on Friday, attend the title game on Saturday and come home on Sunday. It's a perfect extended weekend without messing up your next week. In addition, Fridays and Saturdays are much cooler than Sundays and Mondays.

Then think about the people watching the championship game at home. On the east coast, it starts after 21h. and most fans who do not have a dog in the fight are likely to watch part of the game before being called one night. Young children who want to watch it are not lucky because their parents will send them to their rooms most often before half-time.

What a disappointing way to finish the tournament.

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Then there are the west coast people who will probably miss a lot of Monday's game on their way home from work, preparing a family dinner, and so on.

Move to Saturday and everyone will be there at the beginning of the game. Heck, you can even start an hour earlier to make things even easier for the East Coast and for all college hoop enthusiasts. I know that in my childhood I hated the Monday finale because I would be banned too early in the bedroom and hated it.

Oh, and if the NCAA is so concerned about "student athletes", then that would be perfect – all kids are back to school on Monday!

Listen, I know this whole idea makes too much sense, so the NCAA is probably not going to think about it, let alone make the change.

But Thursday's semifinal matches, crowned by a Saturday championship game, are the kind of things we deserve as fans.