Monday, April 04, 2005
May's day: Handicapper says Tar Heels center is key
Franco thinks North Carolina's inside game, athleticism will ruin Illini's `destiny'
By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Illinois guard Dee Brown has been the emotional leader for a team that is 37-1 and one win from making history. Some are calling it a team of destiny.
But in handicapping, there are times when emotions need to be shoved aside and destiny becomes a hard-to-grasp intangible. Isn't there also a feeling that North Carolina coach Roy Williams is finally destined to win the big one?
The Tar Heels are 2-point favorites over the Fighting Illini in today's national championship game at St. Louis. The line is 2 1/2 at some books and the total is 154 1/2.
After three weeks of surprises in the NCAA Tournament, the nation's top two teams have survived to reach the title game most predicted -- a game that handicapper Mark Franco predicts North Carolina will win.
"I don't believe just because Illinois overcame a lot to get to this point that it's a team of destiny," Franco said. "The Tar Heels have got too much talent and a lot more depth."
Intangibles aside, Franco (francosportspicks.com) said the matchups favor North Carolina, especially inside where Sean May will battle the Illini's James Augustine.
"That looks like a total mismatch," Franco said. "Illinois has three great guards, but the Tar Heels' guards are just as good, and I expect May to dominate Augustine. May will hold the key to Williams' first title."
May scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half Saturday to push North Carolina to an 87-71 victory over Michigan State in the semifinals.
The muscular center is surrounded by three explosive scorers in Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Jawad Williams. The Tar Heels (32-4) were tested by the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Illini, rarely tested in the Big Ten, are better defensively and more perimeter oriented. Brown, Luther Head, Roger Powell Jr. and Deron Williams combined to hit 11 3-pointers in Saturday's 72-57 victory over Louisville.
"The bottom line is I think North Carolina has too many athletes and is the more physical team," Franco said.
