It’s No. 1 against No. 1, the best versus the best. Gonzaga and North Carolina squaring off for college basketball’s highest prize: the 2017 Naismith Trophy. This is the epitome of March Madness. Click here for our full preview of this championship match.
And to help you further in deciding on your winner, check out some of these expert predictions below. They’re not called “experts” for nothing.
According to Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated, the Zags are going to win, noting that they’ve already overcome huge hurdles to reach this point of the tournament. Moreover, he mentioned that Bulldogs are playing their best basketball now after averaging 80 points on 49 percent three-point shooting, and gathering 30 assists to only 22 turnovers in their last two games. That kind of display certainly has a national title written all over it.
Bleacher Report
EXPERT
PREDICTION
Paul Kasabian
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Bleacher Report’s Paul Kasabian also has Gonzaga as his national champion. He notes two factors that will lead to a Zags victory. First, is the valiant effort of the team’s second-leading scorer in Joel Berry II, who has been playing through a hurting ankle. And second, Kasabian sees the Tar Heels running out of gas after three-consecutive down-to-the-wire games prior to this championship showdown.
Campus Insiders
EXPERT
PREDICTION
Campus Insiders
North Carolina Tar Heels
We have a different answer from the experts at the Campus Insiders. They sense a UNC victory, with the dynamic duo of Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson overpowering the Zags defense inside the paint. But they do note that a healthy Joel Berry is needed in stopping Nigel Williams-Goss from breaking the hearts of Tar Heels fans.
USA Today
EXPERT
PREDICTION
Scott Gleeson
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Scott Gleeson of USA Today predicts a good ending for the Zags—their first-ever national championship. The difference-maker will essentially be their defense that’s been a nightmare matchup all season long, and one that refused to give up during their Final Four win against South Carolina and in the Sweet 16 versus West Virginia.
