This crazy NCAA season is about to end this Monday, when the Michigan Wolverines and the Villanova Wildcats square off in a battle between the last two teams standing in college basketball. Will the Wolverines, who enter the match on a 14-game win streak, eke out an upset victory over Villanova? Or will the Wildcats cap their impressive and memorable season with their second national title in three seasons? The Villanova Wildcats are currently favored by the sportsbook to win the big game by a total of 7-points. The OVER/UNDER is currently set at 145-points. Register here to make your pick.
Complete Betting Preview for the NCAA Basketball Championship Game on April 2, 2018
No. 3 Michigan Wolverines vs No. 1 Villanova Wildcats
Line: Michigan (+7) vs. Villanova (-7); Over/Under: (145)
Michigan Wolverines – The biggest reason why the Wolverines have been this successful this season is their defense. Michigan put on display once again on Saturday its unforgiving defense, when it stifled the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers’ offense. The Wolverines limited Loyola-Chicago to only 43.1 percent shooting from the field and 1-for-10 from the outside. They will have to play an intense defense from beginning to end against Villanova on Monday. Michigan simply can’t afford the Wildcats to get their rhythm at any point of the game. Expect Michigan to slow down the game as much as possible in an attempt to mess with Villanova’s offensive flow and limit the Wildcats’ number of shots. According to KenPom, the Wolverines are 324th in the nation in adjusted tempo. Back in the regular season, Michigan allowed just 62.9 points per game.
Villanova Wildcats – As for the Wildcats, how do you defend against this team? As good as Michigan is in containing its opponents’ scoring so far in this tournament, it’s going to be hard for the Wolverines to beat Villanova if the Wildcats shoot like it did in, well, almost every game in this tournament. The Wildcats are coming off a 95-79 win over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Final Four on the strength of an insane 18-for-40 line from beyond the arc. The scary thing for Michigan is that this kind of shooting from the Wildcats is starting to look normal – if it has not already. The Wildcats have buried 66 threes in this tournament on a 42.3 percent conversion rate. Everyone from the Wildcats can hit threes from the guard to their big men. Forwards Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman combined for seven three-pointers in the Kansas game. Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo had 18 and 15 points, respectively.
Writer’s Prediction
The Villanova Wildcats cover, and win the 2018 NCAA College Basketball Championship by a total of 78-70. Take the OVER (145).
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