Record:

Sweet 16: 4-4

Elite 8: 3-1

Final Four: 2-0

Overall: 9-5

Michigan (33-7) vs. Villanova (35-4)

Alamodome, San Antonio, 70,000

8:20 PM CT

TBS

Jim, Grant, Bill, Trace

Nova by 6 1/2

I really like both of these squads, particularly the Wolverines. They’ve had some tremendously hard fought victories in 80th edition of the NCAA Tournament. That 64-63 victory over Houston in the second round was classic as freshman Jordan Poole sank a 28 foot trifecta at the buzzer to snatch the victory for the Blue. It was an electric moment. They have an excellent squad. center Mo Wagner and guards Charles Matthews and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman are all tremendously talented players. Rahkman has struggled in the tournament, but he was terrific in the Big Ten tournament and is a highly capable offensive and defensive player. They have depth as well. 

Coaching is a wash. Jay Wright and John Beilein are both superb coaches for Nova and Michigan respectively. Both know how to get their teams over the top in this game. Both teams have veteran players, so both can handle a high pressure game unlike Kentucky or Duke this year. 

While my heart is with Michigan because I really like their fight, their spirit, the way they play defense and the way they shoot it, I’m going with the favorite. I like awesome junior guard Jalen Brunson and his teammates to cut down the nets for the 2nd time in 3 years. They won it in 2016 on a last second 3 pointer by Kris Jenkins to outlast a great UNC team, 77-74. UNC came back last year and won it themselves. Nova wins the championship at the Alamodome. 

Villanova 76, Michigan 68