Eric Canha/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA
Purdue vs UConn: National championship game
The two best teams in the nation this season, Purdue Boilermakers and UConn Huskies will face off in the national championship game at State Farm Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday night.
Purdue is back in the championship game for the first time in 55 years
The Purdue Boilermakers are having a solid year, finishing the regular season with a 34-4 record. They lost in the Big Ten semifinals to Wisconsin in overtime, but that loss did not affect their tournament performance. The Boilermakers had walks in the park in the first two rounds of the tournament, defeating Grambling and Utah State by a total of 57 points. Gonzaga was a solid opponent in the Sweet 16, but Purdue won 80-68. In the Elite 8, the Boilermakers won 72-66 against Tennessee and then defeated NC State 63-50 in the semifinal game. The Boilermakers are second in the nation, shooting 40.6% from three-point territory, and are ranked 11th, averaging 82.9 points per game. Center Zach Edey is having a fantastic season, leading the nation with 24.9 points per game and being third with 12.2 rebounds per game.
The Huskies have a chance to defend the title
The UConn Huskies have been ranked No. 1 in the country most of the season. UConn won the Big East and finished the regular season with a 36-3 record. They cruised past every opponent in the NCAA tournament to reach the final. They started with a 92-52 win over Stetson in the first round, followed by another blowout win, 75-58 against Northwestern. San Diego State had no chance in the Sweet 16 as the Huskies won 82-52. In the Elite 8, UConn defeated Illinois 77-52 before making it to the final with an 86-72 win over Alabama. The Huskies are tenth in the league, allowing 39.1% shooting from the field, and are ranked 13th, allowing 63.5 points per game. Tristen Newton leads the team with 14.9 points per game, followed by Cam Spencer, who averages 14.4.
Betting Trends
Purdue is 21-15-2 ATS for the season, 9-2-1 ATS on a neutral site and 17-14-2 ATS following a win. UConn is 27-12-0 ATS for the season, 11-1-0 ATS on a neutral site and 24-11-0 ATS following a loss.
Prediction and Conclusion
Purdue and UConn were the best teams in the nation for the entire season, and it will be a real pleasure to watch them in the championship game. The Huskies have a chance to become the first team since the Florida Gators in 2007 to defend the championship. They are perfect 5-0 in championship games, while Purdue lost their only final back in 1969. Last season, the Boilermakers lost in the first round to a No. 16 seed, Fairleigh Dickinson, and will have a chance to become the first program to lose to a No. 16 seed in one NCAA Tournament only to turn around and win a championship the next year. That will not be easy at all since UConn has won the last 12 games this season and the last 11 in the NCAA tournament, including last year. The Huskies have won every game since March 15 by at least 14 points. Purdue has also been dominating during the tournament, winning only one game with a single-digit margin. This will be a tight game between two teams with great centers. The difference is that the Huskies have more players that can take over the game, and with their defense, they will win this one by covering the -6.5-point spread.
