Expert Picks for the 2024 Men's NCAA Championship Game

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sixty-six games of the 2024 men's NCAA tournament are history, and the national champion will be decided in No. 67.

Saturday at State Farm Stadium, the Purdue Boilermakers and Connecticut Huskies advanced to Monday's title matchup. Purdue knocked off the upstart North Carolina State Wolfpack before UConn upended the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Purdue (34-4) is seeking its first championship in program history.

On the other side, UConn (36-3) is aiming to become the first back-to-back March Madness champion in nearly two decades.

B/R's college basketball crew—David Kenyon, Kerry Miller and Joel Reuter—each shared their prediction for Monday's game. We also have viewing details, betting information and recaps of how Purdue and UConn reached the championship stage.

When: Monday, April 8

Time: 9:20 p.m. ET

Where: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

TV: TBS

Stream: March Madness Live

Spread (via DraftKings): UConn -6

Moneyline: UConn -278 (bet $278 to win $100); Purdue +225 (bet $100 to win $225)

Total: Over/Under 146

Purdue found itself on the wrong side of history in the 2023 tourney, falling to Fairleigh Dickinson in the opening round. It marked only the second time a No. 16 seed had defeated a No. 1 team.

But there was no drama to begin March Madness in 2024.

Purdue cruised past Grambling in a 78-50 rout before rolling over Utah State 106-67 during the second round. In the Sweet 16, the Boilers outlasted Gonzaga for a quality 80-68 win. They punched a Final Four ticket with a nerve-testing 72-66 triumph over Tennessee.

In those four victories, star center Zach Edey averaged 30 points and 16.3 rebounds. He then collected 20 points and 12 boards in Purdue's 63-50 win against North Carolina State on Saturday.

For the season, Purdue holds the nation's second-best three-point percentage and total rebounding rate. Those strengths will be essential in a showdown with a feisty, physical UConn team.

This journey looks pretty familiar, huh?

Last year, the Huskies rattled off victories of 10-plus points in every March Madness game. They became the fifth team to record a double-digit margin in all six NCAA tournament wins.

Well, they could do it again.

Connecticut smoked Stetson 91-52 in the opening round and toppled Northwestern 75-58 to reach the Sweet 16. The second weekend brought more of the same as UConn obliterated San Diego State 82-52 and overwhelmed Illinois for an impressive 77-52 result.

Alabama stuck around for much of the Final Four, but UConn dominated the closing minutes in the 86-72 triumph.

Put simply, UConn—which has a single loss since January—has been the strongest team in the country this season. The offense leads KenPom's adjusted efficiency metric, and the defense is fourth.

There are no underdogs here; this is Goliath vs. Goliath.

Purdue has a college legend in Edey, a two-time National Player of the Year, and a tremendous group of complementary pieces. Connecticut is a well-rounded behemoth that Alabama coach Nate Oats told reporters is "close to being bulletproof."

If you pick the Boilermakers, there's an easy explanation. If you prefer UConn, the rationale is straightforward, too.

The members of B/R's panel, nevertheless, are riding with the Huskies. The defending champions have a slight edge on the defensive end, and 7'2" Donovan Clingan is a rare physical match for the 7'4" Edey.

Purdue's perimeter shooters can change the game, but UConn is our unanimous pick to climb the ladder and cut down the nets.

Predictions

David Kenyon: UConn

Kerry Miller: UConn

Joel Reuter: UConn