Free College Basketball NCAA Championship Pick

#5 Butler Bulldogs (33-4, 18-0 Horizon League) vs #1 Duke Blue Devils (34-5, 13-3) Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN, 4/5, 9:21 PM

After full season, plus five tournament games, Butler and Duke have managed to avoid the upsets and make it to the final game. Both teams were underdogs to some degree, but are now playing for the national championship.

The Bulldogs have surprised everyone, though maybe their success should have been expected. Coming into the NCAA tournament, they had won 20 straight games, and now have won 25 in a row. They have one of the country’s best players in Gordon Hayward, who scores 15.6 points per game, and grabs 8.3 rebounds a game. Now with the winning streak and a Horizon League championship, Butler gets to play in its hometown of Indianapolis, in its first ever Final Four. The road to the national championship has been difficult. They haven’t won any game by more than seven points. With UTEP, Murray State, Syracuse, and Kansas State crossed off the list, Butler had to take on Michigan State, last year’s runner-up in the Final Four game. This game would prove to be yet another close one. After leading for most of the first half, Michigan State fell behind in the second half. The Spartans chipped away and kept the game close, but couldn’t regain the lead. Butler won 52-50.

While Butler is in unchartered territory, Duke is used to national championship games, though this is the first time since 2001 that the Blue Devils will play for the title. It just so happens that that was the last title for Coach K too. Many felt that Duke should not have been a 1 seed, but they have held up their end of the bargain, and have done it easily. The closest game was a win by seven. After beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Cal, Purdue, and Baylor, they had to play West Virginia. For the first time in the tournament, Nolan Smith (19 points), Jon Scheyer (23 points), and Kyle Singler (21 points) all played a solid game at the same time. The result was a 21 point win over the Mountaineers.

Now it comes down to Monday night. Butler will have a home court advantage of sorts. Campus is about five miles away from the stadium. They will also have fans cheering for them who love the underdog story. But Duke has Coach K and history. The winner gets One Shining Moment.

Duke is favored by 7 points.  The total is listed at 129.

Pick: Take Duke -7.

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