What are the Chances of UConn and San Diego State Winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship?

The men's NCAA basketball championship contest is finalized: The San Diego State University Aztecs will face off against the University of Connecticut Huskies for the national title.

This matchup brings a thrilling conclusion to an unpredictable March Madness season. The Huskies may be the favorites to take home the championship, but the game promises to be an exciting one.

The showdown will take place in Houston at the NRG Stadium on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 9:20 p.m. ET, with the game airing on CBS (available both streaming online and televised).

UConn may be the team to beat, however, the defense of San Diego State is exceptionally strong. Offensively, the Huskies have an edge with 78.6 points per game, compared to the Aztecs' 71.5. Nevertheless, defensively San Diego State holds a slight advantage over UConn, allowing about 63 points per game. The Aztecs have an impressive win-loss record this season with 32 wins and only 6 losses, better than the Huskies' record of 30-8. Additionally, San Diego State has shown their power on the offensive side, like Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beater in the Final Four match up versus Florida Atlantic University.

UConn, the No. 4 seed, has had a rocky patch in the season, experiencing six losses in eight games. According to Head Coach Dan Hurley, the dip in form was due to subpar defense. Hurley, however, is confident that the Huskies have gotten back to their best and will be a threat in the tournament.

"We left that behind," Hurley stated to The Associated Press. "In November, December, February and March, we've been as good as anyone else."

Despite the setback, UConn remains a highly ranked team for a reason and could prove to be a strong contender in the tournament.

UConn is striving to secure its fifth championship since achieving the first one in 1999, a feat that surpasses any other team during that time. They have yet to be defeated in the four championship games they have played in thus far. If they prevail on Monday, coach Hurley will notch up his first victory with the team.

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Huskies as a 7.5 point favorite over San Diego State to take the championship title.

On the other hand, the Aztecs are definitely the underdogs in this matchup, having never before made it to the Elite Eight. Monday's game will be the first time they will compete in a national championship game.