No. 4 seed UConn and No. 5 seed San Diego State clash on Monday in the season finale with the national title on the line. UConn advanced into the title game for the fifth time in school history and first since 2014 after drubbing Miami in the Final Four much like it has done the rest of this postseason, with all five of its NCAA Tournament wins coming by 13 or more points. San Diego State has fought tooth and nail to reach this spot, making its first title game appearance after winning each of its last two games by a combined two points.
At the half of Monday's national title game, it's the UConn that's been in control, for the most part, with the Huskies taking a 36-24 lead into the halftime break in Houston. The Aztecs got off to a hot start in pursuit of the program's first national title before going cold, at which point UConn took advantage and rushed out to the double-digit lead at the break.
The tension is high with just 20 more minutes to go until we crown a new national champion inside NRG Stadium on Monday.
Follow along LIVE as UConn and San Diego State play for the national championship
Watch UConn vs. San Diego State in Final Four
Date: Monday, April 3 | Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
Location: NRG Stadium -- Houston
TV: CBS | Live stream: March Madness Live
UConn vs. San Diego State: What to know
A championship on Monday for UConn would be a fitting way to crown a team that thus far has played worthy enough to be a champion. The Huskies are the fifth team in tournament history to win at least five games by 13 or more points, and if history is any indication -- three of the previous four went on to win the national title -- UConn is in good shape entering Monday night.
San Diego State and its upperclassmen-heavy roster have not advanced to this point in the bracket in nearly as convincing fashion, but the Aztecs continue to find ways to win close games. They survived a two-possession game in Round 1, outlasted No. 1 overall seed Alabama in the Sweet 16 by seven points and beat Creighton and FAU in consecutive games by a single point to reach the season finale.
UConn vs. San Diego State prediction
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
No team during this year's NCAA Tournament has been able to touch UConn, and if I'm throwing down some cheddar on a potential outcome Monday, I'm betting that trend continues. The Huskies have won each of their five games by 13 or more points en route to the title game, putting them in rarefied air as the fifth team to win by at least that large a margin in five wins. SDSU has a viable defense that could give UConn trouble and its size matches up well with the Huskies' front line, but the inside-out balance and depth of this Dan Hurley-coached club is drubbing teams — and SDSU may be next. Pick: UConn -7.5
