Tonight the NCAA men's basketball championship is up for grabs between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans.
North Carolina is looking for the 2nd national title in five years while Michigan State is looking for their first one since 2000.
Very few predicted the Spartans to make it this far, and sadly I am no exception. I didn't think the Spartans had enough to get past Kansas in the Sweet 16. However, the Spartans have kept proving me wrong and they're going to have to do it again tonight against my National Championship pick.
The Tar Heels have proven throughout the tournament that they can beat you from so many directions. The Tar Heels have used a balanced attack to win every game by double figures during the tournament.
The starting lineup for the Tar Heels completely dominated Villanova in the Final Four getting a combined 60 points from Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough, and Ty Lawson.
One stat comparison that leaps off the page when looking over this matchup is the points per game average among the two teams. The Tar Heels averaging almost 90 points per game while the Spartans averaged just over 60.
The Spartans will have to figure out a way to slow down the high octane offense that the Tar Heels like to push. If the Spartans can slow down the pace of the game and turn it into a half-court game, they may have a chance.
I'm still sticking with my original national championship pick and going with the Tar Heels. Even if the Spartans do slow down the pace of the game, the Tar Heels just have too many weapons they can beat you with.
If Lawson is having a bad game, then Ellington, Green, or Hansbrough will pick him up.
I wouldn't be surprised to see this game close approaching 10 minutes to go in the game, but the Tar Heels will pull away and win by eight.
North Carolina over Michigan State, 79-71
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