2024 NCAA Championship Game Prediction: UW vs. Purdue Expert Picks, Odds, March Madness Bracket

After many twists and turns, the culminating moment of the 2024 NCAA Tournament has finally arrived. The 68-team slot originally introduced on Selection Sunday is almost over. There are still two teams left to qualify for Monday's national championship. Top-seeded University, looking to win back-to-back national titles for the first time since Florida State (2006-2007), will face top-seeded Purdue, looking for its first loss as a program. They fell to a No. 16 seed in one NCAA tournament, but came back the next year to win (Virginia in 2019).

UW has advanced to the NCAA Tournament the past two postseasons, winning 11 straight games with dominant wins. They haven't won by less than 14 points since March 15, and if they can do the same on Monday, they have a chance to join the ranks of the best teams of all time. Purdue almost completed the tournament, winning all but one game by double digits. Still, they defeated second-seeded Tennessee 72-66.

The Huskies are 5-0 overall in the championship game, while the Boilermakers (0-1) are making their second appearance in the championship game, having fallen short in 1969. On Monday, UW enters as the favorite to win the title and keep its incredible run intact. But Purdue has plenty of grit and could certainly cover the spread even if they fall short of a win.

CBS Sports staff has made picks for the games below, both straight and spread. Unlike last year, when it was unanimously predicted that UW would beat San Diego State, there are mixed opinions this year.

Until the Final Four concludes and a national champion is crowned, tune into CBS Sports for complete March Madness coverage on the final day of the NCAA Tournament.

SportsLine Consensus Odds | Always Eastern

2024 Final 4 predictions and candidates

(1) UW vs. (1) Purdue

Monday, 9:20pm | TBS, March Madness Live

Gary Parrish: UW is more efficient offensively than Purdue, more efficient defensively than Purdue, has more future NBA players than Purdue, and is bigger and more athletic on the perimeter than Purdue. I am. Yes, I completely understand why Dan Hurley's Huskies are the favorites in Monday's 2024 NCAA Tournament title game. Granted, Purdue is still the No. 1 seed, with two-time National Player of the Year in Zach Eady, and is 34-4 and No. 2 on EvanMiya.com. There are also ranked outright Big Ten champions. Indeed, UConn has won his 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament game by double digits, and his 12th of those games could be just around the corner. However, 6.5 points seems a little high to me as I expect Purdue to stay close and possibly win outright. Pick: Purdue +6.5

Matt Norlander: The Huskies are one game away from being considered one of the best teams with one of the most impressive records in college basketball over the past 50 years. I agree with that. I'm on a team that has refused to find a close game in its last 11 NCAA Tournament matchups. Every starter scored 12 or more points Saturday, the first time this has happened in a national semifinal since Duke in 1994. UW continues to release statistics and perform in a way that confirms just how bizarre an anomaly this whole thing is. Zach Eady needs to get close to 30 points and at least 15 rebounds, but that's not all he needs. The line wasn't as high as I expected. On Monday, UW will become his 12th consecutive tournament game won by a double-digit margin (although Purdue will come closer to winning than any of his 11 other schools). Pick: UConn -6.5 (Huskies 80, Boilermakers 70)

Kyle Boone: UW has played six games in a row and covered ties in 14 of the last 16 games, all of which were favorites to win. But 6.5 points is quite a hurdle for a Purdue team that has the best players and plays the best basketball in the sport. The season of this moment. So while trends suggest the Huskies will roll similar to last month's results, I'm going to take a 6.5 on Purdue. This is closer to a contest than people think, and the Boilermakers are poised to give the Huskies their biggest battle of the postseason. Pick: Purdue +6.5

David Cobb: Purdue has the best player in this matchup in Eady. UW has the best team. Tristen Newton, Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan each played key roles in the Huskies' national title game last year and have been productive this season. With the addition of perimeter weapons Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle, UW's starting lineup has players who will be among the best on many teams in college basketball. They all average double digits, and the Huskies rarely miss a beat off the bench. The number of ways UConn can beat you is virtually endless. Defensively, the Huskies are uniquely equipped to guard the 7-foot-4 Eadie against his 7-foot-2 Clingan. This program has been dominant over the past two seasons, and that dominance will continue even if UConn wins another title. Pick: UConn -6.5

Chip Patterson: The conversation will focus on Eadie and Clingan, the first 7-footers to face each other in a title game since Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984, but the game will ultimately be determined by players on the perimeter. -And that's what the Huskies should focus on. corner. If we were to draft every player in this title game, Eady would probably be the first pick, but the next five players would be the Huskies. The performances of players like Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer, and Alex Karavan in the national semifinals only served as a stark reminder of how balanced and complete this university's team is, and how No matter how you want to play or what challenge you want to present to college, the Huskies always have the answer. I'm expecting a competitive game, but it's going to be one where the Huskies pull out late and cover. Pick: UConn -6.5

Jerry Palm: This is a game worthy of college basketball. Two of the best teams all season, one the reigning champions and the other looking for their first title. Purdue is on a mission to erase the stain on his 2023 NCAA Tournament. That's especially true for Player of the Year Eadie, who took his game to the next level this tournament. Brayden Smith had a big game against NC State and did a good job of disrupting the game. It is unlikely that it will happen again. The Boilermakers will have to play close to their best to win the championship. Either way, I expect the game to be close and Purdue to cover. Pick: Purdue +6.5