The 2026 college basketball National Championship Game tips off tonight in what should be a terrific clash between the UConn Huskies and Michigan Wolverines.
A Huskies win would establish them as a dynasty, while Michigan looks to cap one of the greatest seasons in recent memory.
I break down the matchup and bring you my March Madness score predictions and March Madness picks for the title game on Monday, April 6.
March Madness score predictions
| Matchup | Score prediction | Implied Score | Betting edge |
|---|---|---|---|
 UConnvs  Michigan |
|
|
-7 -110 |
Predictions made on 4-6.
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Best March Madness Championship score predictions
UConn vs Michigan
Score prediction: Michigan 77-68
The Michigan Wolverines are elite on both ends of the floor and have been dominant against top competition.
They are the No. 1 team at KenPom and have seven double-digit wins against teams ranked in the top 15. That includes their 91-73 Final Four beatdown of Arizona, who were widely considered the second-best team in the country.
Michigan has scored 90+ points in every tournament game, but the UConn Huskies' sluggish tempo and strong defense should prevent the Wolverines from scoring quite that many points, especially if their red-hot perimeter shooting cools off or leading scorer Yaxel Lendeborg is limited by ankle and knee injuries.
That said, the Wolverines should still put up a respectable team total in the high 70s due to their ball movement and ability to attack the interior with multiple scoring options.
Meanwhile, UConn's offense has been inconsistent outside of center Tarris Reed Jr. The Huskies scored 67 points against Michigan State, were held to just 29 first half points by Duke, and finished with 71 points while shooting 5-for-17 inside the arc against Illinois.
They'll struggle to score against Michigan, which ranks first in the country in adjusted defense, second in opponent 2PT% (44.1%), and 21st in opponent 3PT% (30.5%).
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