Ringer's NCAA Tournament Record
ATS: 27-39
SU: 43-23
The 2013 NCAA Tournament comes to a conclusion on Monday night when the Louisville Cardinals and the Michigan Wolverines square off. It is only fitting that teams from the two best conferences in America cap off what has been a thrilling season in college hoops. This game features two of the most talented teams in the country. Louisville is in search of their third national title and first since 1986, while Michigan is looking for its second and first since 1989. Rick Pitino can become just the fourteenth coach in NCAA history to win multiple national championships, joining Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, and Billy Donovan as the only active coaches to have done so. John Beilein can put his name on the map as one of the elite coaches with a victory. This has the potential to be a classic. The Big East and Big Ten have played each other in the National Championship Game two times in history. Each game ended with the Big Ten winning by a single point. Indiana beat Syracuse 74-73 in 1987 and Michigan beat Seton Hall 80-79 in 1989. Are we in store for another memorable ending? We'll find out tomorrow night.
1 Louisville (-3.5) vs. 4 Michigan
How they got here:
Louisville beat: NC A&T 79-48, Colorado St. 82-56, Oregon 77-69, Duke 85-63, Wichita St. 72-68
Michigan beat: South Dakota St. 71-56, VCU 78-53, Kansas 87-85, Florida 79-59, Syracuse 61-56
Record vs. Tournament Teams:
Louisville: 16-5
Michigan: 13-6
Louisville made a Final Four run last year, and fell a little short of winning a national title. They returned all of the key components from that team this year and have had their eyes set on cutting down the nets in the Georgia Dome all season. The Cardinals expect to accomplish their goal on Monday night. They have not lost a game in two months and have dismantled some of the best teams in the country during this run. Michigan may have the most talent that Louisville has seen all season though. They survived a brutal Big Ten schedule and have found their A game during the NCAA Tournament. When the Wolverines are playing their best, there's not many teams that can beat them. Louisville could be one of those teams, and they have some unfinished business. Peyton Siva, Russ Smith, Chane Behanen, and Gorgui Dieng all returned to school with one thing in mind, giving Rick Pitino his second national championship. If Louisville can force Michigan into turnovers like they've done to every other team they've faced this year, Pitino should become the first coach to win a national championship with two different schools. Michigan has played brilliantly in the tournament and will battle Louisville to the final seconds. But when it's all said and done The Louisville Cardinals will do what I picked them to do before the season began and have one shining moment in Atlanta.
Prediction - Louisville 73 Michigan 70
Louisville made a Final Four run last year, and fell a little short of winning a national title. They returned all of the key components from that team this year and have had their eyes set on cutting down the nets in the Georgia Dome all season. The Cardinals expect to accomplish their goal on Monday night. They have not lost a game in two months and have dismantled some of the best teams in the country during this run. Michigan may have the most talent that Louisville has seen all season though. They survived a brutal Big Ten schedule and have found their A game during the NCAA Tournament. When the Wolverines are playing their best, there's not many teams that can beat them. Louisville could be one of those teams, and they have some unfinished business. Peyton Siva, Russ Smith, Chane Behanen, and Gorgui Dieng all returned to school with one thing in mind, giving Rick Pitino his second national championship. If Louisville can force Michigan into turnovers like they've done to every other team they've faced this year, Pitino should become the first coach to win a national championship with two different schools. Michigan has played brilliantly in the tournament and will battle Louisville to the final seconds. But when it's all said and done The Louisville Cardinals will do what I picked them to do before the season began and have one shining moment in Atlanta.
Prediction - Louisville 73 Michigan 70
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