The UConn Huskies look to become just the third team to win back-to-back titles in the last 50 years as the 2024 NCAA Tournament concludes when they meet the Purdue Boilermakers on Monday in the National Championship Game. UConn (36-3), which defeated San Diego State last year for the fifth national title in program history, earned a shot at another crown by defeating Alabama 86-72 in the Final Four on Saturday. The Huskies aim to join Duke (1991-92) and Florida (2006-07) as the only schools to repeat since UCLA won seven straight titles from 1967-73. Purdue (34-4) is seeking its first championship after posting a 63-50 triumph over North Carolina State.

Tipoff at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET. The Huskies are 7-point favorites in the latest UConn vs. Purdue odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 143.

Before making any Purdue vs. UConn picks or any other NCAA Tournament predictions, you need to check out the college basketball predictions from SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein. 

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. Larry also excels in college basketball and is coming off a 116-98 season, earning $825 for $100 players with every bet being 1 unit. Over the past four seasons in college hoops, he has gone 494-426 against the spread for a $2,465 profit. Hartstein is on an impressive 82-63-3 run on his college basketball spread picks, returning over $1,200 for $100 players. Anyone following him has seen huge returns.

Hartstein knows UConn has won 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament games, defeating each opponent during the streak by at least 13 points. The Huskies, who are a perfect 5-0 in the National Championship Game, have a plus-22.3 point differential over the last two Tournaments. Guard Stephon Castle led UConn in the win against Alabama with 21 points, the most by a freshman in the national semifinals since Derrick Rose scored 25 in 2008 for Memphis.

The expert also has taken into account that Purdue has recorded five of its six victories in this year's Tournament by double figures. Zach Edey scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the triumph over North Carolina State for his eighth consecutive double-double and 29th overall this season. The senior center has recorded at least 20 points and 10 boards in six straight NCAA Tournament contests, the longest such streak since Elvin Hayes' six-game run with Houston in 1967-68.

Now, Hartstein has set its sights on UConn vs. Purdue in the 2024 National Championship Game. We can tell you he is leaning Under on the point total, and he also has discovered a crucial X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back! You ABSOLUTELY need to see Hartstein's analysis before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins UConn vs. Purdue, and which side of the spread is a must-back? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which picks you should be all over in the Purdue vs. UConn matchup on Monday, all from the expert who is on an 82-63-3 roll on his college basketball picks!

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