UNC vs. Villanova: Odds and Final Predictions for 2016 NCAA Championship Game

North Carolina was not about to let Syracuse continue with its Cinderella dream and continue on to the NCAA men's tournament championship game.

Villanova barely allowed Oklahoma to get its feet on the ground and feel comfortable in Houston's NRG Stadium before it put a fearsome beating on the Sooners and rolled to the most one-sided victory in Final Four history.

The Tar Heels and Wildcats will meet in the NCAA title game Monday night, and North Carolina is a 2.5-point favorite in the championship game, according to Odds Shark.

Both teams showed impressive mental toughness in their wins in the national semifinals. The Tar Heels were playing an opponent they had already beaten twice, but the Orange were on an impressive tournament roll. After beating top-seeded Virginia by coming back from a 16-point second-half deficit, the 10th-seeded Orange were playing with confidence.

Additionally, they had a strong showing in their most recent game against North Carolina, having dropped a 75-70 decision at Chapel Hill on February 29—Syracuse had been within two points in the final minute.

But North Carolina, led by its size and strength down low in Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks, along with Isaiah Hicks and Joel James, scored 50 points in the paint and defeated Syracuse by an 83-66 margin.

Villanova put on an overwhelming show in its 95-51 runaway over Buddy Hield and the Sooners. The Wildcats' dogged approach on defense ruined the Sooners, a team that defeated Villanova by 23 points earlier in the season.

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Villanova has plenty of talent, and the Wildcats were clearly at their best against the Sooners. Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Ryan Arcidiacono punished Oklahoma throughout the game.

Hart had 23 points and was able to make contested shots throughout the game. Jenkins was right behind with 18 points, while Arcidiacono scored 15 points and handled the ball with expertise throughout.

North Carolina's strength down in the blocks has been overwhelming throughout the tournament, and it should be a key factor once again Monday night. Villanova has the defensive strength to contest nearly every North Carolina possession, but Johnson and Meeks both play bigger than their listed 6'9" heights and are capable of taking over any game.

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Hicks (6'8") and James (6'10") will also make it tough on the Wildcats down low, who simply don't have the size underneath to combat the Tar Heels on an equal basis. Senior Daniel Ochefu is a powerful force at 6'11", and he is coming off a 10-point, six-rebound effort against the Sooners, but Villanova lacks the collective size to combat North Carolina's around-the-rim players.

There will be no give-up from Villanova, and the enormity of their win over Oklahoma—plus shooting 71.4 percent from the field—indicates how good head coach Jay Wright's team can be on the biggest stage. But North Carolina's ability to score underneath and keep opponents from asserting themselves will make the difference.

Villanova will make its runs in the title game, but Johnson is simply too good to let the Wildcats finish the night by cutting down the nets. North Carolina will gain control of this game in the final five minutes and take home the national championship.

Predicted final score: North Carolina 80, Villanova 74