Duke vs. Wisconsin: Odds and Final Predictions for 2015 NCAA Championship Game

Hollywood couldn't write Duke-Wisconsin in the 2015 national championship any better.

In one corner is the Duke Blue Devils. Some weren't happy to see Mike Krzyzewski's team was a No. 1 seed after neither an ACC regular-season or tournament title. Alas, Duke blew through all comers, including Utah and Gonzaga before Michigan State.

In the other corner is Wisconsin. The path is notable, but skip the theatrics and get right to it—the Badgers took down undefeated Kentucky to meet Duke, a feat once thought impossible.

With one semifinals matchup already going down as a classic, there's no excuse to miss the finale of March Madness.

NCAA Championship Game

Date	Matchup (Odds)	Pick
April 6 at 9:18 p.m. ET	Duke vs. Wisconsin (EVEN)	Duke

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark as of April 5.

Preview and Prediction 

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

There doesn't seem to be any stopping the Blue Devils.

Jahlil Okafor was bottled up against Utah and Gonzaga before the Final Four, acceptable enough for a freshman on a big stage against strong defensive teams. No matter, as fellow freshmen Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones put on shows to keep the team alive.

Then it was on to Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans, where Okafor scored 18 and the Blue Devils shot 52 percent from the field and won the battle on the glass in a comfortable rout.

Krzyzewski expressed joy for his young, still-growing squad after the game, per the team on Twitter:

"

"It's not a little exciting, it's incredibly exciting and now they get a chance to play for a national championship." #CoachK

— Duke M. Basketball (@Duke_MBB) April 5, 2015"

The path wasn't any easier for Wisconsin.

Arizona in particular was the big challenge, but the Badgers shot 55.6 percent from the floor and pulled their usual tactic of controlling the pace en route to a win.

Somehow it worked against Kentucky, too.

Forget Frank Kaminsky's 20 points. Sam Dekker was just as impressive with 16 and a number of clutch plays. Most impressive of all, though, is the fact the Badgers were able to out-rebound Kentucky 34-22 despite the presence of Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns down low.

As ESPN Stats & Info breaks down, even Kentucky didn't stand a chance against Wisconsin's ball-control offense:

"

Wisconsin averaged 1.22 points per possession, equal to its nation-leading season average and Kentucky’s worst defensive efficiency of the season. The Wildcats entered the game allowing a nation-best 0.83 points per possession, including 0.82 in the NCAA Tournament.

"

When it comes to a prediction, though, this is where things get tricky.

Duke already survived the attack once. Think back to December, when the Blue Devils escaped with a 10-point victory on the road while shooting better than 60 percent from the field and winning the battle on the boards.

Of course, it doesn't mean history will repeat itself. But Duke is just as hot right now. Just look at efficiency ratings at KenPom.com. Or the performance against a defensive-minded Michigan State team.

Team	ADJ OFF	ADJ DEF
Duke	3	18
Wisconsin	1	54

A duel between Okafor and Kaminsky is must-see television. The surrounding pieces seem to favor Duke, though, as Quinn Cook, Jones and Winslow continue to pour on the points.

Wisconsin's upset of Kentucky steals the headlines, as it should. But perhaps just as impressive is the fact the Blue Devils were able to take it to the Spartans by a whopping 20 points. If that's not hitting full stride at just the right time, nothing is.

Las Vegas seems to have this one right from the onset. In a pinch, though, Duke has the bodies to bang down low and can get out and run away from Wisconsin's plodding style.

Prediction: Duke 76, Wisconsin 73

Stats and info are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.