March Madness 2016: TV Coverage, Odds for UNC vs. Villanova Championship

Raise your hand if you had the second-seeded Villanova Wildcats being one of the two teams to make it to the NCAA championship in Houston, Texas, back at the beginning of March. 

Now, keep your hand raised if you predicted that in so doing, the Wildcats would pull off the biggest Final Four victory ever, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 95-51. 

Yes, it's been a wild ride this spring, and it all comes to a head on Monday at 9:19 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium.

Below you'll find all the information you need about how to watch the big game, and then we'll break down what to watch as the Wildcats attempt to keep their dominance going against the first-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. 

How to Watch the NCAA Championship

Date: Monday, April 4, 2016

Location: NRG Stadium; Houston, Texas

Time: 9:19 p.m. ET

TV Info: TBS; UNC-specific broadcast on TNT; Villanova-specific broadcast on truTV 

Live Stream: March Madness Live on NCAA.com

Odds: UNC minus-2.5, via Odds Shark

What to Watch 

This may not be the national final most were expecting, but it's sure to be a memorable one. 

UNC is looking to capture its sixth NCAA championship, while Villanova is eyeing its second.

On the surface, all signs point toward the Tar Heels cutting down the nets in Houston. UNC is a 2.5-point favorite heading into the game, and history points to No. 1 seeds dominating No. 2 seeds in the finals. 

Per Odds Shark: "A No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed have faced off against one another in the finals on three occasions since 1996, with the top seed going a perfect 3-0 [straight up] and [against the spread] in those affairs."

What's more, North Carolina has won each of its March Madness matchups in convincing fashion and by double digits. 

But underestimating Villanova would be a mistake. In fact, though Odds Shark lists UNC as the favorite in this championship game and recognizes that the Tar Heels boast the deadlier offense (83 PPG vs. 78 PPG for Villanova), the site still predicts that Villanova will win 73-69. 

Why is that? 

Well, first, did you see Villanova embarrass Oklahoma on Saturday night? The Wildcats shot better than 70 percent from the floor against the Sooners, and they held Oklahoma to just 31.7 percent shooting. That's a deadly recipe for success if Nova can replicate it against UNC.  

Much of the onus for that goal will fall on Josh Hart, who had 23 points and made 83.3 percent of his shots against Oklahoma. 

North Carolina's offense is undoubtedly lethal. But Villanova has a blueprint for besting the Tar Heels in Houston—the Wildcats just have to execute it.