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Louisville vs. Michigan: Cardinals favored by 4 in NCAA title game

Although they're coming off their worst performance of the season against Wichita State, Louisville still enters Monday as a four-point favorite according to PreGame.com. The Cardinals have won all five of their NCAA Tournament games by at least four points.

By Aaron Torres
USA TODAY Sports

Despite nearly getting upset in Saturday's national semifinal game against Wichita State, the Louisville Cardinals still enter Monday night's NCAA Championship as a four-point favorite over Michigan, according to the gambling website PreGame.com.

For more on the story, visit Card Chronicle and Maize 'N Brew

The Cardinals enter the title game off a narrow four-point win over the Shockers on Saturday, Louisville's closest win of the entire tournament.

And when the Cardinals do return to the court against the Wolverines, they'll need a better effort from their starting back-court of Peyton Siva and Russ Smith than they got on Saturday. In the win over Wichita State, the pair combined to shoot just 7 of 26 from the field, with seven total turnovers.

Meanwhile for the Wolverines to pull the upset, they'll try to control the paint with star freshman Mitch McGary.

McGary has had a coming out party in this postseason, with three double-doubles overall and 16.4 point and 11.6 rebound averages through five NCAA Tournament games. McGary forms a formidable inside-out punch with guard Trey Burke, who on Sunday was named the Naismith Award winner.

Tip-off for Monday night's championship game is set for 9:23 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.

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