'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQcQAAEDBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQABRESBjEHExUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADEQACAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRABJBYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AwLjdxv7F5UH7k+bIPRWhES03CQyhqTiIiZJEJMVbk+RLFFkvMfImF6nCDZZneq4z1SlGTeV7aQUQBTsvPDl1lMca0kR2JvaJG76Dn//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
March Madness has nearly concluded, and the NCAA championship game is on the horizon. A total of 62 games have been played in the tournament, with three more still to be played and a title run still at stake.
The NCAA championship will be played on Monday and will come live on CBS. It will tip off at 9:20 pm EDT and take place at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
This is the fourth time Houston will host the NCAA championship. It first did so in 1971 when the UCLA cut down the nets. The city also hosted it in 2011 when UConn beat Butler and in 2016 when Villanova hit a buzzer-beater to take down North Carolina.
Who will be in the NCAA championship game?
Before the championship game takes place, a pair of Final Four matchups must be played to determine the top two teams.
In the South vs. East region of the bracket, fifth-seeded San Diego State will face off against ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic. San Diego State is considered two-point favorites in the matchup, but neither team was a popular pick to still be alive at this stage of the tournament.
The other side of the bracket will have fourth-seeded UConn facing against fifth-seeded Miami for a place in the final. UConn is considered 5.5-point favorites in this matchup and regarded as the remaining title favorites at -125.
It marks the first time in NCAA history that there's no top three seed in the Final Four. In a more typical year, all four remaining teams may be regarded as a Cinderella story that the country rallies behind. However, they're on the same playing field, as all of them overcame the odds to reach this stage.
While some are disappointed at the lack of high-program schools and name recognition among the remaining teams, it's also an example of the beauty of March Madness. It's the most unexpected sporting event and is seemingly a more even playing field than most other playoff formats across sports.
UConn is the only remaining team to have an NCAA championship in program history, but none of the active coaches have a title under their belts. There are plenty of enticing storylines to follow for each team, as this is one of the most unprecedented Final Four and championships in NCAA history.
Keep an eye out for whichever teams secure their Final Four wins on Saturday and prepare for an awesome ending to a terrific tournament on Monday night.
