USA TODAY Sports' expert picks for Final Four – USA TODAY

USA TODAY Sports’ college basketball staffers made their Final Four picks, and the teams most expected to reach the championship on Monday are North Carolina (5-3 vote) and Villanova (5-3 vote). The favorite to win the title is North Carolina, just by a hair.

Here’s a look at each writer’s expectations for Houston:

Nicole Auerbach

► Semifinals: Villanova and North Carolina

► Final: North Carolina

► MOP: Brice Johnson

► Hot take: If Marcus Paige continues to shoot well from beyond the arc and Brice Johnson continues to dominate the paint, no one can stop the Tar Heels.

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Roy Williams wanted ‘so much’ for this North Carolina team to get to Final Four

Nancy Armour

► Semifinals: Oklahoma and Syracuse

► Final: Oklahoma

► MOP: Buddy Hield

► Hot take: Rather than falter under the increasing pressure and microscope, Buddy Hield and Oklahoma have played better and better as the tournament has gone on. The way Hield has played, I just don’t see any of the teams left being able to contain him – at least, not enough to knock Oklahoma out.

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Armour: After season of chaos, don’t expect order in Final Four, either

Scott Gleeson

► Semifinals: Villanova and Syracuse

► Final: Villanova

► MOP: Ryan Arcidiacono

► Hot take: The Wildcats don’t have a star but have a cohesive unit that out-willed top overall seed Kansas to get here. They’ll use the same recipe in Houston.

USA TODAY

National championship formula: Each Final Four team’s keys to victory

Dan Wolken

► Semifinals: Villanova and Syracuse

► Final: Syracuse

► MOP: Michael Gbinije

► Hot take: In a year like this, it would make perfect sense if a team many people thought shouldn’t be in the tournament wins it all. Why not?

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UNC, Syracuse and their baggage (sanctions, investigations) take Final Four spotlight

Gerry Ahern

► Semifinals: Villanova and North Carolina

► Final: Villanova

► MOP: Kris Jenkins

► Hot take: Ryan Arcidiacono’s court savvy and Kris Jenkins’ long distance prowess will be the difference in the title game. The Wildcats will separate from the Tar Heels by cooly knocking down free throws down the stretch.

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Ryan Arcidiacono ranks with Villanova’s all-time greats, Jay Wright says

Eddie Timanus

► Semifinals: Villanova and North Carolina

► Final: North Carolina

► MOP: Brice Johnson

► Hot take: I want to take Nova’ — I really do. But the ‘Heels are just too big, and Daniel Ochefu can’t control the boards all by himself.

USA TODAY

The core four, 104 consecutive starts combined, fuel Oklahoma’s rise

Josh Peter

► Semifinals: Oklahoma and North Carolina

► Final: Oklahoma

► MOP: Buddy Hield

► Hot take: The Bahamas and the Sooners are overdue, mon.

USA TODAY

Bahamas takes special pride in Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield

Chris Korman

► Semifinals: Oklahoma and North Carolina.

► Final: North Carolina

► MOP: Brice Johnson

► Hot take: The Tar Heels haven’t lost since Feb. 27, and have won nine in a row by an average of almost 14 points per game. North Carolina’s offense appears unstoppable; the only weak point has been 3-point shooting, and the Tar Heels hit 15 of 33 from deep last weekend.

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Five bold predictions for the Final Four: Why Syracuse can win it all

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2016 FINAL FOUR TEAMS

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