March Madness

Final Four predictions, Michigan vs. Syracuse: Wolverines favored to top Orange

CBS Sports' panel of experts is unanimous in picking Michigan to beat Syracuse in the Final Four.

By Jon Benne@LordBenne Apr 3, 2013, 6:59pm EDT

The 2013 Final Four will be played on Saturday, when the Michigan Wolverines and Syracuse Orange play for a spot in the national title game.

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Michigan is in the Final Four for the first time since 1993. They got to this point by beating South Dakota State, VCU, Kansas and Florida. Led by All-American and National Player of the Year contender Trey Burke, the Wolverines are one of the hottest teams in the country.

Syraucse deployed Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone to stifle teams in the tournament. They dominated Montana, California, Indiana and Marquette to reach the national semifinals for the first time since their championship run in 2003.

Most people expect Michigan to get to the final round. CBS' panel of experts is unanimous in their predictions, all four picking the Wolverines to win. They're a slim favorite in Vegas, with a 2.5-point line at the moment. The Wolverines have the kind of offensive firepower that can neutralize Syracuse's zone defense.