Final Four Showdown: Can Florida's Firepower Overcome Auburn's Defense? Duke vs. Houston in a Battle of Titans

The Stage Is Set: An All-No. 1 Seed Final Four

For the first time since 2008, the Men's Final Four features all No. 1 seeds, promising an unforgettable weekend of college basketball. The action tips off Saturday with Florida vs. Auburn (6:09 p.m. ET) followed by Duke vs. Houston (8:49 p.m. ET), with both games airing on CBS.

(1) Florida vs. (1) Auburn: Clash of SEC Titans

Florida's Path to San Antonio

• Devastating Runs: The Gators have mastered the art of game-changing spurts
• Tournament Dominance: Outscored opponents by:
  • 47-33 second half vs. Maryland (Sweet 16)
  • 53 points in <17 minutes vs. Norfolk State
• Star Power: Walter Clayton Jr.'s clutch performances (see his late 3-pointers vs. Texas Tech)

Auburn's Resurgence

• Defensive Identity: Allowed just 1.00 PPP in tournament
• Key Stoppers:
  • Denver Jones (elite perimeter defender)
  • Broome/Cardwell (paint protectors)
• Health Watch: Johni Broome's status after Elite Eight injury scare

Prediction Consensus

Key Factor: Florida's 13-3PT shooting vs. Auburn's SEC-best perimeter defense in their regular season meeting

(1) Duke vs. (1) Houston: Youth vs. Experience

Houston's Winning Formula

• 3-Point Barrage: NCAA-best 40% from deep
• Defensive Prowess: Nation's top-ranked unit per KenPom
• Veteran Leadership: All starters with 60+ career games

Duke's Talent Edge

• NBA-Ready Roster: 4 projected first-round picks
• Depth Advantage: Bench players would start for most teams
• Two-Way Excellence: Top-5 offense AND defense

Expert Predictions Split

Pro-Duke Camp:

• Duke neutralizes Houston's 3-point attack
• Cooper Flagg dominates both ends
• Blue Devils' athleticism overwhelms

Pro-Houston Camp:

• Veteran poise in crunch time
• 159 wins in Sampson-Roberts era
• Nation's longest active win streak (17 games)

Final Four X-Factors

1. Florida: Clayton Jr.'s ability to create magic
2. Auburn: Broome's health and paint presence
3. Houston: Maintaining 3-point efficiency
4. Duke: Handling Houston's physical defense

Championship Implications: The winners will meet April 7 in what promises to be an epic title game regardless of matchup combinations.