The NCAA men’s basketball Final Four begins Saturday with two games… the winners will advance to the championship game on Monday night.

There is a possibility that two number one seeds will face off in the title game: Number one Gonzaga faces #7 South Carolina in one semi-final game and North Carolina, the other #1 seed, will play #3 Oregon in the other contest.

Over the past 37 years (since 1980) of the tournament, a #1 seed has played in the championship game in 27 of the 37 games. But a #1 seed versus another #1 seed is not the most frequent seed matchup in the title game. It has happened seven times since 1980; the most frequent matchup, however, has been a #1 seed versus a #2 seed… that has occurred nine times since 1980.

Here’s a breakdown of the seed matchups in the NCAA men’s basketball (Division I) title game since 1980 (last 37 years).

9 times: #1 seed versus #2 seed
7 times: #1 seed versus #1 seed
6 times: #2 seed versus #3 seed
3 times: #1 seed versus #4 seed
3 times: #1 seed versus #5 seed
3 times: #1 seed versus #6 seed
1 time: #1 seed versus #3 seed
1 time: #1 seed versus #8 seed
1 time: #2 seed versus #8 seed
1 time: #3 seed versus #3 seed
1 time: #3 seed versus #8 seed
1 time: #7 seed versus #8 seed

A number #1 seed has won the championship in 21 of the last 37 years in the Div. I men’s tourney. Number 2 seeds have won six titles… the #3 seeds have won five times… and the #6 seed has won twice. The #4, #7 and #8 seeds have each won once since 1980.

In addition to winning the most titles since ’80, the #1 seeds have also lost the most titles with 13. They are followed by #2 seeds (10 losses), #3 seeds (five losses), #5 seeds and #8 seeds (three losses each), #4 seeds (two losses), and #6 seeds (one loss).

A title game featuring #3 Oregon versus #7 South Carolina would be only the fourth time since 1980 where both teams in the finale were a #3 seed or lower.