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Our experts give us their Final Four picks and X factors

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Breanna Stewart on the brink of history (2:15)

When she arrived in Storrs, Breanna Stewart said she wanted to win four straight national titles, a feat no one has ever accomplished. As UConn heads for the Final Four, Stewart looks primed to achieve her goal and solidify her place in history. (2:15)

It's not the Final Four you were expecting.

Yes, UConn is playing in its ninth consecutive Final Four. The Huskies are two wins away from their sixth perfect season and becoming the first women's Division I basketball team to win four straight national titles.

But for the first time since 1994, three teams are making their Final Four debut in the same season, as second-seeded Oregon State, No. 4 seed Syracuse and seventh-seeded Washington all advanced to Indianapolis and the national semifinals.

UConn is the overwhelming favorite to hoist the 2016 championship trophy on Tuesday, which would be Geno Auriemma's 11th and move him past John Wooden for the most championships by any head coach in NCAA basketball history.

But first, who are the favorites in Sunday's semifinals? Check out our expert picks and read what espnW thinks the biggest X factors will be in each game.

The Final Four tips off when UConn faces Oregon State on ESPN (6:30 p.m. ET Sunday), followed by Syracuse-Washington on ESPN2 (8:30 p.m. ET).

UConn vs. Oregon State X factors

Charlie Creme: The Huskies' length might have the biggest impact. The Beavers managed Baylor's size up front well, but didn't have to contend with the length and mobility that UConn has to offer everywhere on the floor. Sydney Wiese might have a size advantage over Moriah Jefferson, but she won't be able to shoot over Katie Lou Samuelson, Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams the way she did Niya Johnson of Baylor.

Graham Hays: Oregon State's defense, offensive efficiency and size inside make this one of the more interesting tactical encounters UConn has faced in its run of recent titles. But the Beavers excel at finding and exploiting the offensive weaknesses of their opponents. This opponent doesn't have any offensive weaknesses.

Michelle Smith: Oregon State has all the makings of a team that could win a title: inside-outside balance, strong guard play, stout defense. But the Huskies just have too much offense and too much experience for the Beavers to be able to prevail.

Mechelle Voepel: The Beavers will not back down to the Huskies, and they have the ability to actually challenge UConn. But the Huskies' ability to score from every position will ultimately be too much for even Oregon State's top-notch defense to limit.

Syracuse vs. Washington X factors

Charlie Creme: Syracuse's relentlessness. Washington applies pressure of its own on the offensive end with guard Kelsey Plum in constant attack mode, but the Orange do it on both ends of the floor with their pursuit of every offensive rebound, Alexis Peterson's dribble penetration and, most notably, the full and three-quarter presses that have worn down every opponent in the tournament thus far.

Graham Hays: Both teams are playing better basketball than when they met in November, but among the areas of improvement for Washington is ball control. The Huskies averaged just 8.5 turnovers per game in the first four rounds. Granted, they also didn't face pressure like Syracuse, but they will have the upper hand if they can keep the ball in the hands of Kelsey Plum, Chantel Osahor and Talia Walton.

Michelle Smith: Plum will win the battle of offense vs. defense against the Orange.

Mechelle Voepel: It seems weird to pick against either of these teams, because they've both kept defying the odds. Key for Syracuse, though, will be how much its defense will set the tone for the game, because the Orange stay so committed to their system.