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With hours left to vote, our 2012 championship game is shaping up to be one for the ages ... polls close tonight at midnight ET! By James Montgomery

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Tokio Hotel's Bill Kaulitz Photo: Getty Images

At this point, we probably shouldn't be surprised. After all, if anything, the 2012 Musical March Madness tournament has been a wild ride, with upsets aplenty, epic, scoreboard-busting shootouts galore and vitriolic back-and-forths between fans. So, it's fitting that our championship matchup — which pits reigning champs Green Day against unstoppable juggernaut Tokio Hotel — would play out like this.

In short, it's incredibly close. And with just hours left to go in the voting (polls close tonight at midnight ET), it's looking more and more like the 2012 title game is going to come right down to the wire. As if this whole thing could've ended any other way.

Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket!

We've been keeping the numbers secret — suspense! — and we'll reveal the 2012 champion Wednesday (April 4) on MTVNews.com. But until then, let's bring you up to speed on what's already been a championship battle for the ages!

Showing that they weren't about to be intimidated by the defending champs, Tokio Hotel came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, leaping out to a commanding lead within hours of the polls opening Monday morning. Rattled, Green Day were forced to call a time-out, and after a fire-and-brimstone speech from head coach Billie Joe Armstrong — not to mention a full-court Facebook press — the East Bay boys showed their championship pedigree, closing the gap by the afternoon.

And unlike the actual March Madness championship game, this one has been a rollercoaster ride ever since, with each band seizing — and subsequently losing — the lead. At their highest point, Tokio led by nearly 200,000 votes, while Green Day's biggest advantage was less than 100,000. And in a matchup that's seen nearly 3 million votes cast already, well, you get an idea of how close this thing has been.

Right now, with hours left in the contest, it's Tokio Hotel who hold the lead, and stand on the precipice of finally hoisting the MMM trophy. Of course, given that everyone makes a run in Musical March Madness, Green Day have once again surged to within striking distance ... they're not about to let their championship reign end without a fight. But can they complete the comeback? Or will Tokio Hotel take home their first-ever championship? We're headed into the home-stretch, and, really, we have no idea. Then again, we wouldn't have it any other way; MMM 2012 has been one for the ages, and the championship game is definitely only adding to its legacy.

So, who's it gonna be? Green Day or Tokio Hotel? Someone's going to win the MMM championship tonight, and you determine who will reign supreme. Polls close tonight at midnight ET, so time is running out ... vote now, or forever hold your peace.

Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket!

The 2012 Musical March Madness championship is coming down to the wire! Will Green Day repeat, or can Tokio Hotel finally win it all? Voting runs until midnight ET on Tuesday, April 3, so there's still time to help determine the winner. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM or by downloading one of our custom badges — and we'll reveal our 2012 champion on Wednesday on MTVNews.com

• Musical March Madness Heats Up!

• MTV's Musical March Madness 2012

• Green Day
• Tokio Hotel