A network device may receive topology data identifying a spine and leaf topology of network devices, and may set link metrics to a common value to generate modified topology data. The network device may remove data identifying connections from leaf network devices to any devices outside the topology from the modified topology data to generate further modified topology data, and may process the further modified topology data, with a model, to determine path data identifying paths to destinations. The network device may determine particular path data identifying shorter paths and longer paths to corresponding destinations, and may determine hop counts associated with the paths. The network device may determine whether the hop counts are all odd values, all even values, or odd and even values, and may perform actions based on whether the hop counts are all odd values, all even values, or odd and even values.