Purdue vs. UConn: Player Prop Bet Picks (2024 NCAA National Championship)
We’ve got the matchup we were all hoping for!
The NCAA Championship will feature the No. 1 seeds, Purdue Boilermakers and UConn Huskies. This is the first time we’ve had two No. 1 seeds in the Finals since 2017 when Gonzaga played North Carolina.
But although we’ve got two of the best teams in the nation fighting for the Championship, the Huskies are still 6.5-point favorites.
That said, we’re focusing on props for the big game. I’ve added three that I’ll be riding with. Let us know if you’re tailing!
NCAA Championship Best Player Props
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Stephon Castle Over 11.5 Points (-114)
Stephon Castle just scored 21 points against Alabama in 30 minutes. He went 7-for-13 from the field and dropped five of his six foul shots to put together an incredible performance to help UConn make it into the Finals.
Castle will be the youngest player. But he’s also one of the most skilled players despite his age.
Castle has averaged 12 points per game in the NCAA Tournament so far this year and 11 points per game throughout the season. But he’s got plenty of confidence and just had a big day on the same stage. He’s got to be feeling good. When everyone is paying attention to the center matchup between Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey, the guard play for both teams should be electric.
After all, Purdue is great on the glass. They’re not nearly as good defending inside the arc as UConn. Let’s take Castle to get Over his points total.
Cam Spencer Over 3.5 Assists (-148)
The goal is for Cam Spencer to find Castle for some easy buckets. Spencer has earned 3.7 assists per game this season. In the NCAA Tournament, it’s been more of the same. He’s added 3.8 assists per game.
However, what stands out are his last two games. Spencer has tallied nine assists in the previous two games and has added at least four assists in three of the five NCAA Tournament games.
Ultimately, this game should have plenty of assists on both sides. UConn is fifth in the nation in A/FGM, while Purdue is second in the nation. That said, there’s probably nobody smarter than Cam Spencer on the court.
Although Zach Edey is a big dude who plays dominant defense, the Boilermakers have still watched teams shoot 47.4% from the field inside the arc, which is only 53rd in the country. Now, compare that to UConn’s 59.1% rate from the inside.
The Huskies should have no problem scoring against Purdue. Spencer will make sure of that. Grab his Over.
Braden Smith Over 5.5 Rebounds (+118)
As stated above, Purdue is fantastic on the glass. More so than UConn.
The Boilermakers have earned 37.8% of offensive rebounds, which is 6th in the nation. They’ve also held teams to 23.9% of offensive rebounds, which is 13th best in the nation.
Most of that can be attributed to Zach Edey, who has added 12.2 rebounds per game. But Braden Smith is also extremely good at feeling the box score.
The 6-foot guard has added 12 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game this season. He’s been even better in the NCAA Tournament, with 8.8 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game.
He shot the ball poorly against NC State and scored just three points. He also had five turnovers. Look for him to get his act together for the NCAA Championship game. He’s a ball hawk and makes everyone better, just like Cam Spencer. So that’ll be an entertaining matchup. Overall, Smith is great at crashing the glass and always finds a way. He’s earned at least seven rebounds in three straight games.
We can take him to get at least six rebounds at plus-money. I’ll gladly take that.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: