Some of the best NFL Draft odds are long gone, such as Georgia’s Travon Walker to go first overall at plus-money. Walker is now a -300 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.

At this point, the market reflects stronger information from teams and draft experts about where certain players will be selected starting Thursday on the Las Vegas Strip. But that doesn’t mean there are no good bets left.

After previously looking at the NFL Draft odds for quarterbacks, wide receivers and defensive linemen, as well as some unusual options, Props.com looks at five value bets on the eve of the selections.

Kayvon Thibodeaux Over 4.5

Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux had been penciled in at the No. 2 overall spot for most of the months leading up to the draft, but his status is changing with Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker now poised to go No. 1.

If Walker goes first as expected, Michigan pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is a virtual lock to go second, and Houston has been linked to a cornerback at No. 3. The New York Jets could grab Thibodeaux at No. 4, but they could also be tempted to take the first offensive lineman off the board to help protect quarterback Zach Wilson, last year’s No. 2 overall pick.

There have been reports that some teams have soured on Thibodeaux, and he fell all the way to No. 13 in longtime NFL insider Peter King’s final mock draft.

Maybe it’s all a smokescreen, but bettors can snag a nice +145 price at Caesars for Thibodeaux to go Over 4.5 — and to clarify, that means later than 4.5 — on his draft position prop.

Arnold Ebiketie Under 33.5

Arnold Ebiketie’s best friend could turn out to be fellow former Penn State standout Micah Parsons. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker was arguably the steal of the Draft last year at No. 12 overall, becoming an instant star and earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Ebiketie isn’t Parsons, but the Penn State link has been cited often in draft evaluations.

Many recent mock drafts have Ebiketie sliding into the first round, and Caesars is still offering him Under 33.5 (+100).

First Running Back Taken

There have been no indications that anyone other than Iowa State’s Breece Hall will be the first running back selected, with a few mock drafts even having him going to Buffalo in the first round.

His only competition appears to be Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, who has a Draft position prop 10 spots worse than Hall’s (47.5 to 37.5 at DraftKings).

Hall is -300 at Caesars to be the first running back taken and -250 at DraftKings and FanDuel. But BetMGM is offering a value price of -190. Take that value and run.

Sam Howell Under 45.5

Everyone agrees: This year’s quarterback class is weak. Liberty’s Malik Willis and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett will almost surely go somewhere in the first round. Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Mississippi’s Matt Corral could also go in the first 32 picks.

North Carolina’s Sam Howell isn’t getting first-round buzz after a rough final college season, but he’s the kind of talent teams who passed on QBs initially will be happy to leap on early in the second round.

Take Howell Under 45.5 at +110 at DraftKings.

Trey McBride U51.5

Tight ends are dangerous weapons in the NFL. Colorado State’s Trey McBride isn’t considered a first-rounder, though King did slot him at No. 31 in his mock draft. But the top tight end prospect won’t have to wait that long for his name to be called.

Take McBride Under 51.5 (-125) at Caesars.

The post NFL Draft Odds: 5 Bets That Still Have Value appeared first on Props.

Wide receivers dominated the offseason NFL chatter and likely will be a major part of first-round NFL Draft action. As for running backs and tight ends … not so much.

Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Las Vegas’ Davante Adams signed megadeals after the receivers left their former teams, and now Tennessee’s A.J. Brown, Washington’s Terry McLaurin and San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel are fighting for new contracts.

Examining the 2022 NFL Draft odds market, six receivers are projected to go in the first round. On the other hand, any running back or tight end going in the first 32 picks would be a big surprise.

After looking at the NFL Draft odds for this year’s crop of quarterback prospects, Props.com breaks down all things wide receivers, tight ends and running backs ahead of next week’s event in Las Vegas.

All odds updated as of 3:15 p.m. ET on April 22.

Line Forms Behind Wilson

All signs point to Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson as being the first receiver taken in the Draft. Despite being listed at 6-foot, 188 pounds, he is the No. 1 ranked wideout in mock drafts from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, as well as The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He’s also the consensus No. 1 receiver per a CBS Sports roundup of mock drafts.

Still, Wilson is available at plus-money to be the first receiver drafted, including as high as +115 at Caesars Sportsbook. In consensus mock drafts, USC’s Drake London is the next wideout off the board, but he is the third choice at most sportsbooks, with a top price of +225 at DraftKings.

Alabama’s Jameson Williams is the second choice at most sportsbooks but is available as high as +225 at Caesars (same as London) to be the initial wideout selected.

First-Round Receiver Parade

Just how deep is this year’s wideout pool? If you believe what you see on NFL Draft odds boards, six receivers are likely to go in the first round: Wilson, London, Williams, Ohio State’s Chris Olave, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Penn State’s Jahan Dotson. The all-important question for bettors: Will there be a seventh?

DraftKings sets the prop on number of receivers drafted in the first round at 6.5 (Over -105/Under -125). Caesars has the line at 5.5, but juiced to the hilt (Over -400/Under +300).

Several mock drafts have North Dakota State’s Christian Watson slipping in as the seventh wideout in the first round. The CBS consensus actually has eight, with Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore making the cut as well.

With fewer quarterbacks slated for the first round this year, maybe NFL GMs will concentrate on the players catching the ball.

Draft Positions

All the mock drafts have Wilson going by the 10th pick, and his prop total is 10.5. Easy money, right? Well, oddsmakers aren’t giving out any bargains, heavily juicing the Under on Wilson’s prop at -220 at DraftKings.

It makes sense, given that the Buckeyes’ star — who had 1,058 receiving yards and 12 TDs as a junior last year — is going in the top 10 in most mock drafts. However, The Athletic slots Wilson No. 18 in its mock.

London’s consensus position total at sportsbooks is also 10.5, with the Over significantly favored. As for Alabama’s Williams, should bettors place their faith in the oddsmakers or draft-expert insiders? He actually put up better numbers than Wilson last year — 1,572 receiving yards, 15 TDs, — but he tore his left ACL in the College Football Playoff title game loss to Georgia.

Wilson is going 15th or later in most mock drafts, but bookmakers are more bullish on the 6-foot-2 speedster. His consensus prop total is 12.5, and as mentioned above, most books have him as the second wideout off the board instead of the third.

Similarly, sportsbooks are either offering a deal or a reality check on North Dakota State’s Watson. His prop total is 39.5 at DraftKings, but he’s projected Under that number by draft experts, most of whom have Watson in the 20s.

Any Takers for Running Backs?

For years, NFL analytics experts have been railing against using draft capital on running backs. That doesn’t appear to be a worry heading into this year’s Draft, which is expected to be the first since 2014 without a tailback selected in the first round.

The prop on how many RBs will go in the first round is set at the minimum 0.5, with FanDuel offering the best value as it relates to the Over (+200). DraftKings has the best price on the Under at -190.

Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III appear to be in a two-horse race to be the first running back taken. Hall is -250 at FanDuel and Walker is +280, with nobody else closer than 15-1. That offers an immediate scalp opportunity for bettors on the top two choices — provided no long shot comes in.

Talking Tight Ends

At least there’s a puncher’s chance a running back will come off the board in the first round. A tight end going within the first 32 picks? That would be a major upset.

The prop for number of tight ends taken in the first round — as with running backs — is 0.5. But the prices are much starker. For instance, Caesars offers the best odds … at Over +550/Under -800!

If one tight end makes a shocking climb up the board, it probably will be Colorado State’s Trey McBride. Several mock drafts have him going in the second round, with DraftKings setting his prop total at 50.5 (Over -130/Under +100).

The post NFL Draft Odds: Wideouts Receiving Plenty Of Attention appeared first on Props.

Handicapping the National League pennant race means answering one key question: Do you want to try to fade the Dodgers? The SuperBook has Los Angeles the prohibitive +225 favorite in its NL pennant odds, but recent years have shown that the Dodgers are far from invincible.

After all, the NL includes the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, who knocked off the Dodgers in last year’s NL Championship Series en route to the title. The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets are in the mix, as well, as are the San Diego Padres.

Props.com continues its MLB season preview by breaking down odds to win the NL championship.

NL Pennant Odds

Odds from the Westgate SuperBook as of 2 p.m. ET on April 5.

Dodgers Dominant on Paper

The rich got richer in the offseason, with the Dodgers (+225) adding former NL MVP Freddie Freeman to a lineup that could be one of the best in MLB history, especially with the NL now using the designated hitter full time.

“On paper, they’re definitely a step above the rest of the league,” SuperBook manager Randy Blum said.

But despite the acquisition of Freeman, Blum said there isn’t “much distance as the last couple of years” between the Dodgers and the rest of the field.

A major wild card is starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who remains on the restricted list because of legal issues. If the 2020 NL Cy Young winner ends up being cleared to play, the overwhelming NL West favorites will receive a big boost to their rotation (moral implications notwithstanding). And that would certainly impact NL pennant odds.

“I think he’ll probably pitch at some point, and that’s like adding an ace,” Blum said.

Still, for all their talent, the Dodgers have only claimed the NL pennant in one of the past three seasons.

Champs Are Still Here

So, if you’re looking to beat the Dodgers, why not start with the team that did it last year? The Braves lost Freeman to Los Angeles, but Blum said Atlanta is probably better for it, having replaced him with first baseman Matt Olson from Oakland.

“I don’t think a lot of casual fans know how good Matt Olson is,” Blum said.

Olson hit .271 last season (.911 OPS) with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs, and he finished eighth in AL MVP voting.

Atlanta also will get back star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr, who missed the Braves’ playoff run after tearing his right ACL in July. So the +500 second choice in the NL pennant odds market might merit consideration.

Brewers Win Arms Race

Blum believes Milwaukee (+700) has the pitching to challenge the Dodgers and Braves, with starters reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and fellow 2022 Cy Young candidate Brandon Woodruff topping the rotation, and gas-throwing relievers Josh Hader and Devin Williams holding down the bullpen.

“That’s about as good as it gets right now,” Blum said.

Milwaukee lost to Atlanta 3-1 in last year’s best-of-5 NL Division Series, but the Brewers are strong favorites to repeat as NL Central champs.

Troubled Contenders

The NL is more top-heavy than the AL pennant odds market, with few attractive sleepers. Even the other so-called top contenders have problems.

After a slew of offseason moves that plugged several holes, New York (+700) appeared poised for a great year. But Mets ace Jacob deGrom is already out with a shoulder injury to start the season and is facing an uncertain timetable for his return. San Diego (+900) was the biggest disappointment of 2021, missing the playoffs despite a heap of talent. The Padres are regrouping under new manager Bob Melvin, but they will be missing stud shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (broken wrist) for at least the first couple of months.

The Giants were last season’s the biggest surprise, outlasting the Dodgers for the NL West crown before losing to Los Angeles in five games in the NL Division Series. San Francisco got unlikely performances from several veterans last season to win an MLB-best 107 games.

“It’s hard for me to imagine that they’re going to duplicate that,” Blum said of San Francisco. That’s part of the reason why the Giants are just the co-sixth choice in the NL championship odds market, tied with St. Louis and Philadelphia at +1,200.

The Phillies have been popular with bettors so far, but Blum said he doesn’t get it. Philadelphia went 82-80 last season and missed the playoffs, despite an MVP season from outfielder Bryce Harper.

“It’s a little surprising to us,” Blum said of the Philly love in the MLB betting community. “They’re a good team, not a great team.”

The post NL Pennant Odds: Who Can Take Down Dodgers? appeared first on Props.

Roxy Roxborough’s life changed on Christmas Day 1983.

That’s the day Scotty Schettler, who at the time ran the Stardust sportsbook on the Las Vegas Strip, asked Roxborough to meet him at McDonald’s to discuss joining the property’s oddsmaking team.

“I don’t even know if you got the check,” Roxborough joked to Schelttler on Sunday afternoon at The D Las Vegas, where the two took a trip down Memory Lane with their former boss, Richard Schuetz, during a Bet Bash 2 expert panel discussion. “That Christmas was the last day I had off for the next 19 years.”

The Stardust’s bettor-friendly approach to bookmaking — a stark contrast to many operations then and now — made Schettler, Roxborough and their team heroes in old-school Vegas gambling circles. That’s why, almost 40 years later, a few hundred Bet Bash attendees packed the Detroit Ballroom at The D to hear stories about what was, at the time, the most influential sportsbook on the Strip — and beyond.

Schuetz, the Stardust’s former vice president of casino operations, served as moderator and told a few stories of his own.

“The two gentlemen on my left I probably respect more than any two people that I’ve been able to associate with in my tenure in the industry,” said Schuetz, who started in the casino business in 1971.

Schettler said his philosophy as the Stardust’s sportsbook director back in the late 1970s and early 1980s was simple: set clear limits and take big bets, even if his customers were long-term winners. That made the Stardust the go-to sportsbook for serious sports bettors and turned the shop into an attraction for novices. They wanted to go where the pros played.

“We didn’t treat the players as the enemy,” Schettler said. “We wanted the players. Bring your money. Come on.”

Life Imitates Art

Schettler took over the Stardust sportsbook after the regime of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, whose ties to organized crime and its casino skimming operation were immortalized in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 movie Casino (though the film used aliases for Rosenthal and the Stardust).

“The year before [I arrived], the Stardust had only written $72 million in the book, which I guess is OK,” Schettler deadpanned. “The next year, I doubled that. But I didn’t really double it. I just counted all the money.”

Leaning on the expertise of Roxborough — the founder of the Las Vegas Sports Consultants oddsmaking service — the Stardust set opening lines for every game, and those numbers became the standard across the country. Day after day, bettors formed long lines in front of the counter early in the morning, hoping to get the first crack at the opening numbers. When disputes consistently bubbled up regarding customers’ places in line, the Stardust instituted a lottery system to determine the order.

As soon as the lines hit the betting board, many bettors would jot them down, then run to a nearby bank of payphones to share the information with other bettors, Schuetz said.

“We had 11 payphones outside of the building,” he said. “The guy who serviced those payphones once told me they were the highest 11 revenue-producing payphones in the United States.”

‘Crying Kenny’ Takes Impromptu Bath

Roxborough, Schettler and Schuetz also shared anecdotes about some of the characters who roamed the Stardust book during their heyday. One such character — a guy who routinely bet Unders in basketball games and complained after every made basket — earned the nickname “Crying Kenny.”

One day, Schettler said an anguished Kenny jumped into the fountains at Caesars Palace and was arrested with $8,000 in his pockets. As he was taken into custody, Kenny gave police a phony name.

“When he sobered up and they let him go, Kenny forgot the [fake] name,” Schettler said. “So he had a hell of a time trying to prove that that was [his] money.”

Schettler also recalled one time when a big bettor needed to pull some money out of his account. “We gave him a half a million. He put it in a cardboard box,” Schettler said.

Added Roxborough, “Nobody wanted to be identified back then.”

“Maybe we weren’t the most diligent tax filers, as casinos or individuals,” Roxborough said. “But today, they take a photo of your license plate when you pull in to park.”

As the panel continued to spin stories about a long-gone era in the Las Vegas bookmaking business, Schuetz frequently returned to the same punchline.

“Did I mention that I spent a lot of time dealing with the Nevada Gaming Control Board?”

The post Stardust Memories: Recalling Sports Betting’s Good Ol’ Days appeared first on Props.

The final college basketball game of the season means one last chance to make some money (and/or erase some NCAA Tournament betting mistakes), and college basketball championship game props offer myriad ways to have action Monday night.

Midwest No. 1 seed Kansas is a 4-point favorite over East No. 8 North Carolina in the national championship game. The Over/Under is set at 151.5. Beyond the side and total, sportsbooks from coast to coast have posted dozens of college basketball championship game props.

Props.com breaks down our five favorite NCAA title game props: three player-specific bets, one team-related bet, and one game-focused wager.

Odds via FanDuel as of 11:30 a.m ET on April 4.

College Basketball Championship Game Props: North Carolina Vs Kansas

First-half total

The prop: 71.5 points
The odds: Over -106/Under -118

Under bettors watched in horror Saturday as Kansas players collectively morphed into Steph Curry from beyond the arc in their 81-65 semifinal victory over Villanova. The Jayhawks made 54.2 percent of their 3-point attempts for the game (13-for-24), helping to push the total Over 61.5 in the first half and Over 133.5 for the game.

That continued a recent Final Four trend, as the Over is now 10-3-1 in the past seven NCAA Tournament semifinal matchups. However, the national title game is another story, with seven of the past 10 finals staying Under the total for the game.

This prop is specific to the first 20 minutes of action, and for good reason: First, we don’t have to worry about overtime and late-game fouling tacking on a bunch of points. More importantly, it’s highly unlikely that Kansas will duplicate Saturday’s shooting performance. In fact, expect both teams to come out a bit tight with the trophy on the line.

Take the first half Under 71.5 points.

Winning Margin

The prop: Kansas to win by 1 to 10 points
The odds: +172

No. 1 seeds have won the past four NCAA Tournaments and seven of the past 10. During that span, No. 1 seeds are 4-1 SU and ATS in the title game when facing a non-No. 1 seed, with the only loss coming when No. 2 seed Villanova beat No. 1 North Carolina at the buzzer in 2016.

Maybe Kansas jumps on the Tar Heels and pulls away late to win by double digits as it did against Villanova on Saturday. But the far more likely scenario is for the Jayhawks to grab the title in a game that’s close throughout.

If you like Kansas in a blowout, the Jayhawks are +235 at FanDuel to win by 11 or more. North Carolina is +260 to win by one to 10 and +680 to win by 11 or more.

Kansas Jayhawks: G Ochai Agbaji

The prop: 16.5 points
The odds: Over -113/Under -113

Agbaji actually did seem to channel Curry in Saturday’s win, going 6-for-7 on 3-pointers and finishing with 21 points. It was a classic outlier effort in that Kansas’ senior guard had made a combined four 3-pointers in his other four NCAA Tournament games. And the only other time Agbaji went Over 16.5 points in March Madness was when he tallied 18 in the Jayhawks’ Elite Eight victory over Miami.

Agbaji can’t possibly replicate that Final Four shooting performance in Monday’s national championship game. If he regresses even a little, he will struggle to reach 17 points.

Keep this in mind, too: In his last 11 games since March 1, Agbaji has poured in 17-plus points in back-to-back outings just once (he had 18 against West Virginia and 22 against TCU in Kansas’ first two games of the Big 12 tournament).

Kansas Jayhawks: F David McCormack

The prop: 7.5 rebounds
The odds: Over -102/Under -128

The 6-foot-10 McCormack was a monster against Villanova, dominating inside with 25 points and nine rebounds. He will face a much more formidable front line Monday against North Carolina’s 6-foot-10 Armando Bacot and 6-foot-9 Brady Manek. (Bacot will play despite twisting his right ankle late in Saturday’s win over Duke.)

McCormack has not grabbed more than 7.5 rebounds in any other game during the Tournament, and North Carolina ranked ninth in the nation in rebounding margin coming into the Big Dance.

McCormack might score some points, but lay the juice and take him to stay Under 7.5 rebounds for the eighth time in his last 11 contests.

North Carolina Tar Heels: F Brady Manek

The prop: 2.5 made 3-pointers
The odds: Over -140/Under +110

We’re backing the Over here, and the reason is simple: Manek has been shooting lights out the entire NCAA Tournament. The transfer from Oklahoma has made at least three 3-pointers and attempted at least six in every March Madness game and eight of his past nine dating to the end of the regular season.

In Saturday’s Final Four win over Duke, the senior forward went precisely 3-for-6 from long distance.

With this being his final college game, one with a national championship on the line, don’t expect Manek to suddenly pass up open looks from beyond the arc. He’ll fire away, and we will as well on Over 2.5 made 3-pointers.

The post College Basketball Championship Game Props: Bet On Kansas’ Agbaji To Cool Off appeared first on Props.

Here’s the fun with betting NCAA Final Four props: You can cash tickets from the opening tipoff until the final buzzer.

Bettors have plenty of ways to wager on Saturday’s games in New Orleans, where Kansas (-4.5) faces Villanova in the opening contest and Duke (-4) squares off against rival North Carolina in the nightcap.

Looking for some side action on these NCAA Tournament national semifinal games? You came to the right place, as Props.com breaks down four team-related NCAA Final Four props.

Odds from FanDuel as of 3:15 p.m. ET on March 31.

NCAA Final Four Team Props: Villanova Vs Kansas

Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Kansas -4.5/133

First-Half Total

The prop: 61.5 points
The odds: Over -112/Under -112

Villanova plays at almost the slowest pace in the country – 345^th out of 358 Division I teams, according to analytics guru KenPom. With the Wildcats being underdogs against Kansas, it would make sense for them to impose their pace, especially in the early going — and especially given their manpower issues.

Villanova will have to take the court without junior guard Justin Moore, who tore his right Achilles tendon late in the Wildcats’ Elite Eight win over Houston on Saturday.

Villanova basically has relied on a six-man rotation throughout the NCAA Tournament. With Moore gone, that means the Wildcats have only five players who have logged significant minutes during this Final Four run. That’s all the more reason for Jay Wright’s squad to play slow and conserve energy out of the gate.

Multiple trends also point to a low-scoring opening 20 minutes: The first-half Under is 3-1 for both Kansas and Villanova in the NCAA Tournament. Also, 11 of 12 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games fell short of the first-half total.

Take Under 61.5 points in the first half.

Winning Margin

The prop: Kansas to win by 1 to 10 points
The odds: +164

Kansas has one big recent historical trend working in its favor: No. 1 seeds have won the past four NCAA Tournaments and seven of the past 10.

And the Jayhawks are the only No. 1 seed at this year’s Final Four.

Over the past 10 tournaments, top seeds are only 3-6-1 ATS in the national semifinals when facing non-No. 1 seeds, but they are 9-1 SU.

Whether Kansas can cover 4.5 against Villanova is no concern with this prop. The Jayhawks merely need to win by 10 or less, and it’s hard to believe this game — with such a low Over/Under total and the Wildcats fielding a veteran squad — will turn into a blowout.

Getting a nice +164 return on investment makes this NCAA Final Four prop all the more enticing.

NCAA Final Four Team Props: North Carolina Vs Duke

Time: 8:49 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Duke -4/151

Team Total: Duke

The prop: 77.5 points
The odds: Over -112/Under -112

The anti-Villanova, North Carolina plays at a quick pace — 39^th-fastest in the country, according to KenPom — but that could play right into the hands of Duke.

KenPom rates the Blue Devils as having the No. 1 offense in the country, so they should welcome an up-tempo pace that leads to more possessions — and more opportunities to score.

That scenario played out in the Elite Eight when Duke sliced through Arkansas, which ranks 28^th in pace. The Blue Devils had 72 points with more than six minutes left before pulling up the reins with a big lead. Still, Duke finished with 78 points, which was the exact total they scored in their opening-round blowout of Cal State Fullerton (78-61) and Sweet 16 triumph over Texas Tech (78-73). In between, the Dukies put up 85 in a second-round win over Michigan.

Keep in mind that, per KenPom, Texas Tech led the nation in defense this year, while Arkansas was No. 11. While Michigan State is 42nd, which isn’t far behind North Carolina (39th).

The Blue Devils have put up at least 78 points in nine of their last 10 games, including 81 in a home loss to the Tar Heels in the regular-season finale. And that was after tallying 87 in a 20-point road rout of UNC in February.

Add it all up, and it’s difficult to see the Tar Heels keeping Duke under wraps. Take Duke Over 77.5 points.

Three-Pointers Prop

The prop: “3×2” (two or more 3-pointers made in the first three minutes of the game)
The odds: Yes +184/No -230

Here’s one for the immediate gratification crowd. The popular “3×2” bet at FanDuel is a prop on whether two or more 3-pointers will be made in the first three minutes of game action.

In other words, bettors will be winners or losers before the first TV timeout.

North Carolina has been 3×2-friendly in the NCAA Tournament, coming out firing in its first three games. In the first round against Marquette, the Tar Heels were 1-for-3 on 3s in the first three minutes, and the Golden Eagles drained two of their own to hit the prop.

In the second round against Baylor, North Carolina was 2-for-4 on 3s in the opening three minutes to cash the prop on its own. Then, in the Sweet 16, the Tar Heels again went 2-for-4 on 3s in the first three minutes, and UCLA added one as well.

Only in the Elite Eight, playing against an inferior St. Peter’s team, did North Carolina back off, missing its lone 3 attempt in the first three minutes.

The Tar Heels are underdogs again in the Final Four, this time against rival Duke, and they should be looking to start fast.

Go for the quick cash with Yes at a juicy +184.

The post NCAA Final Four Props: Expect Low-Scoring Start In Kansas-‘Nova appeared first on Props.

When it comes to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 props in the Midwest Region, everything is coming up Kansas.

The bracket has broken the Jayhawks’ way. First, the region’s No. 1 seed faces a shaky No. 4 seed in Providence. Should the Jayhawks take care of business against the Friars, they would meet the winner of No. 10 Miami (Fla.) and No. 11 Iowa State, both of which pulled off upsets to reach the Sweet 16.

Props.com breaks down four NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 props for Friday’s Midwest Region games.

Odds from FanDuel and updated as of 1 p.m. ET on March 24.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 props: Providence Vs Kansas

Time: 7:29 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Kansas -7.5/141.5

Kansas: Winning Margin

The prop: Kansas -10.5 (alternate spread)
The odds: +148

Do you remember the first round of the NCAA Tournament? South Dakota State was a popular upset pick, dropping to as little as a 2-point underdog despite being a No. 13 seed against No. 4 Providence.

The Friars were overrated, analytics experts said. They ranked 49th out of the 68 teams in the field, according to popular analytics site KenPom.com. So what did Providence do? It easily took care of business against South Dakota State, rolling 66-57. Then 48 hours later, the Friars crushed Richmond 79-51 laying just 3.5 points, as the 12th-seeded Spiders were a popular second-round upset pick.

Here’s what the betting community missed: Providence is overrated. The Friars were just fortunate to draw two opening-weekend opponents that were ranked far lower by KenPom (South Dakota State at 81, Richmond at 86). So covering short numbers against inferior teams shouldn’t have been a surprise.

Kansas is another obstacle entirely. The Jayhawks (ranked sixth by KenPom before the NCAA Tournament started) are much better than Providence. They tied for the regular season title and won the tournament championship in the nation’s best conference this season (Big 12). More importantly, Kansas has advantages in almost every area, and that should show up Friday.

This is the spot where Providence’s deficiencies will pay off. Kansas is favored by 7.5 points, and it won’t take much to post a double-digit win. Take the nice +148 price on the Jayhawks to win by 11 or more.

Kansas Jayhawks: G Remy Martin

The prop: 10.5 points
The odds: Over -120/Under -106

Don’t look at the season-long numbers when evaluating Kansas guard Remy Martin. The graduate transfer and former all-Pac-12 performer from Arizona State had limited playing time for much of the season while battling injuries.

But Martin seems to be healthy at just the right time for the Jayhawks. His playing time has ramped up over the past four games, including scoring 20 points in 29 minutes in a second-round victory over Creighton. He scored 10, 12 and 15 points in the previous three games, gradually becoming a larger part of the Kansas offense each time out.

Martin’s prop total of 10.5 does not fully reflect his resurgence. Take the Over.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 props: Iowa State Vs Miami

Time: 9:59 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Miami -2.5/133

Iowa State Cyclones: F Aljaz Kunc

The prop: 5.5 rebounds
The odds: Over -113/Under -115

Miami is one of the worst rebounding teams in the country, ranking 319^th in rebound margin coming into the NCAA Tournament.

The Hurricanes have been outrebounded in all nine games they have played against NCAA Tournament teams this season — and by a bunch (average differential of 9.89 boards per game). That includes both Tournament victories over Auburn (47-39 rebounding edge to the Tigers) and USC (38-26).

Iowa State isn’t dominant on the glass, ranking 235^th nationally in rebound margin. Still, this matchup should favor the Cyclones on the boards — which brings us to Aljaz Kunc.

Iowa State’s 6-foot-8 forward ranked second on the team in rebounds in the regular season (3.8 per game). However, he’s become a bigger presence on the boards recently, with six-plus rebounds in five of his past six games. And the lone exception was against LSU, when Kunc had four rebounds.

With a favorable matchup against a weak-rebounding opponent, Kunc should have little trouble going Over this prop number Friday.

Miami Hurricanes: G Charlie Moore

The prop: 1.5 3-pointers
The odds: Over -110/Under -115

Iowa State pulled out two low-scoring upsets of No. 6 seed LSU and No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones are a great defensive team, and that extends to the 3-point line, as they rank ninth nationally in 3-point percentage defense.

Miami guard Charlie Moore has made more than one 3-pointer in only two of his past seven games (though he did go 2-for-3 from distance in Sunday’s upset win over No. 2 seed Auburn). Now he’s going up against a team that defends the 3 well in what should be a grinding game with limited possessions. (To that point: Iowa State-Miami has the lowest Over/Under of any Sweet 16 game.)

Betting against 3-pointers isn’t fun, and it only takes two quick shots to derail this wager. But let’s bank on Moore — who averages 1.7 made triples on 4.4 attempts this season — to sink one or none from behind the arc Friday.

The post NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Props: Midwest Region appeared first on Props.

The NCAA South Region Sweet 16 involves three top teams – Arizona, Villanova, and Houston – along with Michigan, a team that reached the Elite Eight last season and appears to be peaking at the right time.

As the number of games falls deeper into the NCAA Tournament, props become more attractive for bettors who like to have action on multiple fronts.

Props.com breaks down four available NCAA Tournament prop bets for Thursday’s South Region Sweet 16 games: No. 1 seed Arizona vs. No. 5 Houston, and No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 11 Michigan.

Odds via DraftKings as of 1:45 p.m. ET on March 24.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Props: Arizona Vs Houston

Time: 9:59 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Arizona -1.5/146.5

Houston Cougars: Team Total

The prop: Houston 73.5 total points
The odds: Over -105/Under -125

Arizona vs. Houston will be a battle of pace. The Wildcats rank fifth nationally in tempo, according to KenPom.com, while the Cougars are 334^th out of 358 Division I teams.

Houston has consistently won the pace game in the NCAA Tournament. In the Cougars’ four straight NCAA trips under coach Kelvin Sampson, they are 9-3 SU despite cracking 70 points only four times – and three of those were as heavy favorites in first-round games against overmatched opponents.

Beyond the opening round, Houston scored more than 70 points only in a 74-59 second-round victory over No. 11 seed Ohio State in 2019.

Last season, Houston reached the Final Four by scoring 63, 62, and 67 points in the second round through the Elite Eight, respectively, then scored 59 in a loss to Baylor in the national semifinals.

Arizona likes to press the pace, but that could change in a high-stakes, tight battle with an Elite Eight berth on the line. Take the Under on this prop.

Arizona Wildcats: F Christian Koloko

The prop: 12.5 points
The odds: Over -140/Under +105

The Arizona center went off for 28 points in the Wildcats’ 85-80 overtime win against TCU in the second round, but he could find much tougher sledding against Houston.

Besides TCU, Arizona has played eight games this season against teams ranked in the top 30 defensively by KenPom – three against UCLA, two against Arizona State, and one against Illinois, Tennessee and Washington State. In those games, Koloko has averaged 8.25 points, with a high output of 13 against UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament final.

In other words, Koloko’s outburst against TCU screams “outlier”.

As mentioned above, Houston will also be looking to slow this game down and limit possessions.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Props: Villanova Vs Michigan

Time: 7:29 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Spread/Total: Villanova -5/135.5

Villanova Wildcats: Alternate Spread

The prop: Villanova -10.5 (alternate spread)
The odds: +215

Michigan has salvaged a disappointing season by fighting into the Sweet 16, but the Wolverines are consensus 5-point underdogs against Villanova on Thursday. Clearly, oddsmakers expect them to lose.

Well, when Michigan loses, it’s usually not close. The Wolverines have lost 14 games this season, and nine were by 10 points or more. Two others were eight-point defeats.

Also, Villanova is No. 1 in the country in free-throw percentage. Which means the Wildcats are the right team to turn a six-point lead with a minute left into a 12-point victory by the time all the fouling and free throws are done.

The Wildcats have alternate spreads available at DraftKings, ranging from -6 (+105) to -10.5 (+215).

Villanova Wildcats: G Caleb Daniels

The prop: 1.5 made 3-pointers
The odds: Over -115/Under -115

Villanova guard Caleb Daniels made only one 3-pointer in the Wildcats’ second-round victory over Ohio State, but that has not been the norm. For the season, Daniels has made two or more 3-pointers in 17 of his 32 games. In the other 15, he drained one triple nine times and zero in the other six — though three of those bagels were in the first three games of the season.

More recently, Daniels has made two or more 3-pointers in six of his past nine contests, including three in Villanova’s first-round win over Delaware. The last time Daniels was held without a 3 was Feb. 5 against Connecticut.

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