Forget point spreads and over/unders, the real betting action this weekend
will be in the Final Four prop bets. Let’s take a look at a few of the best
one’s in the Duke-West Virginia game. Are you a little tentative about wagering on Duke to beat West Virginia? How
about Butler vs. Michigan State? Well no need to worry, because even if you’re
not crazy about the point spreads, there are still plenty of great Final Four
Prop Bets you can make. Let’s look at a few in this weekend’s first matchup,
between Butler and Michigan State:
First Points of the Game Are on A Free Throw (+700): Obviously it’s more
realistic that the game will start on a two or three point field goal, but for
the odds you’re getting, this seems like a logical bet.
Think about it, Saturday’s game between West Virginia and Duke is going to be a
hotly contested, physical, defensive matchup. Guys will be throwing elbows and
banging bodies. So could we see a whistle and a trip to the line in the first
few minutes? Of course we can.
And at 7 to 1 odds, you should be hoping for a made free throw to start this
game. It might be the best Final Four prop bet on the board.
Da’Sean Butler OVER 18 Points: If you’ve watched West Virginia all year,
you know that it’s no secret that Da’Sean Butler is this team’s go to guy, and
it shows, as he led the team in scoring at 17 points a game. Duke knows this too
and will do their best to stop the phenomenal Butler.
But if you’ve watched West Virginia you also know that Butler comes through the
brightest, in their biggest games. He scored 20 points or more in the
Mountaineers Big East Tournament semifinal and final victories, and hit 28 in a
second round victory in the NCAA Tournament over Missouri.
And while Duke will gear up to stop him, who exactly is their best perimeter
defender? After all, LaceDarius Dunn was able to score 22 points against the
Blue Devils a week ago. Butler will have as big, if not an even bigger game
against Duke this Saturday.
Kyle Singler UNDER 20 Points + Assists: What an up and down year for
Singler. He was abysmal early, excellent late in the season, and has struggled a
bit in this NCAA Tournament. So which Singler will show up? Likely the last one.
The truth is, Singler has been battling a wrist injury during this entire
season, and landed on it hard against Purdue in a Sweet 16 win. That led to the
Duke forward scoring just five points, on 0 for 10 shooting from the field
against Baylor in last weekend’s Elite Eight.
Also, Baylor defended Singler with the very athletic Anthony Jones on the
perimeter. Expect either Devin Ebanks or Kevin Jones to have similar
responsibilities in this Final Four matchup. Both are similar players to
Baylor’s Jones.
Singler will struggle to get his points, meaning that this seems like one of the
safest Prop Bets available.
Durrell Summers OVER 17 ½ Points + Assists: It’s no secret that since
Michigan State star guard Kalin Lucas went down with an injury, other players
have stepped up to get the team this far. And no player is more responsible for
the Spartans recent success that Durrell Summers.
In the Spartans two wins since Lucas went down, Summers has been phenomenal,
averaging 20 points a game in Michigan State’s victories over Northern Iowa and
Tennessee. That stat alone is enough to take the over on this prop bet. However,
Summers has distributed the ball as well, getting three assists total in those
two games.
While the big guys down low will do the heavy lifting defensively, expect
Summers to carry the load offensively. Take him to score and pass for at least
17 ½ points and assists.
Gordon Hayward OVER 16 ½ Points + Assists: With some real nasty physical
play down low, don’t expect Butler superstar Gordon Hayward to get many easy
looks in Saturday night’s semifinal game. But you’ve got to think that he can
combine for at least 16 ½ points and assists, no?
The truth is, that even if Hayward is double teamed, which he very well might
be, Butler will feed their sophomore forward the ball. He is their best pure
scorer. Against Kansas State in the Elite Eight, he came through 22 points, but
more importantly he did it on 14 shots. Expect him to get just as many on
Saturday.
Also, Hayward is over an 82 percent foul shooter, meaning that if he does get to
the line, he is all but automatic.
Matt Howard UNDER 10 ½ Points: Over the course of the season, Howard was
Butler’s third leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points per game. But with so many
of those points being scored against overmatched Horizon League opponents, one
has to wonder if Howard will be able to handle the physical nature that Michigan
State plays with.
In this NCAA Tournament, Howard has been limited, as he’s scored just a grand
total of 20 points in Butler’s last three games, and was held to eight points
and just two shots from the field against Kansas State.
Will things be any easier against Draymond Green, Raymar Morgan and others down
low for Michigan State? The chances aren’t good.
Take the under in this Final Four prop bet.
Click here to view all of today's premium picks.
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