The NCAA Tournament is coming to a close, with just three games remaining on the schedule starting with the Final Four. The Villanova Wildcats will try to take down the #1 seed Kansas Jayhawks (-4.5) in the first game of the night on Saturday. They will be followed by Duke (-4.5) and North Carolina in what could be Coach K’s final game leading the Blue Devils.
I like both underdogs at +4.5 when it comes to picking sides, but the best part about the Final Four is all the props that are posted for the players and teams. We do not get the opportunity to bet player props much in the regular season for college basketball, so it’s time to take advantage of it on Saturday.
First Basket: Jermaine Samuels – Villanova (+550)
The best all-around player on the Villanova Wildcats is Collin Gillespie. He is the team’s leading scorer and a guy that does more than put up points to win. However, in the NCAA Tournament, Jermaine Samuels has been the player to watch for Villanova.
Since the second round of the tournament, he dropped 15, 17, 22, and 16. His size allows him to shoot from the tip of the key and have a presence inside the arc. Gillespie is a team player, which scares me when it comes to the first basket.
I think Gillespie sets up Samuels to drop the first points of the game. The Wildcats are efficient, so I believe they will capitalize if they get the first possession.
First Basket: Armando Bacot – UNC (+550)
For the North Carolina Tar Heels to be competitive, they must take Duke out of their rhythm from the opening tip. The way to do this is to score first, and no player is more likely to accomplish this feat than Armando Bacot. Check out the BParlay.com College Basketball picks this week for some great betting tips.
Bacot is one of the best players on the floor in this matchup, and he is the team’s leading scorer with 16.5 PPG. Bacot is also shooting 58.6% from the field. He may post up to start the game or grab a rebound with a putback, but I like this ticket to cash.
3×2: North Carolina vs. Duke (+184)
The 3×2 bet is when you wager two or more three-pointers to be made in the first three minutes of the game. I would fade this in the night’s first game, but there is no reason not to hammer yes in the nightcap.
Duke and North Carolina play fast, and emotions will be extremely high in this matchup. It’s a rivalry game, and it could be Coach K’s last stand. I guarantee there will be a few 18-year old’s throwing shots up out of nowhere in the first few minutes. We only need two to go in the hoop. Why not take a look at the BParlay.com Anybet365 betting guide to help with your betting ideas. We hope you have learnt some useful information for the final four best prop plays.
Jermaine Samuels: 15+ Points (-108)
Jermaine Samuels’ body type is perfect for this matchup with Kansas. I think he will have the biggest day when it comes to scoring because he matches up well with Kansas. Gillespie is a stud, but his size does limit his scoring in many cases.
With the game on the line, there is nobody I would rather have than Gillespie. Although, from a pure scoring bet, I like Samuels’ way more on Saturday. He has gone over this total in three of the four NCAA Tournament games.
The more physical the game becomes, the better Samuels is in the moment. I am expecting him to come up big on Saturday. There are tons of great prop plays on multiple sportsbooks, so make sure you check them out and shop for the best lines.
