Final Four Picks and Predictions

[SBR Andy]

For the first time since 2008, all four #1 seeds have reached the Final Four. Let's take a look at the March Madness Odds going into Saturday's games:



Who's the best bet to cut down the nets in San Antonio? Post your Final Four predictions below!

[SBR Andy]

SBR's C Jackson Cowart gives his thoughts on each of the final four teams:

Duke (+105 Caesars)

"The Blue Devils entered the tournament with five of the best players in March Madness, and they've relied on that depth and star power en route to a seemingly inevitable Final Four run for our expert Rob Paul's predicted March Madness champion.

Jon Scheyer's group will face a tough opponent in the Final Four in Houston, which bludgeoned 2-seed Tennessee in the Elite Eight and boasts the best defensive efficiency in the country. Duke's offense is the top unit nationally, too, setting up a true clash of titans in Saturday's second matchup at 8:49 p.m. ET."


Florida (+300 DraftKings)

"The Gators were the hottest team in the country entering the NCAA Tournament, and they played with fire in the Elite Eight before erasing a late deficit to beat Texas Tech and set up this SEC showdown with Auburn in the Final Four on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET.

Florida won the only meeting between these two back in early February, a 90-81 road victory for the Gators, and the Tigers could be in worse shape this time around if Johni Broome isn't at full strength after his injury in the Elite Eight."


Houston (+450 bet365)

"It's a tough draw for Houston, which is the second-best team in the country per KenPom but enters the Final Four as the biggest long shot because of who's on the other side.

If anyone can try to contain Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and friends, it'd be Houston and its top-ranked defense in the country. The Cougars are also prolific from long range and haven't lost a game since Feb. 1 - this isn't your typical long shot."


Auburn (+525 BetMGM)

"Is Broome fully healthy heading into the title game? And if so, is that enough to change the outcome this time around against one of the only teams to beat Auburn in the regular season?

We've had our doubts about the Tigers all tournament long, but Bruce Pearl and Co. keep winning, so it's hard not to be enticed by these long odds on the field's No. 1 overall seed - especially if Broome, who finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds in the Elite Eight, is ready to roll by Saturday."

[SBR Andy]

NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player predictions for each team from SBR's Gabe Henderson:

Duke - Cooper Flagg (+120 FanDuel)

"Simply put, Flagg is phenomenal. It's no surprise to see the Wooden Award odds favorite and future No. 1 overall pick atop the oddsboard for this award. He's been the centerpiece during one of Duke's most successful seasons ever. If the Blue Devils manage to cap off a 35-3 campaign with a championship, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Flagg winning this award.

The freshman is averaging 19.5 points, 5.3 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in the NCAA Tournament. Flagg has shown up when Duke has needed him most, and his odds at our best sports betting apps imply a 45.45% probability he will win the award."


Florida - Walter Clayton Jr. (+400 DraftKings)

"While other players have arguably been better overall than Clayton throughout March Madness, nobody has been more clutch down the stretch. The Florida sharpshooter has hit several memorable shots in the closing stages of games, notably against Connecticut and Texas Tech, when the Gators found themselves in need of a bucket.

Clayton is averaging over 22 points per game thus far. Seeing as Florida is the favorite to get past Auburn in the Final Four, there might not be a better value on the market than the senior. Clayton is trading as high as +400 (20% implied probability) at DraftKings, which means a $10 winning wager would profit $40."


Auburn - Johni Broome (+850 DraftKings)

"Broome has been locked into a battle for the Wooden Award with Flagg all season long. The two players have been neck-and-neck, so why isn't that the case here?

Only 11 Most Outstanding Player winners have come from teams that did not win a national championship, with the last being Akeem (Hakeem) Olajuwon in 1983. Auburn currently has the longest March Madness odds of the remaining four teams, which explains why Broome's odds aren't in line with some of his peers.

Nevertheless, the senior's odds are too inflated not to take a flier on. Broome has posted back-to-back 20-plus-point performances, and he scored 58 total points in regular-season showdowns with Duke, Florida, and Houston. If he keeps scoring at this clip, DraftKings' +850 odds could be a steal."


Houston - LJ Cryer (+1100 FanDuel)

"Cryer has been Houston's best player this season, and he's posted three solid showings in the NCAA Tournament. His odds are significantly longer than the above trio because he has undeniably the worst outing of the four players during March Madness.

The senior guard shot 2-for-13 (15.4%) from the field and finished with just five points in a Sweet 16 win over Purdue. While that poor performance put him behind other teams' superstars, he still has the shortest odds among the Cougars in this market.

If Houston can capture the first national championship in program history, Cryer has a better chance of winning the award than his 8.33% implied probability. A $10 winning wager on the Katy, Texas, native would return $110 in profits."

[dhristov211]

Nice breakdowns. I like favs, Duke/Cooper