The First Round of the NCAA Tournament begins today with 16 games. Four contests have spreads of fewer than two points, while five have spreads of 10 or greater.
When looking at today's player props, is it better to go with players involved in close contests or blowouts?
Here are the three best March Madness PrizePicks plays for Thursday, March 21.
2024 NCAA Tournament Picks Challenge: Win a Lifetime BettingPros Subscription! >>
The First Round of the NCAA Tournament begins today with 16 games. Four contests have spreads of fewer than two points, while five have spreads of 10 or greater.
When looking at today's player props, is it better to go with players involved in close contests or blowouts?
Here are the three best March Madness PrizePicks plays for Thursday, March 21.
2024 NCAA Tournament Picks Challenge: Win a Lifetime BettingPros Subscription! >>
2024 NCAA Tournament PrizePicks Player Predictions
The Wagner Seahawks are allowing the sixth-fewest points per game in the nation. But that stat isn't why RJ Davis' point total is three points below his season average. The real reason this number is so low is that the North Carolina Tar Heels are favored by 25, and there is a good chance that Davis plays limited minutes today.
However, Davis is the 11th-leading scorer in the nation. This isn't a bad matchup for him; it's just one where he will need to do more damage in a shorter amount of time than usual. As the Tar Heels build their lead, expect Davis to be front and center as he goes for at least 19 for the third game in a row.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are one of the worst teams at defending the three-point line in the nation. They rank 234th in the country in three-point percentage allowed, and they're about to take on the best three-point shooting team in the entire country.
We like numerous Kentucky Wildcats in this game, but ultimately, we're backing Rob Dillingham to exceed his total. In the Wildcats’ last game, Dillingham went 5-of-10 from three-point range, and he's made at least three in two of his last three games. He's had a few stretches where he's made one or fewer three-pointers in a game, but he's the Wildcat most likely to explode against a bad three-point defense.
With Kevin McCullar Jr. out, the Kansas Jayhawks’ success rests on the shoulders of Hunter Dickinson. Despite dealing with his own injury, Dickinson will play tonight against the Samford Bulldogs.
Dickinson averages 18.0 points per game, which means he needs a full basket more than his season average to hit this over. But the Bulldogs allow an average of over 83 points per game. In what is sure to be a high-scoring contest, Dickinson will help the Jayhawks keep pace.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:
Check out all of our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>
Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.
