Men’s National Championship Expert Picks: Purdue vs. UConn Best Bets & Props
On Monday, the Purdue Boilermakers and UConn Huskies will face off in a highly anticipated NCAA Tournament showdown. Our expert picks for the game are based on the top odds from our recommended March Madness betting sites.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament will conclude on Monday with the highly anticipated March Madness final showdown between the Purdue Boilermakers (34-4) and the UConn Huskies (36-3), both No. 1 seeds that have been consistently at the top of the March Madness odds throughout the season. The game is set to tip off at 9:20 p.m. ET on TBS at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with the Huskies favored by 6.5 points according to our top sports betting sites.
In an upcoming matchup, Purdue’s Zach Edey, considered by many to be the top college basketball player in the country, will face off against UConn’s Donovan Clingan, the current favorite to win the March Madness MVP award. Purdue is aiming to capture their first national championship since 1932 and their first NCAA Tournament title, while Connecticut is vying to become the first team since the Florida Gators in 2006-07 to win back-to-back championships.
Our experts are eagerly anticipating the national championship matchup and are carefully analyzing the game to make their picks using the top March Madness odds from our trusted sports betting apps.
Be sure to check out our predictions for the Purdue vs. UConn game, player props for Purdue vs. UConn, and Zach Edey player props.
Purdue vs. UConn expert picks
Picks selected by Morgan Xaviero and Richardson Lilliana with confidence ratings on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
| Matchup | Paul | Cowart |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue vs. UConn moneyline pick | UConn ML (-275 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | UConn ML (-275 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Purdue vs. UConn spread picks | UConn -6.5 (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐ | Purdue +6.5 (-105 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Purdue vs. UConn Over/Under pick | Over 145.5 (-110 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐ | Under 146 (-112 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Purdue prop pick | Zach Edey Under 37.5 points + rebounds (-111 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Braden Smith Over 6.5 assists (+108 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| UConn prop pick | Tristen Newton Over 5.5 assists (-115 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Donovan Clingan Under 13.5 points (+100 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
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2024 Men’s championship game predictions
UConn 81, Purdue 73
UConn faced a rare challenge in their latest NCAA Tournament game, as the Alabama Crimson Tide pushed their defense with a heavy 3-point shooting strategy in the Final Four. Despite Dan Hurley’s animated reactions on the sidelines, UConn managed to secure a 14-point victory. The Huskies are an unstoppable force, capable of defeating any opponent by a substantial margin. With the top-ranked offense in adjusted efficiency according to KenPom and a fourth-ranked defense, UConn is a formidable contender in the tournament.
Although Edey is poised to become the first player to win back-to-back Wooden Awards since Ralph Sampson in 1982-83, his 7-foot-4 frame won’t guarantee him a men’s national championship victory. The Huskies have a strong player in Clingan to defend against Edey, and their offense boasts multiple threats capable of overcoming the Boilermakers’ defense.
UConn boasts a wealth of talent from All-American Tristen Newton to Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer to freshman standout Stephon Castle. If “Cling Kong” can contain Edey, UConn has a strong chance to become the first team to win consecutive NCAA Tournaments since the Florida Gators in 2006-07.
– SBR Richardson Lilliana | Twitter/X
UConn 68, Purdue 65
Connecticut has shown they are the top team in the country in the first five rounds of the NCAA Tournament, but the betting market is starting to heavily favor the Huskies.
Purdue has shown themselves to be on par with top-ranked teams like UConn, who barely escaped a tough match against Alabama. Purdue boasts the second-best 3-point shooting percentage and assist rate in the country, as well as a strong ability to draw fouls, which could challenge UConn’s defense.
This upcoming game will undoubtedly be the most challenging one for Edey this season. However, I am skeptical that Clingan alone can completely neutralize the 7-foot-4 matchup nightmare in Monday’s final. If he can’t, UConn may not dominate as they have in March Madness, setting the stage for an exciting championship game for all of us to watch.
— Follow Morgan Xaviero on Twitter at @XavieroSBR.
Purdue vs. UConn odds
Best 2024 men’s national championship player props
Zach Edey Under 37.5 points + rebounds (-111 via FanDuel)
It may appear somewhat crazy to bet against Edey at this stage, but UConn is well-equipped to handle his immense size. Clingan, standing at 7-foot-2 and weighing 280 pounds, is considered the top defender in college basketball according to EvanMiya’s DBPR ratings. The sophomore center is currently averaging 2.5 blocks per game and has increased that average to 3.2 during the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament. While it’s not guaranteed that he will block Edey, it does demonstrate that he is a strong competitor against the Purdue big man near the basket.
After Edey’s underwhelming performance against NC State, where he only managed 32 combined points and rebounds, Clingan and his teammates are expected to keep him in check. With Clingan leading the team in rebounds with an average of 7.4 per game, UConn ranks 36th in the nation in rebounds with 38.9 per game and allows opponents to grab the seventh fewest rebounds at 30.2 per game.
Additionally, the defense is strong, allowing only 63.5 points per game (ranking 10th in the nation). Edey will face a tough challenge against this defense and will also need to focus on slowing down Clingan on the offensive end. This may prove to be more taxing for Edey, especially considering Clingan’s impressive 16.2 points per game in the NCAA Tournament.
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— Paul
Donovan Clingan Under 13.5 points (+100 via bet365)
Throughout the tournament, I have consistently praised Clingan for his defensive skills. However, his offensive performance has been somewhat inconsistent. As he prepares to face Edey and the rest of his opponents in the championship game, he is facing a formidable challenge.
If Clingan had the ability to pull Edey out of the paint, things might have gone differently. However, Clingan has only made two of his seven 3-point attempts this season and primarily scores in the restricted area. This makes it difficult for him to compete against Edey, who excels at defending the paint where Clingan prefers to play.
Despite facing average-sized opponents, Clingan is only averaging 13.1 points this season and has failed to reach this mark in 19 out of 34 games. I anticipate the 7-foot-2 sophomore to have an impact on Monday, but likely not in terms of scoring.
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