For the third time this season, North Carolina and Duke are squaring off.
This time, though, it’s not about bragging rights or an NCAA Tournament resume booster — the arch-rivals are playing on the biggest stage in the sport for the right to play for a national championship.
So, from a betting perspective, why not take some risks in one of the largest and best games of the season?
That’s where single-game parlays come into play. With limited games left in the college basketball season, it’s time to take some risks and see if it pays off.
For this North Carolina-Duke game, I'm rolling with three SGPs for a combined one unit in total to win 35.25 units.
Same-Game Parlay No. 1
Brady Manek Over 5.5 Rebounds
Manek averages 5.9 boards per game and has had five or more in the last five games. In what I expect to be one of the fastest-paced games of the year, I think he can surpass this number with ease.
Armando Bacot 12+ Rebounds
With the likely pace of this game in combination with North Carolina’s rebounding abilities, I think Bacot going above his season average of 13.8 rebounds per game will be far from a longshot.
Paolo Banchero Over 17.5 Points
Banchero has averaged 17.1 points per game on the year and has gone over 17.5 in two of his four games in the NCAA Tournament.
Once again, I think the pace at which this game should be played at is a major factor in this bet.
Mark Williams Over 13.5 Points
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I think this game is going to move at a fast pace and provide a ton of opportunities for scoring.
Williams averages 11.3 points per game on the season and has surpassed this number in all but one game in the tournament. In that affair, he was just 1.5 points shy at 12.
Odds: +800 (0.5 Units to Win 4 Units)
If you want to do just one SGP, I recommend only the one above. If you’re looking to have more fun, though, add the two below.
Same-Game Parlay No. 2
R.J. Davis 20+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
The pace of this game and the opportunities Davis will have will play a major role in him hitting this mark.
Paolo Banchero 30+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
Banchero has reached this number — or more — in all but one tournament game so far this year.
Brady Manek 30+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
Manek's 3-point potential and his previous performances against Duke lead me to believe he can surpass this number.
Mark Williams 20+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
Williams may not get the rebounding opportunities he’s accustomed to against UNC, but I still believe someone who averages 18.2 (PPG/RPG/APG) on the season can break the threshold of 20 in a game that is expected to be as fast as this one.
Armando Bacot 2+ Assists
Bacot has had two or more assists in four of his last five games.
While most people focus on his ability to score, Duke will likely look to eliminate that at all cost, giving him an even higher chance of surpassing this number.
Odds: +2500 (0.25 Units to Win 6 Units)
Same-Game Parlay No. 3
Alternate Total Over 159.5
I try to stay away from sides and totals in same-game parlays because they can ruin a perfectly good player prop card. However, I think there's a considerable amount of value in this game to surpass 160 at +200.
Given the expected pace, I think this plays out.
Brady Manek Over 22 Points
Paolo Banchero Over 20+ Points
Caleb Love 5+ Assists
Love leads the team in assist percentage. He has not broken the ceiling of four assists during the tournament, but once again, I think this turns out to be a high-scoring game with a pace that provides him the opportunity to do so.
Wendell Moore Jr. 5+ Assists
Moore leads the team in assists and assist percentage. He has not broken the five-dime mark since Duke’s first game in the tournament, but with this pace and his recent lacking performance, I think he can show up in a big way here.
Paolo Banchero 7+ Rebounds
Brady Manek 4+ 3-Pointers
I won't lie to you and say I know for sure, but I can't think of anyone who has been better in the tournament from beyond the arc than Manek.
He has made more than six 3-pointers in every tournament game, and I think that's a trend that can continue here.
Odds: +10000 (0.25 Units to Win 25 Units)
