The top-seeded Florida Gators are a popular pick to win the National Championship this season. However, to do so, they'll have to take down two-time defending national champion UConn. I'm looking at All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. to lead the way.
John Calipari and Arkansas advanced to the Sweet 16 with an upset victory over St. John's yesterday. Kentucky will look to join its former head coach in the Sweet 16, but it'll need a lot of points to knock off Illinois. Expect Mark Pope to call Koby Brea's number early and often.
Another potential high-scoring game on the day may be Colorado State vs. Maryland. I'll be backing CSU's do-it-all wing Nique Clifford to bounce back from a rough shooting performance.
Read on for my NCAA Tournament player props for Sunday, March 23.
NCAA Tournament Player Props — 3/23
- Walter Clayton Jr. Over 17.5 Points (+100, Fanatics)
- Koby Brea Over 12.5 Points (-120, Fanatics)
- Nique Clifford Over 19.5 Points (-105, Fanatics)
Florida Player Prop: Walter Clayton Jr. Over 17.5 Points
12:10 p.m., CBS | vs. UConn
Clayton enters today's game averaging 17.7 points per game this season.
However, that number is on the rise. He's scored at least 18 points in six straight games and eight of his last 10 games. He's scored 20 points in five of his last six games, including 23 in 29 minutes of Florida's opening-round romp over Norfolk State.
Over the last three seasons, no team has been better in the NCAA Tournament than the UConn Huskies. However, this year's bunch has struggled to defend dribble penetration. UConn was able to get by Oklahoma on Friday night, but it gave up 20 points to Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears.
Clayton can get to the basket, but he's most dangerous firing away from deep. He's averaged at least two made 3-pointers in each of the last three seasons.
This year, he's averaging three per game while shooting 38% from behind the arc.
If he knocks down three triples again today, that'll put him halfway towards clearing this line and on his way to another 20-point game.
Kentucky Player Prop: Koby Brea Over 12.5 Points
5:15 p.m., CBS | vs. Illinois
Clayton isn't alone among 3-point marksman from the SEC still in this tournament. Brea is sixth in the SEC with 2.6 made 3-pointers per game. He's made two in eight of his last nine games and he'll face an Illinois defense that ranks 157th in 3-point percentage.
Kentucky has needed Brea's 3-point prowess and overall scoring ability of late, as the Wildcats have battled injuries. He's scored 13 points in five of his last eight games. That includes three games with 20 or more points.
Today, I wouldn't expect him to be the only player with 20 points in this matchup. The total is 170.5, and it's the highest of the tournament thus far.
Both teams rank in the top 25 in adjusted tempo. That should lead to transition opportunities for Kentucky and open looks for Brea to get him over this line.
He's also +500 for 20 points on DraftKings.
Colorado State Player Prop: Nique Clifford Over 19.5 Points
7:10 p.m., TBS | vs. Maryland
Clifford entered the NCAA Tournament with four consecutive games with 20 points. That streak came to an end on Friday, as he was limited to 14 points.
Colorado State was still able to advance because Kyan Evans led four double-digit scorers with 23 points. However, I expect Clifford to bounce back tonight.
In Friday's game, Clifford shot 3-for-13 from the field. He averages 13 field goal attempts per game, so his usual volume was there.
However, he shoots nearly 50% from the field, 38% from 3 on five attempts per game and 77% from the foul line on five attempts per outing. The fifth-year senior's efficiency has helped him average a career-best 18.9 points per game this season.
Clifford has scored 24 points or more in five of his last seven games. He's carried the Rams during their 11-game win winning streak, and they'll need another standout performance from him to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Terrapins are going to score, led by Derik Queen, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice. Clifford will tasked with helping Colorado State — a 7.5-point underdog — hang close.
If that leads to another 25-point performance, you can also take him at +260 on Fanatics.
