The confluence of events is so apropos.
Midafternoon in the United States on Monday, two sizable celestial bodies will intersect in the sky and temporarily turn out the lights across a roughly 115-mile wide area. Later in the day, a pair of behemoths will cross paths in Arizona as 7-footers Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan go toe-to-toe for national championship bragging rights when Purdue collides with UConn.
Suffice it to say, shadow chasers and hoops fans are simultaneously geeked.
[ BetMGM offers: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back | Bet $5 and get $150 in Bonus Bets (North Carolina only) ]
(Sidebar: Sorry to burst your bubble, SEC fans. The setup wasn't analogous with a Tyson Foods-influenced John Calipari reaching totality with Arkansas. Close, but not quite.)
Player prop college markets may be limited, but for bettors who have access and are willing SGP constructors, there are a multitude of ways to massage the offerings.
Our final college basketball bets of the season :(
— Live on the Line (@LiveontheLine) April 8, 2024
Let's pick some winners in the National Championship!@camronsmith | @noisyhuevos | @jaredleesmith pic.twitter.com/u3kvdzZWa9
How am I trying to beat the 'book? Here’s a breakdown of each leg.
Leg 1 — Zach Edey 10+ rebounds. The Shire horse has reached the necessary number in 10 of his last 11 games, averaging a ridiculous 15.4 rebounds per game in the tournament. UConn, shockingly, is only No. 98 nationally since March 1 in defensive rebounding percentage.
Leg 2 — Donovan Clingan 5+ rebounds. His matchup against Edey is giant, pun intended. Clingan will be challenged against a highly skilled and larger big. Still, he has averaged 9.0 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament and has snagged at least five boards in 18 straight games.
Leg 3 — Braden Smith 5+ assists. Purdue’s floor general is worth the salute. UConn is No. 10 in effective field-goal percentage since March 1, but the Boilermakers’ pick-and-roll action is nearly impossible to stop. With that in mind and perimeter ball rotations involved, Smith drops at least five dimes for the 10th straight game.
Leg 4 — Tristen Newton 5+ assists. The Huskies point man is one of the college game’s finest distributors. His orchestral directives and teammate finishes have made him a consistency king in this category. He’s dished five or more assists in eight of his last nine games. On top of that, Purdue is No. 281 in A/FGM defense on the season.
Leg 5 — Fletcher Loyer 1+ three. A sniper from distance, Loyer has shot 50.0% along the arc in this NCAA Tournament and has drilled at least one moneyball in 11 consecutive games. With Clingan manning the post, Loyer’s perimeter stroke will be vital on kickouts from Edey.
Leg 6 — Cam Spencer 1+ three. Yes, the Boilers have surrendered just 29.4% shooting on threes since March 1. However, like Loyer, Spencer is a picture of efficiency from outside. He’s splashed at least one triple in 11 of his last 12 games and has shot 43.5% from distance in this year’s tourney.
If all six legs hit at a delicious +230 odds (built at BetMGM), the eclipse was totally a sign. If that occurs, blast “Black Hole Sun” in celebration.