Maine’s very own college basketball phenom Cooper Flagg kind of keeps the sports lights on around here (I live in southern ME). Folks in town speak about him like he’s their neighbor, even though he lived three hours north of us. Not a trip to the barbershop goes by without someone asking me how I feel about Duke’s chances with our boy Flagg at the helm. I often get asked if it’s ever wise or, alternatively, a best bet of mine to hit the under on Cooper Flagg props. And tonight’s his final home game as a Duke Blue Devil. They take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons with all eyes on the ACC Conference tournament next week.
As such, it felt like I should be adding to the conversation for what’s likely to be his final game in front of the Cameron Crazies. I’ve yet to write about the pride of my great state this season—heresy!—but he’s got one of the only good games for a rather barren Monday night college basketball slate.
Did we mention: Coach K might be there?
Best Cooper Flagg prop bets for Duke vs. Wake Forest tonight
Cooper Flagg 25+ points (+215)
If we’re in it for the points, you best believe we’re buying up this young man’s ladder tonight. Senior Night is, of course, all about the seniors, but it’s not lost on anyone that this 26-3 Duke team is where it is because of the Wooden-Award-hopeful, future lottery pick from Maine.
There’s risk, here. The last time Flagg put up 25+ was his 27 on February 12th against call, and he’s only crossed that threshold three other times this season. The four-point jump between his 21+ (-120) number and 25+ (+215) reflects the pedigree in the juice. You’re paying up, here, expecting Flagg to play up.
Magical nights have a way of bending toward the narrative, and tonight’s narrative is Flagg, despite Duke’s impressive senior building blocks. It’s as big a moment as he’s had since Duke vs. UNC, in which he scored 21 (his line for tonight on DraftKings Sportsbook.). Last time he played Wake Forest, he had 24 points. But that was just any old day.
Cooper Flagg 5+ assists (-105)
We said it above: Senior Night is all about the seniors. And Flagg can dish it; he averages 4.1 assists per game. The market’s got it at five because it’s protecting itself against a night in which Flagg throws up 15 points with flourishes on all of them, but otherwise plays for dimes and rebounds given his eye injury. Young guys are going to be looking to get seniors the ball, even if that young guy is Cooper Flagg.
This’d be my best and favorite Flagg bet of the night, if my most conservative. I doubt any lingering issues with the eye injury he suffered against Florida State this past weekend would affect his passing. His shooting, though? Only perhaps. He played through it in that game, and there’s absolutely zero chance he misses this one.
Last time Flagg played the Demon Deacons, he had six assists. Flagg has five-or-more assists in three of his last five games. No matter how many points he scores, he’ll want to make sure he’s got regulation reps in which he’s dishing it well in front of a raucous home crowd, especially with conference championship week just around the corner.
