At long last, conference championship week is here. Following an exciting day of college basketball on Tuesday, even more schools are set to take the floor tonight. ACC and Big 12 action continues to ramp up, while the Big East, Big 10 and SEC begin the first day of their tournaments. Tip offs are scheduled from 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM, giving hoops fans plenty of games to bet on. Ahead of Wednesday’s action, here are my three favorite college basketball props on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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KeShawn Murphy 8+ rebounds (-135)
Unlike the vast majority of teams playing today, Mississippi State will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs, with a record of 20-11, have emerged as one of the SEC’s better squads. However, a 12th loss would certainly impact the team’s seeding on Selection Sunday. While guard Josh Hubbard has carried an otherwise mediocre offense, that doesn’t mean this group is lacking in contributors. Head coach Chris Jans has recruited a big, physical roster; this season, MSU ranks 46th in rebounds per game (38.1).
If any Bulldogs player has earned the title of ‘co-star’ next to Hubbard, it’s KeShawn Murphy. Despite coming off the bench, he’s currently Mississippi State’s leading rebounder (7.5 RPG) and second-leading scorer (11.6 PPG). The big man should find success on the glass tonight against an undersized LSU front court. This season, opponents have grabbed 37.8 boards per game vs. the Tigers, the highest mark in the conference. The 6’10 Murphy is difficult for most teams to box out, let alone one of the SEC’s worst teams.
Pierre Brooks 2+ assists (-135)
It’s been a disappointing 2024-25 campaign for Butler (13-18, 6-14). However, the Bulldogs enter tonight’s Big East Tournament opener as slight favorites against Providence. To pull off the win, head coach Thad Matta will need his dynamic duo of guards at their best. Jahmyl Telfort (16.2 PPG) and Pierre Brooks (15.2) have accounted for 42.2% of Butler’s points this season. The latter of the two is a score-first player, averaging only 1.9 assists per game. Still, the senior could have plenty of value as a passer on Wednesday.
While Providence plays tough defense, it’s looked vulnerable lately. Over their last three contests, opponents have put up 16.7 assists vs. the Friars. Brooks certainly won’t be mistaken for Chris Paul, but he shouldn’t have much difficulty hitting this line. The guard has recorded two or more dimes in 16 of his 31 outings this season (51.6%). Expect Butler’s second-best player to stay on the court long enough to reach this total.
Matt Cross 2+ three-pointers made (+130)
The ACC Tournament nightcap sees SMU host Syracuse. For the 22-9 Mustangs, it’s been a successful first season in the conference. Still, if the program has any hopes of reaching March Madness, they’ll need to reel off a few victories this week. For that to happen, the team will need its offense firing on all cylinders. Head coach Andy Enfield’s roster is deep, with six different players averaging more than ten points per game; that includes UMass transfer Matt Cross (11.9 PPG).
The forward is a key piece for SMU, due to his ability to score from anywhere on the court. This season, the senior has shot 38.5% on 4.1 attempts from three-point range. That should come in handy on Wednesday against a subpar Syracuse defense. Opposing teams have connected on 34.2% of their attempts from deep against the Orange. Cross has hit two or more shots from beyond the arc in 18 of his 30 appearances this season (60.0%). At plus-money, this is a player prop worth taking.
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