March Madness continues this weekend with the start of the Sweet 16. Among the high-profile matchups to watch, hoops fans will need to tune in for Duke vs. Arizona. If the Blue Devils want to reach the Final Four, they’ll need their best players to step up against the Wildcats. That includes freshman Cooper Flagg, a contender for this season’s Wooden Award.
Ahead of Thursday’s March Madness showdown, here is my favorite Cooper Flagg player prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Best Cooper Flagg prop bet for Thursday
On the court, there really isn’t anything Flagg can’t do. The forward leads Duke in points (18.7 PPG), rebounds (7.5 RPG), assists (4.2 APG), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.3). As a shooter, he’s knocked down a respectable 36.3% of his three-point attempts this season. Add it all up, and you have college basketball’s most well-rounded player. Flagg’s varied skillset has led the Blue Devils to a remarkable 33-3 record. However, the jack of all trades can be a tricky player to bet on for that very reason. On any given night, he can prioritize scoring, playmaking or defending for Duke.
If there’s one thing Arizona loves to do, it’s push the pace. Per KenPom, the school has recorded the nation’s 49th-quickest adjusted tempo (70.2). That style of play lends itself to extra possessions for both teams. Still, the Wildcats have only allowed 72.5 points per game (200th). Rather than back Flagg as a scorer, expect the freshman to shine as a passer. AU allows 13.2 assists per game, 174th in the country. In addition, Duke’s leading man has dished out at least six dimes in four of his last five contests.
Flagg’s playmaking is one of his least-heralded attributes. However, the wing is a smart enough player to take advantage of any double-teams. With the way his Blue Devils teammates are shooting the ball, expect a healthy assist total from the Maine Event on Thursday night.
Best Bet: Cooper Flagg 5+ assists (-125)
Want to approach your March Madness Bracket with the same precision as the top 1% of bracket pool winners? Check out what the PoolGenius optimizer has to offer!
