March Madness continues on Friday with four Sweet 16 matchups on deck. On a loaded college basketball slate, Auburn vs. Michigan could be the game of the night. The Tigers enter this tournament as the overall number one seed. However, they’ll face a difficult challenge against the Big Ten champion Wolverines. UM’s hopes of reaching the Elite 8 hinge on the play of star center Vlad Goldin.
Ahead of Friday’s March Madness showdown, here is my favorite Vlad Goldin NCAA Tournament player prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
To follow all of my college basketball picks, along with our other DK Network analysts, join the DKN Betting Group on DraftKings Sportsbook (it’s free!).
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!
Best Vlad Goldin player prop bet for Friday
Head coach Dusty May has put together a formidable roster during his first season in Ann Arbor. Key to Michigan’s success is Vlad Goldin; the Florida Atlantic transfer leads the team in points (16.8 PPG) this season. In addition, the senior has recorded 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Together with fellow center Danny Wolf, Goldin gives the Wolverines a massive advantage inside the paint against most squads.
Auburn isn’t like most other teams. The Tigers employ one of college basketball’s best players, Johni Broome. The big man is a frontrunner for this season’s Wooden Award, averaging 18.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He’s supported by a terrific supporting cast, including elite defender Dylan Cardwell at center. On paper, this matchup is shaping up to be a battle of strength on strength down low.
A veteran team such as the Tigers will likely hone in on stopping Michigan’s top offensive threat. Still, we saw Goldin put together a 23-point, 12-rebound performance vs. Texas A&M last Saturday. The Aggies ranked eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom; Auburn is 11th. Both Cardwell and Broome are giants, but they are slightly undersized compared to seven-footers Goldin and Wolf.
Michigan’s best player has recorded at least eight rebounds in four of his previous five appearances. In addition, he’s proven he can dominate against some of the nation’s stingiest defensive units. Auburn’s front court is elite, but I’m expecting a solid day on the glass for Goldin.
Best Bet: Vlad Goldin 8+ rebounds (-115)
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!
