Today’s Best NCAAB Player Props: Can Caleb Love Hurt the Syracuse Zone? (Archive)
NCAAB Prop Pick: Caleb Love Under 2.5 Three-Pointers (-129) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 are all in action on a busy Tuesday in college basketball. We take a look at the prop market around the country for some of the top players in the NCAA by taking one game from each conference slate.
The Syracuse zone defense always wreaks having opposing shooters, and North Carolina has plenty of those as the Tar Heels head to the frozen north.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Syracuse Orange
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at JMA Wireless Dome
Don’t Love the Zone
Jim Boeheim’s legendary zone defense at Syracuse has given fool's gold to plenty of top shooters. The defense lures them into thinking they’re wide open, and teams end up missing from outside instead of running the offense against the Orange.
It takes discipline and concentration to beat the Syracuse zone, and that’s something that this year’s Tar Heels have not exhibited consistently. Coach Hubert Davis has ripped his team repeatedly for thinking of “me, not we” too often and ignoring coaching instructions to go off on their own.
No one is more symbolic of that than the team’s most willing shooter, Caleb Love. The junior jacked up 14 three-point attempts in UNC’s lone game against Syracuse last year, while fellow Tar Heels' shooter RJ Davis took 11. In three career games against the Orange, Love has gone Over 2.5 made threes just once.
Love took 36 shots in a game against Alabama earlier this year and has put up at least a dozen shots in each of the last six games. He also had a stretch 2 weeks ago where he missed 12 straight three-point attempts. He’s 3 for his last 22 from three.
Armando Bacot is one of the top rebounding big men in the country and just set the school’s career rebounding mark in the last game. But RJ Davis is the team’s best rebounding guard. And with everyone a little out of place against the zone, with long-shot attempts bouncing in all directions, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to support Bacot on the boards.
The Prop Picks
Following the NCAAB odds, look for Love to go Under the 2.5 three-pointers made, and for Davis to record more than 3.5 rebounds. Bacot, at 12.5 rebounds, seems like a safe bet to go Over based on recent games, but we’re not touching that market due to the uncertainty associated with the zone.
NCAAB Prop Pick: Caleb Love Under 2.5 Three-Pointers (-129) at BetOnline
NCAAB Prop Pick: RJ Davis Over 3.5 Rebounds (-114) at BetOnline
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 - 07:00 PM EST at State Farm Center
Emerging From the Big Ten Pack
Ohio State travels to Illinois with both teams in desperate need of a win. The Buckeyes snapped a five-game losing streak last time out and are currently third from the bottom in the conference standings. Illinois had a four-game winning streak snapped and is in a five-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten at 4-4.
The Buckeyes will need Brice Sensabaugh to stay hot. The freshman forward has averaged 21 ppg over his last six outings and has hit 13 of his last 21 three-point attempts. Illinois has held its last three opponents to 6-of-29, .207 from three, however, and has one of the most efficient defenses in the country.
The Prop Picks
Look for the Illini to keep Sensabaugh in check, at least compared to his recent hot streak. Illinois should be able to slow him down from the outside, and the Illini’s interior defense is nearly as formidable.
For Buckeyes fans looking to bet on this player, you can do it at our top Ohio betting sites.
NCAAB Prop Pick: Brice Sensabaugh Under 19.5 Points (-130) at BetOnline
NCAAB Prop Pick: Brice Sensabaugh Under 2.5 Three-Pointers (-114) at BetOnline
Kansas State Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 - 09:00 PM EST at James H. Hilton Coliseum
Showdown in Ames
The day’s marquee game comes from the Big 12, where Kansas State gets to show off its new No. 5 ranking in the AP poll with a trip to No. 12 Iowa State. First place is at stake as 17-2 K-State leads the league at 7-1 in the conference, while 14-4 Iowa State is a game behind at 6-2.
The Cyclones have lost two of three, however, and senior Caleb Grill, who averages 10.3 ppg and is the team’s best three-point shooter, is doubtful for the game with back problems.
The Prop Picks
Most speculation going into the game has focused on Gabe Kalscheur (12.8 ppg) and Jaren Holmes (12.9 ppg) as the best options to replace Grill’s missing offense, but we’ll go with gib man Osun Osunniyi for your NCAAB picks.
He is Iowa State’s top offensive rebounder, and K-State ranks just 279th in the nation in opponent offensive rebounding percentage.
NCAAB Prop Pick: Osun Osunniyi Over 9.5 Points (-103) at BetOnline
NCAAB Prop Pick: Osun Osunniyi Over 5.5 Rebounds (-118) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.