The Elite Eight continues with a pair of Sunday matinees featuring the South and Midwest Finals. The top two seeds remain in the Midwest Region, with the #1 Purdue Boilermakers taking on the #2 Tennessee Volunteers. Underdogs reigned supreme in the South, however, as the #4 Duke Blue Devils rekindled a familiar rivalry against the #11 North Carolina State Wolfpack. Irrespective of allegiances, Sunday is must-see TV for even the most casual of college basketball enthusiasts.
This article will discuss 2-5 of my favorite pick’ems from DFS sites like PrizePicks. Check out our PrizePicks referral code for more details.
Don’t forget to leverage our simulations tool from our projections team to identify where the biggest edges are.
March Madness PrizePicks Predictions Today
Zach Edey Higher 14 Rebounds + Assists
As we are seeing, nobody can contain Zach Edey. The Boilermakers center has been tormenting opponents all season, somehow amplifying his efforts over the latter part of the campaign. Edey has shone in the NCAA Tournament and should continue his onslaught against the Vols.
Edey’s dominance knows no bounds. The 7’4″ senior has recorded a double-double in all three tournament games, averaging 26.7 points and 16.3 assists. As a result, Edey’s points + rebounds + assists total is set at 37.5, leaving a much more manageable 14 rebounds + assists. That’s our preferred inroad for Sunday’s showdown against Tennessee.
Although the Volunteers managed to out-rebound the Creighton Bluejays in the Sweet Sixteen, that hasn’t been their strength throughout the season. Tennessee gives up an average of 34.8 rebounds per game this season, putting them in the bottom half of NCAA Div. 1 schools.
Edey’s elite play extends well beyond the confines of the big dance. The Canadian has a double-double in 18 of his last 20 games, averaging 13.5 over that stretch. Combined with his 2.4 assists, he has more than enough runway to eclipse 14 rebounds + assists in the Elite Eight.
Michael O’Connell Higher 6.5 Points
NC State has earned the adoration of the country en route to its first Elite Eight appearance since 1986. DJ Burns, DJ Horne, and Mohamed Diarra have earned the lion’s share of the laudation in the tournament, but Michael O’Connell has asserted himself as a distinguished role player without the fanfare. We’re betting he maintains that profile in a crucial showdown against the Blue Devils.
O’Connell came out utterly flat in the opening round. The senior was held scoreless despite playing 37 minutes versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He went 0-for-3 from the field in that contest, ending a five-game double-digit scoring streak. Thankfully, O’Connell picked things back up in the Round of 32, dropping 12 points versus the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and adding eight more in the Sweet Sixteen. More importantly, he’s carrying that momentum into Sunday’s all-ACC clash versus Duke.
The last time O’Connell took to the court against Duke, he had one of his most efficient performances of the season. He shot 5-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from distance, for 12 points. That eliminated Duke from the conference tournament, eventually leading to NC State’s first ACC title since 1987.
O’Connell can score from anywhere, but his best efforts come from beyond the arc. The New York native is shooting 50.0% from distance in the tournament, recording at least a three-pointer in 10 of his last 11. Duke could be preoccupied with some of the other marquee players on the Wolfpack, letting O’Connell settle into another above-average performance against a familiar foe. We’re betting he exceeds 6.5 points in the Elite Eight.
Tyrese Proctor Higher 18.5 Rebounds + Points + Assists
Duke’s always done a fine job of recruiting the top athletes in the country, and Tyrese Proctor definitely fits that mold. The Sydney native has been sensational in his sophomore season and could see his stock rise even higher with another top-end performance on Sunday.
Proctor has contributed in every facet of the game. Through three tournament outings, he’s averaging 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, but we are anticipating growth in his peripheral metrics.
The Blue Devils swingman is operating slightly below normal range in terms of rebounds and assist production. Proctor was up to 3.0 and 3.7, respectively, throughout the regular season and should see his tournament averages climb up to those levels now that some of the nerves have settled.
Arguably, Proctor’s best effort of the season came in the ACC Quarterfinal showdown between these teams a few weeks ago. In that contest, he put up a 10/7/5 stat line while tying a season-high 40 minutes played. A similar effort is expected in the Elite Eight, as Duke tries to move onto the Final Four as -6.5 chalk.
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