We’re down to our last college basketball game for the 2023-24 season, and it’s a true heavyweight matchup. UConn and Purdue are both 1-seeds in their respective regions, and it’s only fitting that they meet tonight for the National Championship. Underdog Fantasy has plays posted for the last game of the year, and we’ve found a few square numbers to play. Let’s dive into my Underdog Fantasy college basketball national championship picks for April 8.
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Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Picks April 8
Matthew Dewoskin Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Pick Em Record (Est 3/1/2024)
All Pick Em Selections: 54-34-3 (61.3%)
Spicy Multiplier Picks: 3-0 (100%)
Perfect 3-0 Pick Em Entries: 5-24 (+0.8 units)
Zach Edey (Purdue) Higher Than 2.5 Turnovers
Purdue center Zach Edey enters the national championship averaging 2.3 turnovers per game this year. In the tournament games, Edey has averaged 2.6 turnovers per game. He’s cleared 2.5 turnovers in four of his last eight games.
When Zach Edey plays 30 or more minutes, he’s cleared 2.5 turnovers in 13 out of 24 games. Edey is the anchor for the Purdue offense. He’s either backing someone down into the post or looking to find an open shooter on the wing almost every time down the floor.
UConn has one of the best defenses in the country, and they are going to do everything to make Zach Edey’s night as rough as possible. Drawing offensive fouls, lurking in passing lanes, or just good, old-fashioned ‘slapping the ball out of his hands’. UConn is going to hound Edey all night, and there’s a non-zero chance that Edey is out there for a full 40 minutes.
Edey has shown the ability to rack up turnovers against athletic defenses. He just got done getting turned over five times by NC State. Look for his turnovers total to exceed 2.5 in the Natty, and make sure he’s in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball pick’em entry for April 8.
Tristan Newton (Connecticut) Higher Than 6.0 Assists
Connecticut’s Tristan Newton comes into the national championship averaging 6.2 assists per game this year. In the tournament, Newton has kicked it into a higher gear in the tournament and is averaging 7.2 assists per game. Newton has cleared 6.0 assists in five of his last seven games.
The angle here is simple. Purdue is 279th in the country in opponent assists allowed. Opponents average 14.1 assists per game against the Boilermakers. Newton is one of the best distributors in the country, and he should find plenty of opportunities to find open teammates.
Look for Newton to go higher on his assists total in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball pick’em entry for April 8.
Braden Smith (Purdue) Lower Than 10.5 Points
Purdue point guard Braden Smith enters the national championship averaging 12.0 points per game this year. However, Smith has seen his points per game average dip to 8.4 in the NCAA tournament. Smith has only cleared 10.5 points in two of five tournament games and each of his last two.
Connecticut features one of the best perimeter defenses in the nation. They held Terrence Shannon to only eight points and Darrion Trammell to only three. Boo Buie only managed nine points against the Huskies.
Mark Sears and Stephan Swenson both got theirs, but Smith isn’t a prolific shooter. He’s only averaging 8.6 shots per game in the tournament and making about 37% of his shots from the field.
Smith will spend most of the night looking to hook up his teammates instead of getting his own, and you’ll want to go lower on his point totals.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2023-24 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
