The Sweet Sixteen is already upon us! After a relatively boring first two rounds due to a lack of upsets, the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight should provide a bit more excitement. There are several awesome matchups that we are looking forward to, and we’re committed to putting our favorite Underdog props together for as many games as possible.
The next game we’re breaking down is the battle between Ole Miss and Michigan State, a game that features a fair amount of star power from both teams. Let’s check out the game odds before getting into our top player props!
Jase Richardson UNDER 14.5 Points
It’s rare for a freshman to be a starter for a college basketball team, but Jase Richardson quickly found himself in the starting rotation for Michigan State this year. His teammates have trusted him all year, and he’s been instrumental in some of their biggest wins of the season.
With that being said, we don’t think he’s quite ready for the spotlight of the Sweet Sixteen, and his inexperience in the Tournament could lead to some missed shots and a lack of confidence early in this game.
He did have 15 points against Bryant in the first round, but struggled against New Mexico State, going just 1-10 from the field and scoring six points. Look for the Spartans to lean on some of their more veteran players to come away with the win, fading Richardson’s point total.
Jaden Akins OVER 12.5 Points
We might be fading Richardson, but we love Jaden Akins’ chances of having at least 13 points in this matchup with Ole Miss. Akins had a great 16-point outing against New Mexico State in the round of 32, shooting an impressive 63.6% from the field.
He’s brimming with confidence at the right time and giving his experience in the Tournament from prior years, he knows what it takes to play well in the biggest moments of his life. Akins shouldn’t have a problem getting to 15+ points in this game, which is why we’re confidently taking the over on his point total in this spot.
Malik Dia OVER .5 Made Three-Pointers
We don’t typically take three-point props, but this one was too juicy to pass up. While Malik Dia is a forward for Ole Miss and spends a lot of time in the paint, he is given the occasional opportunity to sink three-pointers, which he tends to make.
He went 2-2 from beyond the arc against Iowa State in the second round and has made at least one three-pointer in 10 of his past 11 games. If Michigan State leaves him open from deep and doesn’t respect his range, they’ll be sorry, and we’ll be laughing all the way to the bank when he hits the over on this prop.
