Friday Best Bets: One College Basketball Side, Two NBA Props

Providence Friars guard Jared Bynum (4) talks to an official during the mens college basketball game between the Butler Bulldogs and Providence Friars on February 20, 2022, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.
Image Credit: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Props crew went 3-1 with Thursday’s Best Bets, which pushes things back in positive territory at 29-27-1 on the season. Put another way: All is right in the world.

Something that may have gotten lost in the March Madness hoopla: Our NBA props section is 10-4 overall following three straight winners. The fate of that streak falls on Jordan Poole’s shooting arm — we’re hoping the Golden State Warriors’ guard continues to do his best Stephen Curry impression with the 3-point king sidelined with a foot injury.

You better believe we have a Sweet 16 pick as well! The Providence Friars’ mascot isn’t going to win any beauty pageants (seriously, look at this thing), but we like its team to keep things close against Kansas.

We finish things off with BetPrep’s Prop of the Day, which now comes in video form courtesy of Jena Garcia. (You can now subscribe to “BetProps” on Instagram and TikTok to get the Prop of the Day and other betting content).

With that, let’s jump into Friday’s Best Bets!

Best Bets Track Record

Thursday: 3-1
Year-To-Date: 29-27-1

Bostonian vs. The Book: 8-9-1
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 7-11
NBA Props: 10-4
NHL Props: 4-3

College Basketball Side: Providence Friars Vs. Kansas Jayhawks

Head Coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars congratulates his team following their 79-51 victory against the Richmond Spiders during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at the KeyBank Center on March 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York.
Image Credit: Bill Wippert/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

The bet: Providence +7 (vs. Kansas)
The odds: -110
Where to bet: Caesars Sportsbook
From: Matt Perrault via The Bostonian Vs. The Book Podcast

The Bostonian vs. The Book was able to right the Best Bet ship after Villanova covered against Michigan in Thursday’s Sweet 16 action.

For Friday, podcast host Matt Perrault is rolling with another Big East squad in March Madness. It’s the Providence Friars, who are listed as 7-point underdogs against Midwest Region No. 1 seed Kansas.

Here’s what Perrault had to say about this Friday Best Bets selection: “Providence has to rebound the basketball. It’s not the size. It’s just the athletic ability. I believe [the Friars] can slow down Kansas in transition, but they have to rebound to keep this one close.”

Dave Sharapan, co-host of the podcast, agrees with the decision to roll with the Friars.

“Is this that big of a physical mismatch for Providence?” Sharapan asked. “I don’t think it is.”

If the Friars pull off this upset tonight, all of the No. 1 seeds will be eliminated from the tournament … and we’re not even in to the Elite Eight yet! The Bostonian vs. The Book crew stopped short of calling for the outright upset, but they believe Providence can keep this one close.

Looking to tail this best bet? You can bet Providence at +7 at -110 juice at Caesars.

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Perrault listed three other bets he likes during Friday’s Bostonian vs. The Book podcast — all in Sweet 16 action. He even posted two picks for the Elite Eight games on Saturday. You can listen to the replay on Youtube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

NBA Prop: Golden State – G Jordan Poole

Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 12, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Image Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The bet: Over 23.5 points (at Atlanta)
The odds: -105
Where to bet: DraftKings Sportsbook
From: Spencer Limbach via Friday NBA Props

Stephen Curry will miss his fourth straight contest, which means it’s up to Poole to do his best impression of the two-time MVP. He has been pretty good in that role, scoring 26, 28 and 30 points in Golden State’s last three games sans Curry. Poole even poured in 29 points against Boston on March 16, when Curry departed with a foot injury after just 13 minutes.

In fact, including the Celtics contest, Poole has scored 24-plus points in each of the last six games Curry has missed, averaging 29.3 ppg per outing.

Can Poole keep that momentum in Atlanta tonight? It’s certainly possible, especially against a Hawks team that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency to opposing backcourt players.

And at minimal -105 juice, this is a solid value play.

NBA Prop: Utah Jazz – PG Mike Conley

Mike Conley #11 of the Utah Jazz in action against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on October 31, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jazz defeated the Bucks 107-95
Image Credit: John Fisher/Getty Images

The bet: Under 14.5 points
The odds: -120
Where to bet: FanDuel Sportsbook
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com

The BetPrep crew got back on track by correctly picking Rui Hachimura Under 14.5 points on Thursday. So what are they doing for an encore? Picking another Under!

This time it’s Utah guard Mike Conley Under 14.5 points. Conley and the Jazz face the Hornets in Charlotte tonight.

Jena Garcia checks in with the rationale for this BetPrep Best Bet. Check out the video, then subscribe to BetProps on Instagram and TikTok.

@betprops

Props.com, Prop of the day | March 25th! Another under play! #playerprops #propbetting #sportsbettingtiktok #bettingtiktok #fyp #AEMembersAlways #DeserveADrPepperDuet #Jena #sports

♬ original sound – BetProps

You can find Conley Under 14.5 points (-120) at FanDuel Sportsbook.