Zach Edey prop bets: Picks, analysis for national championship game vs. UConn

Zach Edey is one win away from the ultimate redemption arc.

After bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round last season as a No. 1 seed, the Boilermakers have now reached the national championship game for the first time since 1969.

Edey has been the biggest reason why. He’s averaged 24.9 points and 12.2 rebounds per game so far this season and is widely expected to win the Wooden Award for the second straight year. However, he will have a tough matchup in the national championship game against a UConn defense that ranks 4th nationally in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.

Here’s a breakdown of a few Edey prop bets for the national championship game:

Zach Edey points prop

Where to bet the over: FanDuel | 22.5 points | -128

Where to bet the under: ESPN BET | 24.5 points | -130

There doesn’t seem to be a consensus line on Edey’s scoring total for this game. The 7-foot-4 big man is one of the most efficient post scorers in the game and is averaging 28 points per night during the NCAA Tournament. But he’s going up against one of the best defensive bigs in the country in Donovan Clingan, which is the reason for the deflated total. It’s certainly possible that Clingan’s elite rim protection will be able to tamper Edey’s offense down enough to keep him in-check. But with how much Edey gets to the foul line, how many minutes he plays and how skilled his, I think he gets over FanDuel’s line of 22.5 points. It’s also worth noting that Edey will likely have a good chunk of playing time without Clingan on the floor. Clingan hasn’t played 30+ minutes in a game since Dec. 1 and has only done it twice all season.

PICK: Zach Edey over 22.5 points

Zach Edey rebounds prop

Where to bet the over: FanDuel | 12.5 rebounds | +100

Where to bet the under: DraftKings | 12.5 rebounds -110

UConn is a good rebounding team, but not as good as Edey and the Boilermakers. The Huskies’ weakness on the glass is on the defensive side, where they rank 76th nationally entering this game. When Clingan is off the court, UConn does not have a standout rebounder — backup center Samson Johnson has a defensive rebounding rate of just 11.8% this year. There were 16 games this season in-which Edey played at least 35 minutes. In those 16 contests, he got to at least 13 rebounds in 9 of them. I like the over at even odds at FanDuel.

PICK: Zach Edey over 12.5 rebounds

Zach Edey assists prop

Where to bet the over: ESPN BET | 1.5 assists | -165

Where to bet the under: BetMGM | 1.5 assists | +130

The over is an expensive option here with -165 juice, but it’s a pretty sensible choice. Edey loves to pass the ball to shooters on the perimeter and regularly had multi-assist games this season. He’s recorded at least 2 assists in 25 of 38 contests this year. Purdue is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country and might be looking to increase its volume of attempts from long range given that Clingan will be protecting the rim. I’m happy to lay the -165 in this spot.

PICK: Zach Edey over 1.5 assists