Big Men on Campus: Burns, Edey Top Prop Picks for NC State-Purdue
When looking at the player prop options, there is a temptation to make it all about the intriguing showdown between post players DJ Burns Jr. and Zach Edey. However, there are other options to consider by the college basketball betting lines in the first of the two national semifinals when Purdue faces a surprising North Carolina State team.

Purdue and North Carolina State have met just once in the last nine seasons, with the Boilermakers winning 82-72 in overtime as a 15-point favorite at Barclays Center on Dec. 12, 2021. The teams have never met in the NCAA Tournament.
When looking at college basketball futures odds, Purdue is second at +200 in the odds to win March Madness with North Carolina State tied for third at +1600 in the championship odds.
Purdue meets up with North Carolina State at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The game will be televised on TBS.
North Carolina State’s DJ Burns Jr. to have 14+ Points (-130)
It will be fun to watch how the 6-foot-9, 275-pound DJ Burns goes to work against Purdue’s 7-foot-4 National Player of the Year front-runner Zach Edey.
Burns was unstoppable against Duke as he was 13 of 19 from the field en route to 29 points.
It was also his sixth career game against the Blue Devils.
Don’t expect another 29-point effort when making Final Four predictions but it is worth considering the -130 odds for Burns to have at least 14 points. He’s +114 to score at least 16 points.
Purdue’s Zach Edey To Go Over 27.5 Points (-114)
Edey is saving his best for last as he is averaging 30 points and shooting 65.6 percent from the field in the NCAA Tournament. He has also gone to the foul line 54 times in the four March Madness games.
NC State’s D.J. Burns has Purdue star Zach Edey’s full attention and respect https://t.co/CkcZSyav0S
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 5, 2024
It can be debated whether those numbers are inflated because of the friendly whistle that Edey gets. However, they don’t ask how, they ask how many. Purdue’s teammates look for the unstoppable low-post presence early and often and it will be no different in this game.
The BetUS sportsbook has the over/under on points for Edey at 27.5 and we will Edey to go over.
Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer to have 2+ 3-pointers (+112)
Shooting in an NFL football stadium can impact the 3-point shooters since it is a different vantage point from a typical game.
However, Purdue’s shooters will continue to shoot the open looks caused by Edey’s presence in the post.
Loyer is shooting 46% from 3-point range during the NCAA tournament and the +112 odds for Loyer to have at least two 3-pointers are rather enticing when looking at some March Madness best bets.
North Carolina State’s DJ Horne to have 19+ Points (+108)
It might be tough for North Carolina State to score in the lane against Edey. That could leave it up to senior guard DJ Horne to go back to work.
Horne has 39 points in the last two games, and it is hard to forget his 29-point effort in a must-win game against North Carolina in the ACC tournament title game.
Horne could be a solid option at +108 to have at least 19 points against Purdue.
Purdue’s Braden Smith to have 8+ Assists (-107)
For those wondering why Purdue is in the Final Four for the first time since 1980 after being upset in the first round of the 2023 tournament with many of the same key players, take a look at sophomore Braden Smith.
He had solid numbers with 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a freshman. However, he is putting up 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists this season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Smith has 38 assists and eight turnovers. That is enough to go with Smith to have at least eight assists against NC State as a March Madness player prop option.
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Questions of the Day
Which player delivered on prop bets in the regional finals?
DJ Burns Jr. had 29 points and DJ Horne added 20 points as North Carolina State upset ACC rival Duke 76-64 to advance to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 1983. Zach Edey had 40 points and 16 rebounds to deliver on multiple props against Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final.
What are the game odds for the semifinal matchup between North Carolina State and Purdue?
Purdue is listed by our sportsbook as the nine-point favorite with -420 odds to win the game outright. The moneyline is at +330 for North Carolina State with the total set at 146 ½ points.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.