Best Player Props for March Madness First Four – Yesufu’s Time to Shine
- The NCAA Tournament’s First Four this year consists of two No. 16 seed matchups and a pair of No. 11 seed contests
- Among the teams in action are perennial Big Dance participants Michigan State and UCLA
- Get our full odds, previews, and two of your best bets below
Thursday, March 18 brings a quartet of intriguing First Four games on the slate. The 2021 NCAA Tournament is holding its annual “soft opening” the day the tourney typically begins in earnest this season due to additional testing protocols spurred by the pandemic. So, instead of two matchups Tuesday followed by two more Wednesday, we get four in one day — with First Round and Round of 32 outings being contested Friday through Monday.
Two No. 16 seed games will be played, with the respective winners of Texas Southern/Mount St. Mary’s getting Michigan and the Appalachian State/Norfolk State victor facing Gonzaga. Meantime, a pair of No. 11 seed games — with the winner of Drake/Wichita State getting USC and the UCLA/Michigan State victor getting BYU — are also set for tip.
It’s those two games that feature plenty of player props offering a few enticing bets to consider. For more information on the Big Dance, check out the Final Four odds.
First Four Player Props and Odds
| Drake vs Wichita State | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanquan Hemphill (Drake) | 9.5 (O -102 | U -124) | Off | Off | Off |
| Garrett Sturtz (Drake) | 8.5 (O -102 | U -122) | Off | Off | Off |
| DJ Wilkins (Drake) | 12.5 (O -102 | U -122) | Off | 3.5 (O +130 | U -166) | 2.5 (O +144 | U -182) |
| Joseph Yesufu (Drake) | 16.5 (O -110 | U -114) | Off | Off | 1.5 (O -128 | U +100) |
| Morris Udeze (Wichita State) | 10.5 (O -114 | U -110) | 5.5 (O -132 | U +104) | Off | Off |
| Alterique Gilbert (Wichita State) | 10.5 (O -102 | U -122) | 2.5 (O -118 | U -106) | 4.5 (O +116 | U -145) | 1.5 (O -104 | U -120) |
| Dexter Dennis (Wichita State) | 9.5 (O -104 | U -120) | 4.5 (O -106 | U -120) | Off | 1.5 (O -124 | U -102) |
| Tyson Etienne (Wichita State) | 16.5 (O -120 | U -104) | 3.5 (O -112 | U -112) | 2.5 (O -132 | U +106) | 2.5 (O -140 | U +112) |
| UCLA vs Michigan State | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three Pointers Made |
| Cody Riley (UCLA) | 10.5 (O -122 | U -102) | 5.5 (O -102 | U -124) | Off | Off |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA) | 10.5 (O -104 | U -120) | 5.5 (O -122 | U -102) | 1.5 (O +124 | U -156) | 0.5 (O -158 | U +126) |
| Jules Bernard (UCLA) | 11.5 (O -138 | U +110) | 4.5 (O -140 | U +112) | 1.5 (O -145 | U +116) | 1.5 (O +128 | U -164) |
| Johnny Juzang (UCLA) | 14.5 (O -122 | U -102) | 4.5 (O +118 | U -148) | 1.5 (O -135 | U +108) | 1.5 (O -166 | U +132) |
| Tyger Campbell (UCLA) | 9.5 (O -116 | U -108) | 1.5 (O -182 | U +144) | 4.5 (O -150 | U +120) | 0.5 (O +106 | U -132) |
| Aaron Henry (Michigan State) | 16.5 (O -118 | U -106) | 5.5 (O -116 | U -110) | 2.5 (O -152 | U +120 | 0.5 (O -205 | U +162) |
| Gabe Brown (Michigan State) | 6.5 (O +100 | U -124) | Off | Off | Off |
| Joey Hauser (Michigan State) | 8.5 (O +114 | U -142) | 3.5 (O -128 | U +100) | Off | 0.5 (O -220 | U +172) |
| Joshua Langford (Michigan State) | 10.5 (O -132 | U +106) | 4.5 (O +132 | U -166) | 1.5 (O +108 | U -135) | 1.5 (O +144 | U -184) |
| Rocket Watts (Michigan State) | 8.5 (O -106 | U -118) | Off | 5.5 (O +104 | U -128 | Off |
Odds taken March 17 at FanDuel.
I Got (Yesuf)U, Babe
The Bulldogs-Shockers matchup should be a relatively low-scoring affair. Both teams favor a grind-it-out style, with Wichita State relying on decent three point shooting and doing just enough on the boards to be successful. Meantime, the Bulldogs will get you steals, boards and efficient possessions. That’s where Drake sophomore guard Joseph Yesufu comes in.
JOSEPH YESUFU FOR THE WIN!@DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/2iSNVrli7m
— MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) March 6, 2021
Yesufu has really stepped up late in the season, netting at least 20 points in five out of his last seven games — including a pair of 30-plus outings. The Chicagoland native is averaging 12.1 points per game on 45% shooting for the season, but has been a different player over the last month. With his over/under prop at only 16.5, the over seems like a very safe play in the spot.
For aggressive bettors, the over on Yesufu’s three-point acumen is worth a look as well. Going back to that 77-69 victory over Northern Iowa on Feb. 17, the 6-foot guard has been unconscious from distance. He’s converted at least two three-pointers in five of the seven games since, hitting at least four from beyond the arc in four of those outings.
This may not be an up-and-down affair, but bet on Yesufu to get his.
The pick: Joseph Yesufu O 16.5 points (-110)
Battle-Tested
Michigan State caught its stride late in the season. There were a pair of losses to Maryland, but this is a Spartan team that saw more than its fair share of big men in an historically-good Big Ten — and performed well against them. That includes knocking off Hunter Dickinson and tourney No. 1 seed Michigan 70-64 in the regular season finale.
No disrespect to UCLA, but every single team (except for Ohio State at No. 79) in the Big Ten had a defensive rating better than or equal to No. 51 in the nation. The Bruins have a defensive rating of No. 86. Facing a defense that is as comparatively porous might feel like a walk in the park for Sparty.
Thursday night has an interesting matchup as @UCLAMBB meets @MSU_Basketball. The Bruins lost their last four games and have a chance for redemption. I lean to Sparty in a close game. Aaron Henry is the difference maker!
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 17, 2021
Take your pick on any of the Henry props, but this should be a good spot for the Michigan State junior forward. Going against talented — but not great — bigs in Cody Riley and Johnny Juzang, I like the rebounding wager. Henry has gone for at least six boards in four of his last seven outings.
With Michigan State seeking to dominate the paint on both end, controlling the glass will be a big part of the game plan. Look for Henry to be a key factor in that strategy.
The pick: Aaron Henry O 5.5 rebounds (-116)
Blair Johnson is a veteran journalist and seasoned sports content creator. He has been writing and producing content as long as he can remember, with such familiar names as CNN, NFL Media and Yahoo. Blair currently lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.
