2025 NCAA Tournament Final: Best Bets, Picks, and Player Props for Championship Monday

This is it — the last college basketball game of the year. And with how both teams played Saturday, we’re in for an incredibly thrilling game tonight. Such an event mandates taking great care with how you bet, which is why we’ve created a “best bets” list for the game.

As always, I recommend line shopping to make sure you get the best odds for your desired market. For the purposes of this post, the odds are available via FanDuel unless otherwise stated.

Houston (-102) vs. Florida (-1.5), o/u 140.5

Over 140.5 Points at -114

This game is going to be all about each team doing what it does best. For Houston, that means playing hard-nosed defense. As for Florida, picking up the pace and scoring a lot of points. Of course, with two such contrasting styles, something is going to have to give.

I don’t know which it will be. But I do know that both teams count on the 3 and will likely do so in this game, even though both play solid perimeter defense. Good as it may be, both teams will hit their share of 3-pointers.

Now, the under is 5-1-1 in Houston’s last seven games. But the push came against a Duke team that makes around 38% of its 3-pointers, and the over hit against a Gonzaga team that shoots roughly 35% from 3-point range — just like Florida.

First-Half Total, Under 65.5 at -104
Second-Half Total, Over 74.5 Points at -113

Houston will dictate the pace of a low-scoring first half. The Gators averaged around 37 points in the first half of their last four games; I think Houston’s defense will have that number closer to 30 points.

The Cougars have averaged just over 31 points per game in the first half of their last four games. They’ll likely have a similar number or less vs. Florida.

As for the second half, Houston picked up its game — but so did its opponents. Florida’s production was a little higher, but not by much. Between the two, they’ll go over 74.5 points for the half.

National Championship Game: Player Props

L.J. Cryer, Over 16.5 Points at -118
Cryer has scored over 16.5 points in three of five tournament games; he scored 15 in barely 20 minutes in Round 1 and had an off night vs. Purdue. But he has been rolling the last two games with 26 and 17 points. He’s hit 45% of his 3-point shots in tournament play.

With the title on the line, we’ll see Cryer bring his A+ game. Florida’s defense is not good enough to stop him.

Emmanuel Sharp, Over 14.5 Points at -102

Sharp averaged 12.8 points per game during the season but picked his game up down the stretch with 17-plus in Big 12 tournament games and 16-plus per game since the Sweet 16. Against Florida’s defense, there’s no reason to think he can’t do the same.

Walter Clayton Jr., Over 2.5 Made 3s at -208
L.J. Cryer, Over 2.5 Made 3s at -117
Same Game Parlay Odds: +183
Odds via Caesars

Both players have been shooting well from behind the arc; Clayton has been shooting almost 50% from 3-point range during the tournament (19-for-39), and Cryer about 45% (19-for-42). They have each been averaging 3.8 made 3s per game.

I’d be surprised if both didn’t hit at least three 3-pointers tonight.

Will Richard, Under 1.5 Assists at -129 (Caesars)

Richard averaged 1.8 assists per game this season and has had multiple in four of five tournament games. He had zero in the win over Auburn, and with L.J. Cryer probably defending him tonight, he will have a hard time getting one — let alone two.