🏀 Best March Madness Player Props Today: Elite Eight Picks & Odds for Saturday (March 28)
It's a quick turnaround after an entertaining Sweet 16, but our college basketball experts have found their best March Madness player props today for both Elite Eight games on Saturday night with six prop bet picks in total. Here's a look at what our experts are betting today as part of our March Madness predictions for every game in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
🏀 Best Iowa vs. Illinois player prop picks (6:09 PM ET, TBS)
| Player | Prop pick | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa | Under 19.5 points (−113) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| David Mirkovic, F, Illinois | Under 8.5 rebounds (−108) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Alvaro Folgueiras, F, Iowa | Over 1.5 made 3-pointers (+154) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Here’s why Phil Wood is fading Bennett Stirtz in a rematch against an Illinois defense that held him to 12 points earlier this season:
“If you read my Iowa vs. Illinois prediction, then you know I expect Illinois’ defense to keep Iowa’s leading scorer under control. Stirtz is averaging 19.7 points per game, but he’s scored 17 or fewer in four of his last five, and he only managed 12 points against Illinois earlier this season. Stirtz shoots 47.7% from the floor, but Illinois is holding opponents to just 40.7% this season. Considering Stirtz was just 5-of-17 in his first game against Illinois, and he’s shooting just 33.3% in the NCAA Tournament, his Under is my favorite prop of the game.”
Wood is also fading David Mirkovic’s inflated rebounding line with his best Iowa vs. Illinois player props while backing a plus-money Alvaro Folgueiras 3-pointer play behind his hot tournament shooting.
🏆️ Who wins Iowa vs. Illinois?
Wood backs the Under as a two-unit play in his Iowa vs. Illinois prediction, projecting a narrow win for the favorites in a slugfest between two of the slowest-paced teams in the country.
🏀 Best Purdue vs. Arizona player prop picks (8:49 PM ET, TBS)
| Player | Prop pick | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan Kharchenkov, F, Arizona | Over 11.5 points (−120) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Oscar Cluff, C, Purdue | Under 19.5 points + reb (−105) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona | Over 0.5 3-pointers made (−110) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Here’s why Mike Spector is backing Ivan Kharchenkov to score in double figures against a Purdue perimeter defense with clear size mismatches:
“One of Purdue’s biggest weaknesses defensively all season is guarding shot-creating wings with size as Braden Smith (6-foot-0) and CJ Cox (6-foot-3) are undersized guards, while Fletcher Loyer (6-foot-5) isn’t the most fleet-footed perimeter defender. That should pave the way for a big day offensively for Ivan Kharchenkov, who has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games while exceeding this projected total in four of those contests. I expect head coach Tommy Lloyd will rely heavily on his wing’s 6-foot-7 frame to take advantage of Purdue’s deficiencies.”
Spector is also fading Oscar Cluff’s points-plus-rebounds combo line based on his struggles against elite length while backing Jaden Bradley to drill at least one 3-pointer in his Purdue vs. Arizona player props, expecting Purdue to pack the paint.
🏆️ Who wins Purdue vs. Arizona?
Spector is betting Purdue +6.5 as a contrarian play in his Purdue vs. Arizona prediction, backing the Boilermakers' size to handle Arizona's star-studded frontcourt and keep pace offensively, too.
🏀 March Madness Elite Eight predictions & previews
See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Iowa vs. Illinois prediction | Iowa vs. Illinois player props |
| Purdue vs. Arizona prediction | Purdue vs. Arizona player props |
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