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Four of the nation's powerhouse programs will meet in Chicago for the 16th annual Champions Classic. Kansas and Duke are both 9-6 in the event while Michigan State and Kentucky are 6-9.
For this year's installment, three players I am looking at are John Blackwell, Patrick Ngongba II and Milan Momcilovic.
Read on for my college basketball player props for the Champions Classic on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
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Champions Classic Player Props – Tuesday, Nov. 10
- John Blackwell 15+ Points (-195)
- Patrick Ngongba II 6+ Rebounds (-310)
- Milan Momcilovic Over 2.5 3-Pointers Made (-145)
Parlay Odds: +222 (DraftKings)
Blackwell may be playing in just his third game as a Blue Devil, but he is very familiar with Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
At Wisconsin, Blackwell faced the Spartans five times over the last three years and three times as a starter. In the three starts, he scored 14 points in every game and 16 points in two of the three. He has 18.7 points per game over his last three games against the Spartans, including 24 last February.
The thing is, he got there despite not shooting particularly well. In those three meetings, he shot 38.7% from the field and 23% from beyond the arc. Similarly, he has gotten off to a slow start in Durham, as he has scored 18 points in total and shot 40% from the field in his first two games this season.
However, with two blowouts to start the season, the Blue Devils have not needed Blackwell for heavy minutes, and he did score 15 points in his last game.
Additionally, he has averaged 17.4 points per game on 44/36/84 shooting splits over the last two seasons.
If he hits that average on Tuesday, he will score 15 points.
Pick: John Blackwell 15+ Points (-195)
After playing sparingly as a freshman, Ngongba averaged 10 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21 minutes per game last season.
This season, he is averaging 19 points and eight rebounds through his first two games. With seven rebounds against Army and nine rebounds against Coastal Carolina, he has cleared this line in each of his first two games.
Ngongba also had six rebounds in 26 minutes against the Spartans last season. That is despite former teammates Cameron Boozer and Nik Khamenia combining for 24 of the Blue Devils' 44 rebounds.
Duke's size advantage is not as massive this time around, as the Spartans added Anton Bonke in the transfer portal. However, Ngongba may still be in line to clear this line.
The Blue Devils held the Spartans to 60 points last season and enter this matchup second in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Spartans' team total is just 70.5 on Tuesday, so several misses by them could be collected by Ngongba.
Pick: Patrick Ngongba II 6+ Rebounds (-310)
Like Blackwell, Momcilovic will face a familiar opponent when his Wildcats take on the Jayhawks in the nightcap.
While at Iowa State, Momcilovic faced Kansas three times over the last three years and he knocked down nine 3-pointers. He knocked down at least three in two of the three meetings and four against them last season.
The senior transferred to Kentucky as arguably the country's best shooter. He has shot 42.8% from 3 for his career and led the nation at 48.7% from 3 last season.
This season, he is already up to his usual tricks in Lexington. In his Kentucky debut, Momcilovic knocked down six triples on nine attempts and finished with 24 points. He added another against James Madison, albeit in a rough shooting night.
Still, he is shooting 41.2% from downtown on 8.5 attempts per game.
If he gets up seven attempts on Tuesday, I feel good about his chances of clearing this line.
Pick: Milan Momcilovic Over 2.5 3-Pointers Made (-145)
Champions Classic Player Props – Tuesday, Nov. 10
- John Blackwell 15+ Points (-195)
- Patrick Ngongba II 6+ Rebounds (-310)
- Milan Momcilovic Over 2.5 3-Pointers Made (-145)
Parlay Odds: +222 (DraftKings)
