Wooden Award Odds Update: Can Cooper Flagg Keep Wooden Award Hopes Alive Amid Injury Scare?
The Wooden Award voting remains open through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, so Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome have two more games to make their case. Can Cooper Flagg hold off the surge despite his ankle injury? Matt MacKay gives one final Wooden Award odds update for March Madness.
Matt MacKay
| 6 min
Wooden Award Odds Update: Can Cooper Flagg Keep Wooden Award Hopes Alive Amid Injury Scare?
A lot has changed since the last edition of the John Wooden Award Winner Betting Odds Update article a week ago. Duke's star freshman F, Cooper Flagg, suffered an ankle injury during Duke's first ACC Tournament game against Georgia Tech, sidelining him for the remainder of the Blue Devils' run to become 2025 ACC champions.
Auburn's star F Johni Broome has played through various minor injuries sustained this season. Broome's last three games have all seen the Tigers' senior forward record 23 or more points. Auburn did lose 70-65 to Tennessee during the SEC Semifinal, as Broome finished with 23 points on 69.2 percent shooting, seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
Both teams that Flagg and Broome play for have become No. 1 seeds in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Flagg's current status seems to be positive, with head coach Jon Scheyer indicating that his freshman forward is "full steam ahead" and preparing for Friday's Round of 64 matchup against the winner of American vs. Mount St Marys for the 16 seed in the East Region. Broome and the Tigers will face the winner of Alabama State vs. St. Francis PA in the South Region on Thursday.
NCAAM handicapper Matt MacKay is here to share his analysis on how to place wagers on the latest John Wooden Award futures betting market. Check out Matt's X account for further betting insight, analysis, and free bets.
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Wooden Award Odds
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WOODEN AWARD WINNER Odds
Cooper Flagg (-180)
Now is a great time to re-invest in Cooper Flagg to win the John Wooden Award. He was previously too juiced and virtually unavailable to bet at -525 odds. The ankle injury saw Duke have to propel itself against the ACC without their best player, outlasting Georgia Tech and UNC, before clamping down defensively against Louisville to win the ACC Final.
Flagg's scoring production had ticked down a bit in most of his recent matchups prior to the ankle injury. However, he's such a vital piece of Duke's starting five and it was noted during his absence. The Blue Devils rely on Flagg to finish possessions in the interior and grab rebounds, which is an area he's very consistent.
Flagg has great vision for finding open teammates as well, recording six or more assists in three of his last four games prior to the injury against Georgia Tech. He'll be ready to roll after getting a week to rest and prepare for the Blue Devils' championship aspirations in March Madness.
We're still laying juice at -185 odds but it's a much longer number than where we were at a week ago. I'd lay up to three units on Flagg to win the 2025 John Wooden Award for the nation's most outstanding men's college basketball player.
Johni Broome (+175)
Laying a unit on Johni Broome is a good hedge if you're going hard on Cooper Flagg in the John Wooden Award futures market. Broome has been playing some of his best basketball lately, including a season-high 34 point burst during a 93-91 overtime loss against Alabama in the regular season finale.
Auburn is the 1 seed in the South Region and will have to overcome potential opponents that include No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Texas A&M, No.7 Marquette, and No. 5 Michigan. If Broome continues to put on a clinic in the paint, his odds should shorten from +175.
Flagg is playing in a notably less competitive East Region, with the best potential opponents being No. 4 Arizona, No. 5 Oregon, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 7 Saint Marys, and No. 2 Alabama. If Duke gets bounced before Auburn, Broome's odds to win the John Wooden Award will shorten significantly.
This award depends on how each player's team fares in the March Madness tournament, despite ultimately being about their individual accolades. I'd bet no more than a unit on Broome at +175 odds. It's a far cry from last week's +400 odds, and we'll need him to stay red-hot for Auburn throughout March Madness to wind up beating Flagg for this award.
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