National Championship MVP Odds: Will LJ Cryer or Walter Clayton Jr. Win Most Outstanding Player Award?

The National Championship game is set to tip-off between Florida and Houston in San Antonio, Texas on Monday night, meaning we'll see a player from the winning team earn the Most Outstanding Player award. Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. is the betting favorite ahead of tip-off at -105 odds, followed by Houston's LJ Cryer at +130 odds.

Previously, Cooper Flagg was the favorite to win this award at +110 odds. Then, Duke's epic collapse against Houston in the Final Four led to the Cougars pulling off the upset, eliminating Flagg's Blue Devils. Johni Broome, Auburn's best player, was +700 to win the Most Outstanding Player award. Auburn's inability to keep up with Florida late in the 2nd half also removed Broome and his teammates from contention for this award. Flagg and Broome were the top two John Wooden Award betting favorites throughout the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season.

NCAAB handicapper Matt MacKay has updated odds on the Men's NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2025 futures market via DraftKings Sportsbook leading up to Monday night's National Championship matchup between Florida and Houston. Follow Matt's X account for more betting insights and free picks.

Get your first month of oddschecker+ right now for just $0.99. Don't miss out on this March Madness deal!

Florida vs. Houston Date, Time, and Where to Watch

• Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
• Game Time: 8:49 PM ET
• Where to Watch: CBS

Click here for latest Florida vs. Houston Odds

National Championship MVP Odds: Most Outstanding Player

WALTER CLAYTON JR. - FLORIDA (-105) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

Backing Walter Clayton to win the Most Outstanding Player award feels like a strong wager. He's scored 64 points for the Gators across their last two games played, flexing his ability to shoot threes and finish contested shots at the rim.

Without Clayton, Florida would've been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament against UConn in the Round of 32. If the Gators win the National Championship against Houston tonight, Clayton will once again have a profound impact with his electrifying offensive talent.

Bet a full unit on Clayton to win the Most Outstanding Player award at -105 odds.

LJ CRYER - HOUSTON (+130) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

LJ Cryer is Houston's leading scorer, so it makes sense that oddsmakers value him as the second betting favorite in this futures award market at +130. Cryer went 6-9 from three-point range against Duke, scoring over 25 points for the second time in the NCAA Tournament.

He's shot over 40 percent from the field in three of five NCAA Tournament games played. Cryer's defense is just as good and he'll be tasked with guarding Clayton. If he succeeds in limiting Clayton's production, and Houston wins, Cryer will likely win this award, even if he only scores 10-15 points.

I'd bet one more unit on Cryer at +130 odds to win the Most Outstanding Player award. Especially since Houston has a ton of momentum and confidence following their win over Duke in the Final Four.

EMANUEL SHARP - HOUSTON (+1200) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

Emanuel Sharp's clutch three-point shot against Duke in the waning seconds allowed the Cougars to mount a historic comeback over the Blue Devils. Sharp has been decent in the NCAA Tournament, draining seven three-pointers combined against Tennessee and Duke.

He's going to need one more big outing in the National Championship game tonight for Houston to have a chance to beat Florida as an underdog. If Sharp winds up being the primary scorer for the Cougars, similar to Cryer's struggles against Purdue in the Sweet 16, then he'll have a good opportunity to win the Most Outstanding Player award.

Let's sprinkle a 0.25 unit wager on Sharp to get three units of profit in return if Houston wins the National Championship tonight.

J'WAN ROBERTS - HOUSTON (+1600) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

The biggest enforcer on the court tonight will be J'Wan Roberts. Houston's leading rebounder is tenacious on the glass and has a soft touch around the rim.

At 16-1 odds, I like the value we're landing on Roberts to contend for the Most Outstanding Player award. This only hits if Houston wins, which will be determined by Roberts' production in the paint on both ends of the court.

He's not a prolific scorer but Roberts recorded 12 rebounds against Duke and Purdue in tight games, which made the difference. He also sunk a pair of clutch free throws late in the game against the Blue Devils. He's shot 40 percent or better from the field in four of five NCAA Tournament matchups, only falling under this number against Duke.

Let's sprinkle a 0.10 unit wager on Roberts to win the Most Outstanding Player award at 16-1 to receive 1.6 units of profit with a Cougars victory in the National Championship game.

THOMAS HAUGH - FLORIDA (+4000) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

The biggest longshot I believe to have a realistic chance to win the Most Outstanding Player award in the NCAA Tournament is Thomas Haugh. The Gators' sophomore forward has made clutch shots throughout March Madness, most notably against Texas Tech, and he's a rebounding machine.

Haugh has an opportunity to out-rebound Roberts in the paint, which will go a long way toward helping the Gators win the National Championship game tonight. We'd need Clayton to struggle from the field and Florida to win for this to have a chance of hitting.

Still, at +4000 odds, Haugh is talented enough to win the Most Outstanding Player award. He's scored between 12-20 points in four of five NCAA Tournament games and frequently gets to the foul line.

Haugh has been the most reliable scorer behind Clayton, so if the favorite gets shut down by Houston's defense, expect Haugh to pick up the slack. Let's bet one more 0.10 unit wager on Haugh to win the Most Outstanding Player award to get four units of profit if this scenario plays out in the National Championship game tonight.

Helpful Links

• All College Basketball Odds
• Latest Florida vs Houston Odds
• Best March Madness Promo Codes for NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
• Today's College Basketball Predictions, Props, and Parlays
• NBA Draft Picks to Watch in the National Championship
• March Madness Storylines to Watch: Can Houston Win First Ever National Championship?
• Best Betting Sites for the National Championship Game: Florida vs Houston
• Best College Basketball National Championship Prop Bets for Florida vs. Houston
• Florida vs. Houston Same-Game Parlay: Can Will Richard, Walter Clayton Jr. Deliver in National Championship?
• Florida vs. Houston Pick: Expert Prediction, Latest Odds for Gators vs. Cougars in National Championship
• Florida vs. Houston Prop Picks: Will Alijah Martin, Emanuel Sharp Struggle in National Championship?