We have reached the National Championship game for the 2025 NCAA Tournament after an incredible Final Four on Saturday night. L.J. Cryer was fantastic for the Houston Cougars in their big comeback win over the Duke Blue Devils.
This game against the Florida Gators is set to feature some of the best guards in the country, and Cryer is right up there with them.
My top March Madness picks and Florida vs. Houston predictions for Monday, April 7, believe he will be getting some deep shots off again.
LJ Cryer player prop picks
- Best bet
LJ Cryer Over 2.5 threes
(+110 at bet365) - SGP pick
LJ Cryer Over 2.5 threes
LJ Cryer Under 2.5 rebounds
Florida ML
(+800 at bet365)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
LJ Cryer best bet
Over 2.5 threes (+110 at bet365)
LJ Cryer was crucial in the Houston Cougars' massive comeback on Saturday night to upset the Duke Blue Devils. Cryer scored 26 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field. More importantly, he was 6-for-9 from 3-point range, which was tied for the most 3-point makes in a game this season for him.
Duke was one of the better 3-point defenses in the country, allowing only 7.0 makes per game and 31.1% shooting from downtown. That ranked 92nd and 49th in the country, respectively. Now, the Florida Gators have a very similar 3-point defense, ranking 65th and eighth in those two categories.
However, at least one guard has made 3+ threes in each of the last three tournament games against the Gators. Cryer has been letting them fly in the tournament, with at least five attempts in every game while averaging 8.4.
He will need to let them fly to keep up with Florida. As great as the Houston defense is, it will still give up some points against the best of the best offenses. The Gators rank third in scoring and second in KenPom’s offensive efficiency. The other top offenses they faced this season scored 74, 85, 76, and 67 points.
Cryer will not need to match Walter Clayton Jr. shot for shot or point for point, but he will still need to keep up a similar pace to keep the Cougars alive in this matchup. I would expect at least 6-7 attempts from deep, which makes his chances of hitting at least three very good for plus-money odds.
Cash your March Madness ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 15+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
LJ Cryer same-game parlay
LJ Cryer Over 2.5 threes
LJ Cryer Under 2.5 rebounds
Florida moneyline
I know the last two games have shown differently than usual with Cryer grabbing 12 combined rebounds, but he had 20 total over his previous 10 games. Most guards have struggled to rack up boards against the Gators in this tournament.
Finally, I am going to take the Gators to win the game. Houston needed a near miracle to come back and beat the Blue Devils on Saturday night. While I certainly expect the Cougars to keep this game close and take it down to the wire, the Gators have just been much more clutch than the Blue Devils all season long.
If the Gators use their talent to outscore Houston early, I don't see them blowing it late.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
