Duke Star Cooper Flagg's Ankle Injury Impacts March Madness Odds
Cooper Flagg, Duke's star freshman and projected #1 NBA draft pick, suffered a severe ankle injury during the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech on Thursday. The incident occurred late in the first half, limiting Flagg to just two points in 15 minutes of play, though Duke still managed to secure a 78-70 victory.
NBA player falls during game
The severity of the injury was evident as Flagg needed assistance leaving the court and was later seen being transported in a wheelchair through the Spectrum Center corridors in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cooper Flagg exited the game and was helped to the locker room after appearing to injure his left ankle in the first half against Georgia Tech. pic.twitter.com/EiUslVt0ZM
Cooper Flagg left the game in a wheelchairHoping he's okay pic.twitter.com/lmC5GXVm6U
The injury's impact was immediately reflected in March Madness betting odds. Duke, previously the favorite at +328, temporarily disappeared from sportsbooks before returning with diminished odds. DraftKings now lists Auburn as the tournament favorite at +350, with Duke falling to second at +360.
Current March Madness Title Odds (as of March 13, 2:18 pm ET):
- Auburn: +350 (favorite)
- Duke: +360
- Houston: +700
- Florida: +700
Duke's ACC Tournament futures have been removed from major sportsbooks pending an update on Flagg's condition. If the injury proves serious enough to affect Flagg's NCAA Tournament availability, Duke's championship odds are expected to drop further.