This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
Top Players:
Yoeli Childs ($11,700 DK, $9,300 FD): This slate appears to start and stop at Childs, who seems fairly priced given his incredible form. He's averaging 23.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a tick over a steal and a block nightly. He's fallen below that scoring number just three times in nine games, and has topped 44 FD points, and 40.5 DK points seven times. Mix in that BYU has the highest implied point total across both slates, and Utah's 180th position in defensive efficiency, and Childs is a near must own in both cash and GPP formats.
Myles Powell ($8,400 DK, $8,300 FD): Powell is the fourth highest priced option at FanDuel, and eighth at DraftKings, where he may be a better fit. He's far from consistent, but that's a recurring trend across the Pirates lineup, which makes Powell the preferred option by default. I personally like the Hall to go above their implied total of 69.8, and that's largely going to come on the back of a guard who has a 60.75 DK/57.4 FD point game under his belt already.
Cassius Winston ($9,600 DK, $8,100 FD): Checking in as the third highest priced option at DK, Winston looks like a punt there given the road matchup at Florida, who ranks sixth in defensive efficiency. But he's handing out assists on the regular, giving at least six in six straight and in all but one to date. Pairing Winston and Childs for all formats on FD looks like a sound pairing, and Winston can feature in cash lineups across sites given his seemingly stable floor.
Juwan Morgan ($8,800 DK, $8,100 FD): Morgan played 26 minutes through a bone bruise in the Hoosiers' last outing, somewhat unsuccessfully, putting up 19/18.2 fantasy points, respectively. Romeo Langford ($8,100/$8,200) is the far safer option, but this game has a nice total and Morgan should see more run assuming he's healthy. He's turned in some monster performances during the season's first two weeks, and could be an intriguing GPP target with lower ownership.
Games/Teams to Target:
Utah vs. BYU (-3), o/u 158, 2:00 p.m. et <br> With the depth on both sites Saturday, there's an opportunity to punt Childs' safety net here and spread your dollars a bit more evenly by targeting secondary options here. T.J. Haws ($8,300/$7,100) is the most obvious pivot, but looking at some Utes seems prudent with their ninth-ranked 76.6 implied total. My personal favorite is Sedrick Barefield ($6,000/$5,400) who has played at least 25 minutes in all but one outing, but Both Gach ($4,700/$4,800) gets stable run as well. And Cougars' Nick Emery ($5,000 both sites) is a great tournament play given his previous seasons' success and low tag.
Wichita State vs. Oklahoma (-6.5), o/u 149.5, 12:00 p.m. et
OU's Brady Manek (/$7,200$7,400) has found an offensive rhythm to compliment his rebounding prowess. And the Shockers rebuilding side provides plenty of choices, of which guard Dexter Dennis ($4,900/$5,200) rates highly amongst, having played 26 or minutes in three straight, scoring 35 and grabbing 17 boards in the process.
UNLV @ Illinois (-8.5), o/u 149, 2:00 p.m. et (FD Only)
This game has the highest total for games exclusively featured on Fan Duel, and as such, there's a plethora of sub 7k options. Illini G Trent Frazier ($6,900) leads the way, having posted at least 20.8 points in all but one outing. Rebel guard Kris Clyburn ($5,800) has a very stable floor, playing at least 21 minutes nightly while putting up at least 15.6 fantasy points nightly. You can truthfully go down the Rebel roster and make a case for most, even Noah Robinson ($4,800) who produces less than you'd expect, but has played at least 20 minutes in every game, resulting in two 20 point outings.
Games/Teams to Avoid:
Xavier @ Cincinnati (-8), o/u 135.5, 2:00 p.m. et
Vegas, and KenPom, know something the basic stats don't tell us. Cincy is averaging 74.6 points, Xavier 79.3, so naturally we have a total around 135. This rivalry is historically a physical grind. Neither side offers star power, and quite honestly, both rosters look like the should get lost in the shuffle during this large slate.
Florida vs. Michigan State (-1), o/u 139.5, 12:00 p.m. et
Florida's leading scorer, KeVaughn Allen ($6,200 DK, $7,300 FD), averages 10.0 points. Seven Spartans play at least 20 minutes, and both teams are top 25 in defensive efficiency. Avoiding the deep Gators like the plague is prudent, and while we hit on MSU's Winston above, there's plenty of volatility involved here. Maybe the game goes to OT and there's extra exposure, but otherwise, I prefer secondary options elsewhere to primary choices here.
Wisconsin @ Marquette (pick em), o/u 135.5, 5:00 p.m. et (DK Only)
The numbers here say this is going to be a grind. Ethan Happ ($11,000) is remarkably consistent, but he doesn't appear worth the $700 savings to Childs above given the projected tempo/total. Markus Howard ($9,200) falls into the same category, and there's next to no reason to seek secondary options here. There is something to be said about the stars in this rivalry, but risk adverse players will look elsewhere.
South Carolina @ Michigan (-18.5), o/u 135, 12:00 p.m. et (FD Only)
Michigan's top-ranked defensive efficiency paired with USC's slate-low 58.3 implied total takes all Gamecocks out of play. There's no doubt Michigan is playing at a high level, but their top priced player, Ignas Brazdeikis ($8,000) averages just 26.8 fpg. They're a balanced squad that should be even more balanced in an expected blowout. Maybe a gamble on Isaiah Livers ($4,500) pays off in GPP formats, as he feasted on lesser opponents before a stretch of nothing against UNC, Purdue and Northwestern. But it feels challenging to predict where Michigan's production will come from here.
Injuries:
Marcquise Reed ($8,600 DK Only): Reed is considered day to day with a knee sprain, and is one I would have avoided if healthy given the matchup and low implied total. His potential absence however could lead to great opportunity within the Tiger lineup, as the next highest priced options are F Elijah Thomas ($6,400) and G Shelton Mitchell ($6,200). Thomas is in a nice groove regardless of Reed's status and could only see more scoring chances if he sits, while Mitchell likely would force more shots without Reed dominating.
Max Strus ($8,500 FD Only): While Strus sat out the Blue Demons last game on Monday, he's fully expected back here. He's a one-man wrecking crew, for DePaul, but a fade for me given the team's implied total of 64.5. His return unfortunately takes away the appeal of Femi Olujobi ($5,700) who put up 27.9 FD points in Strus' absence.
