Georgetown @ Oklahoma State (-11) - 145
Wake Forest @ Penn State (-11) - 144
BYU (-2) @ Utah - 144 (FD Only)
Notre Dame @ Maryland (-9) - 140
Texas Tech @ DePaul (PK) - 140
Ohio State @ North Carolina (-3) - 136
Wisconsin @ NC State (-5) - 131
Virginia @ Purdue (-1) - 102
Guards
The status of Cole Anthony - UNC
Cole Anthony was limited in practice yesterday and looks to be a true game-time call for this bout against Ohio State. This is a big game as the 7th ranked Tar Heels are facing the 6th ranked Buckeyes. I think Anthony takes the game off if it’s an easier opponent, but will try to make it work for this one with it such a crucial game. If Anthony does play, I don’t have much interest at the price. He’s come back down to earth in his last few games and will undoubtedly be less than 100%.
If Cole Anthony sits, we run into a ton of value plays. Usage-wise, Armando Bacot (FD $6,600 DK $7,200) would take over as the top scoring option and be a top play on the slate. Brandon Robinson (FD $5,600 DK $5,700) and Garrison Brooks (FD $6,400 DK $7,200) will see a huge uptick in usage as well and Robinson will have the ball in his hands more than all year combined. Leaky Black is also questionable, and I like a few more of these guys if he’s out. Justin Pierre (FD $4,500 DK $5,200) will see closer to 30 minutes and his price is just too low on both sites. Andrew Platek (FD $3,800 DK $4,100) and Christian Keeling (FD $4,000 DK $4,000) will see close to 30 minutes each if both Cole Anthony and Leaky Black are ruled out. If both sit, I can see playing three tar Heels. If just Anthony sits, I think you still have to play at least two with Bacot and Robinson being my two favorites.
Mac McClung - Georgetown - FD $5,000 DK $5,100
If you’ve been paying attention to the world of college basketball, you know what’s going on with Georgetown. If you haven’t, let me catch you up. Four players are in trouble. It’s tough to believe they have nothing to do with each other, but that’s the word. James Akinjo is transferring and not in trouble. Josh LeBlanc, Galen Alexander, and Myron Gardner have all received restraining orders and are off the team. They’re going to leave behind huge holes and we’ll be looking at Georgetown in this game until their prices start to catch up. My favorite player to benefit of all is Mac McClung. He’ll now have the ball in his hands every play and have the opportunity to put up huge numbers. His minutes have been extremely inconsistent, but we can throw that out the window here. Lock in 30 minutes for McClung and he’s now their best guard by a ton. He’s a lock in cash games and hard to stay away from in tournaments.
Isaac Likekele - Oklahoma St. - FD $7,200 DK $8,000
Oklahoma State is playing in the game with the highest total and they’re favored by 11 points. Isaac Likekele is the leading scorer and facilitator for this Cowboys squad and his upside is huge in this fast paced match-up. He went over 50 fantasy points against Syracuse in a similar match-up. This Georgetown team is in shambles and it’s going to take a couple games at least to figure out what they want to do defensively. Look for Likekele to take advantage of any adjustment issues and he’s my favorite overall guard on the slate if I can pay up. I don’t see a floor less than 30 and I see a real ceiling in the 50’s. Oklahoma State is lacking the reliable shooting this season, so Likekele has been doing more himself.
Anthony Cowan Jr. - Maryland - FD $6,700 DK $7,500
Cowan Jr. is another do-it-all guard that has the ball in his hands all game long. If you can’t tell, I prefer my speedy guards to be able to do more than just score. Scoring is great, but the real upside comes in peripherals in fast-paced games. Anthony Cowan Jr. has been over 30 fantasy points in three straight games and Terps now face off with a Notre Dame team that’s going to give them a tough fight. With John Mooney draped all over Jalen Smith, I expect Cowan Jr. to see even more usage than normal and for him to put up 35+ fantasy points at a very reasonable price tag on both sites. The Terrapins ask for a ton out of Cowan Jr. and against Notre Dame, lock in 35 minutes.
Myreon Jones - Penn State - FD $5,500 DK $6,300
Jones has been playing big minutes for the Nittany Lions and his price hasn’t caught up. Penn State is tied for Oklahoma State with the highest implied total on the slate, so we want exposure to this team. Jones has played 35+ minutes in three straight games and has came through with 23, 25, and 32 fantasy points. He double-doubled with points and rebounds last game and has proven to be a huge commodity for Penn State. Expect another 35+ minutes and 25-35 fantasy points out of Myreon Jones. Jamari Wheeler and Myles Dread are two other Penn State guards that I love in tournaments. Wake Forest plays at a top-80 pace and it’s going to allow the Nittany Lions to have an extra 8-10 possessions in this game, at least.
Terrell Allen - Georgetown - FD $3,400 DK $3,700
With James Akinjo not on the team anymore, we’re looking at 30-35 minutes at point guard unaccounted for. Mac McClung is already a starter and there’s only so many minutes he can take. Terrell Allen will pick up 25-30 minutes and should get the start. He’s not afraid to shoot and should average around a fantasy point per minute. His price is simply too cheap for what is now the starting PG for Georgetown. Allen will likely be extremely high owned, but it’s chalk I’m willing to eat as Allen is just too cheap for the minutes he’ll be playing in a fast-paced game. Jahvon Blair is in play as well as I think he picks up 25-30 minutes as well. Don’t be afraid to have two or three Hoyas on your squad.
Thomas Dziagwa - Oklahoma State - FD $4,400 FD $4,300
If you’re looking for some more value at guard, Thomas Dziagwa is too cheap for a guy that plays 25+ consistent minutes and can score 20 real-life points in this match-up. Likeleke leads the team in scoring, but it’s only out of necessity. This is a guy that will be a facilitator in the NBA and he doesn’t mind deferring to the hot hand. Georgetown isn’t going to be the soundest of defensive teams today and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dziagawa have a big day from behind the three-point line.
Consider - Charlie Moore (DEP), Brandon Childress (WF), T.J. Haws (BYU), Brad Davison (WIS), Eric Ayala (MD), Jahvon Blair (GTWN)
Forwards
As previously mentioned, Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks are two of the top plays on the slate if Cole Anthony is ruled out.
Lamar Stevens - Penn State - FD $8,000 DK $8,200
Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins are both in play here and I wouldn’t blame you for playing Watkins over Stevens. I would just rather play Stevens at the same price as he’s the better player and who they look to as the number one option on offense. The 6’8 senior is as reliable of a college basketball player as you’ll find around the country. He’s put up 30+ fantasy points in five straight games and this is absolutely not the match-up for that streak to stop. He’s averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, and two assists a night. I expect him to exceed every one of those averages in this game. Wake Forest doesn’t have the big men down low to handle Penn State and they certainly don’t have anyone to stop Lamar Stevens from scoring.
Omer Yurtseven - Georgetown - FD $7,000 DK $8,300
With Akinjo and LeBlanc out of the picture, Yurtseven is going to see even more looks. His only issue this season has been inconsistent minutes and we certainly don’t have to worry about that tonight. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he played 25-28, which is in his season high range. Yurtseven is going to dominate Oklahoma State down low and it’s their only chance to stay competitive in this game. Yor Anei has all the length in the world, but Yurtseven is going to out footwork him all game long and Yurtseven is a lot bigger in stature than Anei. This game is going to be up and down with fantasy points for the taking. Yourtseven has seen his price come down some and I like him to get around 40 fantasy points in this match-up. Too expensive on DK and I’d rather have Stevens.
T.J. Holyfield - Texas Tech - FD $5,300 DK $6,700
Holyfield doesn’t see consistent minutes, playing 16 minutes in the last game and 32 the one before. It all comes down to the match-up and I expect Holyfield to be out there for at least 25+ minutes in this one. Paul Reed and Romeo Weems make up one of the toughest frontcourts in the nation and they won’t be able to pull their big man Holyfield off the floor very much at all without it being a bloodbath. With this game being a pick ‘em right now, Holyfield is going to have to play a huge role for that to happen. Jahmi’us Ramsey is also questionable for Texas Tech and there could be a ton of usage to go around. Holyfield is in play in all formats, though I may be crazy for recommending him outside of tournaments.
Qudus Wahab - Georgetown - FD $3,900 DK $3,800
Back to the Georgetown train. We know Yurtseven won’t play more than 30 minutes, so we already have an open frontcourt. With LeBlanc out of the picture and two others that see complementary minutes also gone, Wahab has to see around 30-35 minutes here in a great match-up with fast-paced Oklahoma State. Wahab is also a guy that has filled up the stat sheet in limited minutes and seems to have a nice upside if he can get 25+ minutes. His price is extremely cheap on both sites and he’s in play in all formats.
Both Gach - Utah - FD $5,100
This is a FanDuel only play that I love in tournaments. Both Gach has shown his upside with a triple-double earlier in the year, but he’s also shown just how insanely raw of a talent he is with numerous single-digit fantasy point finishes. He still averages 30 minutes a night and there is a lot of upside if he can put it all together on any given night. He’s a 1st round talent in next years draft, but is still one of the more raw players in college. His price is down over on FanDuel and he can put up 40 fantasy points against a BYU team that’s missing Yoeli Childs. Gach isn’t comfortable to play, but he’s cheap and won’t be highly owned.
Consider - Paul Reed (DEP), John Mooney (ND), Kaleb Wesson (OSU), Mamadi Diakite (UVA), Aleem Ford (WIS), Olivier Sarr (WF)
