THE SLATE
12p - St. John’s (-2) @ Butler 139.0 O/U
12p - Wake Forest @ Florida State (-3.0) 146.5 O/U
12p - Illinois @ Indiana (-1.5) 137.5 O/U
12p - Connecticut @ Villanova (-1.5) 137.5 O/U
12p - Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (-1.5) 132.0 O/U
1p - Tennessee (-7.5) @ South Carolina 134.5 O/U
1p - Auburn (-16.5) @ Georgia 152.5 O/U
2p - Louisville @ Syracuse (-6.5) 146.5 O/U
2p - Iowa State @ Texas (-9.0) 121.5 O/U
2p - Texas Tech (-5.0) @ West Virginia 130.5 O/U
2p - DePaul @ Xavier (-13.0) 141.0 O/U
2:30p - Michigan @ Purdue (-9.0) 147.0 O/U
TOP TEAM IMPLIED TOTALS
Auburn - 81.50
Purdue - 78.00
Xavier - 77.00
Syracuse – 76.50
Florida State - 74.75
Wake Forest - 71.75
Tennessee - 71.00
St. John’s - 70.50
Louisville - 70.00
TOP GUARDS
Walker Kessler G/F (Auburn) Opp @UGA ($9.4K DK)
No idea why DK is listing Kessler as a G/F but he becomes the top guard of the slate. He is one of the most impactful transfers and one of the most improved players in the nation. The former five-star has found a home in Auburn and completely revitalized his game showing more toughness and physicality and protects the paint rather than just trying to hit jumpers. One of the most efficient players in the SEC and blocks a second-most 4.2 blocks per game. We do have a blowout factor with Georgia but if Kessler can put in 30 minutes, he will smash the slate.
Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse) Opp UL ($8.4K DK)
Buddy is on pace to move into the #2 spot on the team career 3-pointers list today in the Carrier Dome. He has scored a combined 47 points over the last two games and is looking to lead the Orange to a third straight win against a struggling Louisville program that has lost four straight games. Boeheim is carrying a 31% usage rate with a 34.75 DKFP over the last five while playing nearly every minute. This game projects to be the third-highest combined score on the slate, putting Boeheim as a top GPP play as he should easily shoot over the smallish Louisville guards.
Caleb Mills (Florida State) Opp WF ($6.0K DK)
Mills comes into today’s game with his lowest price tag of the season. This is a buy-low spot for the team’s go-to especially with Malik Osborne and Anthony Polite out. It is rare that you see a player playing 30+ minutes with a 25% usage and 27.3% shot rate so cheap. Then add in a 3.7% steal and 19.8% assist rate against a Wake Forest squad that will certainly not lock in defensively and you have one of the top point-per-dollar players available in all formats.
Other Top Guards
Alondes Williams (WF) $9.8K GPP
Izaiah Brockington (ISU) $8.3K Cash/GPP
Colby Jones (XAV) $7.2K Cash
Julian Champagnie G/F (STJN) $9.5K Cash/GPP *coming off of a monster game
Bo Hodges G/F (BUTL) $6.2K Cash/GPP *nice price in pace-up game for Hodges
Joseph Girard III (SYR) $6.9K GPP
TOP GUARD VALUES
El Ellis (Louisville) Opp @SYR ($4.0K DK)
Ellis is a big reason that Louisville looks like a new team under Mike Pegues. He scored 18 points against Duke last Saturday to keep Louisville in the game and did the same on Tuesday scoring 25 points in an OT loss to North Carolina. He is now a focal point of the offense after showing flashes with a 22-poiunt game against Michigan State and 18 against Pittsburgh, He’s not afraid to shoot - 37 shots in the last two games - and you can not think of a better scenario to play against for the first-year guard than the Syracuse zone. Free spot here at $4.0K.
Other Guard Values
Kedrian Johnson (WVU) $3.6K Cash/GPP *Taz Sherman is concussion protocol so more minutes for Johnson/Curry
Malik Curry (WVU) $3.9K GPP *Taz Sherman is concussion protocol so more minutes for Johnson/Curry
Mylik Wilson (TTU) $3.2K GPP
Adonis Arms (TTU) $4.3K GPP
Rondel Walker (OKST) $4.6K Cash/GPP
TOP FORWARDS
Kofi Cockburn (Illinois) Opp @IU ($9.3K DK)
“Clash of the Titans” today as Kofi and Trayce Jackson-Davis square off- two of the best big men in the country. Indiana has one of the best interior defenses in the country and have frustrated some of the best big men in the Big Ten, including Trevion Williams and EJ Liddell. Kofi is as close to matchup proof as it gets and has had Indiana’s number throughout his career averaging 15.3 points and 10 rebounds per game while never losing to the Hoosiers in his 2 ½ seasons. With a 32.6% usage and 33.5% shot rate plus a 48.1% combined rebounding rate, Cockburn is one of the top plays of the slate.
Jesse Edwards (Syracuse) Opp UL ($7.9K DK)
Edwards has taken major strides in his development, and it was all on display on Wednesday night at North Carolina State when he scored 19 points with six rebounds, three blocks and a couple of assists. Now a Louisville program in turmoil (1-7 last eight games) visits the Carrier Dome without their top big man - Malik Williams (suspended). Without Williams in the middle there anyone on this Cardinal squad that can contain Edwards and Cole Swider? I don’t think so and have Edwards and his 13.2 points, 7.4 rebound and 32.15 DKFP average over the last five games locked in as one of the top point-per-dollar plays of the slate.
Bo Hodges G/F (Butler) Opp STJN ($6.2K DK)
If there is ever a slate to play Hodges it is today. Butler is one of the slowest teams in the country which is a heavy contrast from St. John’s up-tempo and fast style of play. The Johnnies are the #2 adjusted team tempo in the nation (73.2) and that will only help Hodges as they push Butler to pick up the pace. The 6’5” senior Hodges has only played eight games this season but is the most offensively gifted player on the squad. The numbers may not show it (9.2 points/20.10 DKFP), but Hodges does have a ceiling like we saw against Providence and Creighton a couple of weeks ago when he put up 35 DKFP in both games.
Other Top Forwards
Trayce Jackson-Davis (IU) $8.6K Cash/GPP *A pivot play off of Kofi Cockburn
Jabari Smith (AUB) $8.1K Cash/GPP
Zach Edey (PUR) $7.8K GPP
Zach Freemantle (XAV) $7.0K Cash/GPP *another strong point-per-dollar play
Kevin Obanor (TT) $6.1K GPP
TOP FORWARD VALUES
Javan Johnson (DePaul) Opp @XAV ($3.7K DK)
Johnson is a graduate transfer that didn’t begin his season until December 29th but has found a fresh start in Chicago especially with Javon Freeman-Liberty still out with a groin injury. He scored 18 points last Saturday playing 39 minutes against a very good UCONN defense finishing 6 of 10 from the field with 32 DKFP. Over the last five games, Johnson is playing 35 minutes and averaging 17 points while taking 10 shots a game making him a popular choice today as the top value forward at only $3.7K.
Other Top Forward Values
Matt Cross (UL) $4.6K Cash/GPP
John Butler (FSU) $4.1K GPP
Yor Anei (DPU) $4.3K GPP
DRAFTKINGS CORE
Walker Kessler - Auburn
Caleb Mills - Florida State
Javan Johnson - DePaul (value)