Welcome back college basketball fans! The CBB DFS season officially tips off tonight with a ton of top teams in action and full slates at DraftKings and Fanduel. The action is highlighted by the Champions Classic matchups of Kansas vs. Michigan State followed by Kentucky vs. Duke. We’ll dive into the top plays from every team in action and help you build winning lineups on both sites!
If you have any questions on specific players or lineup builds, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @dan_servodidio or on the CBB Discord and I’ll try to help out! Without further ado, let’s dive into tonight’s DFS CBB slate for Tuesday, November 9th!
THE SLATE (Odds & Totals via KenPom):
7 pm ET -- Kansas (-5) vs. Michigan State -- 145 o/u
7 pm ET -- Loyola MD at North Carolina (-22) -- 150 o/u (DK)
7 pm ET -- Fairfield at Providence (-14) -- 134 o/u (DK)
7 pm ET -- Texas Southern at Oregon (-21) -- 151 o/u (DK)
7:30 pm ET -- Miami OH at Georgia Tech (-11) -- 145 o/u (DK)
8 pm ET -- Mercer at Arkansas (-20) -- 152 o/u (FD)
8 pm ET -- Morehead State at Auburn (-16) -- 146 o/u (FD)
9 pm ET -- Navy at Virginia (-14) -- 126 o/u
9 pm ET -- Louisiana Tech at Alabama (-12) -- 154 o/u
9:30 pm ET -- Kentucky vs. Duke (-1) -- 149 o/u
Top Implied Team Totals (per KenPom)
North Carolina -- 86 points
Arkansas -- 86 points
Oregon -- 86 points
Alabama -- 83 points
Georgia Tech -- 78 points
Duke -- 75 points
Kansas -- 75 points
Kentucky -- 74 points
Providence -- 74 points
Louisiana Tech -- 71 points
Michigan State -- 70 points
Top Guards
| Top Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Michael Devoe | GT | MIAOH | 9300 | 28.43 | |||
| With Jose Alvarado and Moses Wright gone, Devoe is now the top dog for Georgia Tech this season. He averaged 15 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.3 APG and 28.4 DK points last season and now we can realistically expect him to improve on those nightly numbers with an increase in role and usage offensively. The hefty price tag will likely make him a contrarian top-end option on the DK slate, but Devoe’s ceiling is as high as anyone tonight for GPPs. | |||||||
| Remy Martin | KU | MSU | 8000 | 30.48 | 7600 | 28.10 | |
| After transferring over from Arizona State this summer, Martin is expected to immediately fill the point guard void that Kansas dealt with last year. It may take him a game or two to get used to running Bill Self’s offense, but Martin’s DFS floor/ceiling combo will be among the best in the country all season long. He was named the Big 12’s Preseason POY for a reason, considering he’ll be the Jayhawks’ primary ball-handler and a nightly threat to score 20-30 real points on his own. On this slate, Martin might be a better GPP option than cash - but firmly in play in all formats. | |||||||
| Sahvir Wheeler | UK | DUKE | 7700 | 31.93 | 6700 | 28.64 | |
| Nearly the entire Kentucky rotation includes new faces compared to last year, so it may take a few games for things to sort themselves out. Wheeler, though, is the best candidate to be the early alpha playmaker on offense despite all the other talent around him. The Georgia transfer was an assist-machine and pure bucket-getter last season in the SEC and has earned preseason first-team honors in the conference now that he’s at UK. Oscar Tshiebwe or Tyty Washington may end up leading the team in scoring, but at least we know Wheeler will be plenty involved as the lead ball-handler right from the get-go - keeping his floor pretty safe. | |||||||
| Jahvon Quinerly | BAMA | LT | 6500 | 21.51 | 6800 | 19.33 | |
| Quinerly is expected to take on a much bigger role offensively for Alabama as both a scorer and primary ball-handler following the offseason departures of Herbert Jones, John Petty and Josh Primo. Last year, Quinerly mostly played a “super-sub” role for the Tide but still logged starter-level minutes nightly. He actually led the team in usage rate, shots share and assist rate despite only starting seven of 30 games a season ago. Now he enters this year as a preseason first-team All-SEC selection and will be heavily involved offensively tonight. Should be a safe cash play with how high-scoring and fast-paced Bama plays. | |||||||
| Ochai Agbaji | KU | MSU | 6800 | 25.4 | 6200 | 23.09 | |
| Though Remy Martin is receiving all the preseason hype, Agbaji may end up being KU’s best all-around player this year. Not only can he make plays scoring-wise from the wing, but he also gets it done defensively and will be tasked nightly with guarding the opposing team’s best players. Tonight, Agbaji’s presence on both ends will be needed even more with Jalen Wilson out. For the slight bargain, he might be a better cash play than Martin on this slate. | |||||||
Other Top Guards to Consider:
Will Richardson -- Oregon ($8,800 DK Only)
JD Davison -- Alabama ($6,000 DK / $5,700 FD)
Jeremy Roach -- Duke ($5,800 DK / $4,200 FD)
Tyty Washington Jr. -- Kentucky ($5,700 DK / $7,400 FD)
Devan Cambridge -- Auburn ($5,500 FD Only)
Value Guards
| Value Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Max Christie | MSU | KU | 5600 | 0 | 5300 | ||
| Though transfer Tyson Walker is priced higher on both sites, Christie is the much better value from Michigan State. The true freshman was a McDonald’s All-American and is expected to be the team’s best all-around player this season. He’s a smooth shooter and a threat from three-point range that MSU simply didn’t consistently have a year ago. The offense could lean on Christie’s stroke to keep it close vs. Kansas tonight and his usage/shot volume combo will be enough to return value. This is probably the cheapest we see him all year. | |||||||
| Jared Bynum | PROV | FAIR | 5000 | 15.31 | |||
| Bynum began last year as Providence’s starting point guard before getting hurt and missing a large chunk of the season. He eventually returned but then came off the bench for the final few games. This year, though, Bynum is back as a starter in the backcourt and he’ll step into a higher-usage role with David Duke off the NBA. This price tag seems way too low for a guy that was consistently playing 30+ minutes and putting up 20 DFS points or so before getting injured. In a soft matchup vs. Fairfield, expect Bynum to be a safe cash play. | |||||||
| Wendell Green Jr. | AUB | MORE | 5100 | 29.24 | |||
| Green is one of many new faces for Auburn this season and he’s already earned a starting role to begin the year. The Eastern Kentucky transfer is Bruce Pearl’s point guard starter after he averaged 15.8 PPG, 5.0 APG and 3.4 RPG last season. Expect Green to be plenty involved offensively tonight to provide a safe enough floor to return value at a way-too-cheap price tag on FD. | |||||||
| JD Notae | ARK | MER | 4800 | 20.92 | |||
| Though Arkansas has a ton of talent, Notae is priced a bit too low as he’s expected to take on a bigger role offensively this season. He was the SEC Sixth Man of the Year last season but has now started both exhibition contests this fall. In one of those games, Notae led the team with 21 points and seems to have asserted himself as the Razorbacks’ alpha scorer at least early on. He just shouldn’t be below 5k tonight and is a great value on FD slate. | |||||||
| Dajuan Harris Jr. | KU | MSU | 3700 | 8.85 | 4200 | 8.13 | |
| After playing in a reserve role last year, Harris is expected to start in KU’s backcourt alongside Remy Martin to begin the season. Transfers Joseph Yusufu and Jalen Coleman-Lands are both candidates to eventually take that starting role away, but for now it’s reportedly Harris’ job to lose. He’ll likely split point guard and lead ball-handling duties with Martin and be plenty involved on the offensive end. If we get official work he’s starting tonight, this price is way too cheap for a guy who’ll likely be playing 20-30 minutes with enough ancillary stats to return value. | |||||||
Other Value Guards to Consider:
Amorie Archibald -- Louisiana Tech ($5,300 DK / $5,600 FD)
Trevor Keels -- Duke ($5,200 DK / $4,000 FD)
Jared Bynum -- Providence ($5,000 DK Only)
Joseph Yesufu -- Kansas ($4,300 DK / $5,900 FD)
Kyle Sturdivant -- Georgia Tech ($3,400 DK Only)
Top Forwards
| Top Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Paolo Banchero | DUKE | UK | 8800 | 0 | 8000 | ||
| Banchero is expected to not only be one of the best college players in the whole country as a preseason All-American, but he’s already projected to be a top Draft pick next year. If he lives up to the hype, Banchero will quickly become close to a cash lock in DFS if he’s on the slate - much like Zion Williamson was for Duke a few seasons ago. There’s a slight risk tonight that he struggles in his first collegiate game in a matchup vs. Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, but we can count on Banchero getting enough offensive usage, rebounds and other ancillary stats to provide plenty of DFS points. | |||||||
| Armando Bacot | UNC | LY-MD | 8500 | 26.08 | |||
| After playing in a loaded frontcourt last season, Bacot is now in line to be the alpha on offense for UNC and will be a nightly threat to post 20-point double-doubles. It starts tonight when Bacot should have a massive size and talent advantage against Loyola MD. Even though the Heels brought in Brady Manek and Dawson Garcia via the transfer portal, Bacot should be their top scoring option down low as offense revolves around him with Caleb Love running the point. On the DK slate, he’s a nice GPP option because people will ignore him in cash compared to Banchero. | |||||||
| Nate Watson | PROV | FAIR | 8300 | 28.47 | |||
| Watson was a stud last season as one of the best big men in the Big East and he should have even more opportunities this year with David Duke off to the NBA. Much like Armando Bacot, expect Watson to dominate on both ends against Fairfield’s frontcourt and stuff the stat sheet. There will be times when he’ll be a safer option for cash, but it’s a contrarian GPP play tonight with some blowout risk and a lower-total game. Still, the ceiling is there for 40-50 DFS points. | |||||||
| Oscar Tshiebwe | UK | DUKE | 6000 | 20.6 | 7000 | 19.31 | |
| Tshiebwe is finally ready to suit up for Kentucky after transferring away from West Virginia halfway through last season. The big man was a force both offensively and defensively on a nightly basis in the Big 12 and now opposing SEC frontcourts have to worry about. For now, the head-to-head matchup between Tshiebwe and Duke’s Paolo Banchero will be must-see TV. It remains to be seen just how much he’s involved on the offensive end in UK’s loaded rotation, but the DFS upside is always there for a guy who can easily post a double-double in any given game. For comparison’s sake, he’s a better play on DK at a slight discount. | |||||||
| Jabari Smith | AUB | MORE | 6600 | ||||
| It’s always a guessing game with some of these five-star freshmen making their collegiate debuts, but Smith is another youngster who could have a monster stat line tonight. The 6-foot-10 power forward was a top five high school recruit nationally and is the best signee in Auburn’s history. Though the Tigers have a ton of new talent from last year (including four transfers), Smith could quickly become the No. 1 offensive option - and he’ll benefit from Walker Kessler manning the paint defensively alongside in the frontcourt. He’s a great cash or GPP option tonight - but maybe a bit risky until we see what the usage looks like. | |||||||
Other Top Forwards to Consider:
Quincy Guerrier -- Oregon ($8,400 DK Only)
Johni Broome -- Morehead State ($7,300 FD Only)
David McCormack -- Kansas ($7,500 DK / $6,900 FD)
Wendell Moore Jr. -- Duke ($7,300 DK / $5,400 FD)
Value Forwards
| Value Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Charles Bediako | BAMA | LT | 6100 | 0 | 3300 | ||
| While Bediako is still a decent play on DK, he’s severely mispriced on FD and should be close to a lock in cash on that slate. The five-star freshman big man is expected to start at center for Alabama and should feast on the boards with how up-tempo this team likes to play on both ends. In the Tide’s lone exhibition, Bediako had seven rebounds and three blocks with his seven-foot frame. That production alone is enough to return value at sub-4k on FD. | |||||||
| Franck Kepnang | ORE | TXSO | 4600 | 6.97 | |||
| With N’Faly Dante out, Kepnang could get the start tonight at the five for Oregon. If that’s the case, he’s too cheap for a guy who could see 20+ minutes and rack up enough rebounds or ancillary stats to return value at sub-5k. At 6-foot-11 and 230 pounds, the sophomore will have a big size advantage over nearly all of Texas Southern’s roster. Though he barely played last year, Kepnang was a force on both ends of the floor whenever he did get in the game. Maybe he won’t put up consistent numbers against tougher opponents, but he could easily grab double-digit rebounds and block multiple shots in tonight’s matchup. | |||||||
| Gabe Brown | MSU | KU | 4400 | 13.54 | 4500 | 12.40 | |
| Welcome to one of the biggest oversights and mispricings on the slate. Though he played a reserve role last year, Brown is expected to be one of Sparty’s best players this season and could even lead them in scoring some nights. He’s now moving into a starting role with Aaron Henry gone at the wing position and his 42% three-point shooting from a year ago will be needed to keep it close vs. Kansas tonight. These price tags are based on his usage from last season, but we can realistically expect him to be much more involved on both ends with an uptick in playing time and role. | |||||||
| Rodney Howard | GT | MIAOH | 4500 | 4.6 | |||
| On the DK slate, Howard is a nice value below 5k as he’s expected to start at center this season with Moses Wright gone. Even though he barely played last year backing up Wright, we can realistically expect 20-30 minutes from him nightly in a new starting role. Howard should give you enough rebounds, put-backs and ancillary stats with this uptick in playing time - especially against an easier opponent in Miami OH tonight. | |||||||
| Kadin Shedrick | UV | NAVY | 4000 | 6.5 | 4400 | 6.12 | |
| Last year, Shedrick barely played as a freshman while being buried on the bench and dealing with an injury. However, the 6-foot-11 big man is expected to take a leap this season as Virginia’s starting center with Jay Huff gone. Though we normally don’t like to target UVA players for DFS because of the slow pace and low-scoring environment, Shedrick is a bit too cheap for a starter who could easily get enough rebounds and defensive stats to return value. | |||||||
Other Value Forwards to Consider:
Eric Williams Jr. -- Oregon ($5,700 DK Only)
K.D. Johnson -- Auburn ($5,300 FD Only)
Marcus Bingham Jr. -- Michigan State ($4,500 DK / $4,300 FD)
Justin Hopkins -- Texas Southern ($3,800 DK Only)
DraftKings Core Plays
Paolo Banchero -- Duke, F ($8,800)
Gabe Brown -- Michigan State, F ($4,400)
Jared Bynum -- Providence, G ($5,000)
FanDuel Core Plays
Paolo Banchero -- Duke, F ($8,000)
Charles Bediako -- Alabama, F ($3,300)
JD Notae -- Arkansas, G ($4,800)