Who's ready for some more college basketball on Thursday night?! Let's dive into the CBB DFS picks, top plays, values & lineup strategies for tonight's college hoops slate. You can build CBB DFS lineups on both DraftKings and FanDuel with the slates tipping off at 6:30 pm ET with Penn State vs Ohio State. DraftKings is an 8-game slate while FanDuel includes six games. Some top teams in action tonight include UCLA, Memphis, Illinois, Colorado, Northwestern, and Colorado. If you're looking to play college basketball DFS this season, get full access to our CBB DFS Playbooks and Core Plays with a Fantasy Alarm All-Pro Subscription. Check out all the CBB DFS top picks, lineup strategies, teams to target, and value plays to lock in for tonight's college basketball action. If you have any questions about CBB daily fantasy lineup strategy, ask away in the Fantasy Alarm Discord chat. Now, let's jump into the CBB DFS top plays and lineup picks for Thursday, February 23rd.
College Basketball CBB DFS Slate & Betting Odds February 23
(per DraftKings Sportsbook)
- 6:30 pm ET – Penn State at Ohio State (-2.5) – 142.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Memphis (-2) at Wichita State – 147.5 O/U
- 8:30 pm ET – Michigan at Rutgers (-5.5) – 134.5 O/U
- 9 pm ET – Northwestern at Illinois (-6) – 136 O/U
- 9 pm ET – Washington (-8) at California – 130 O/U
- 9 pm ET – USC at Colorado (-2.5) – 140.5 O/U
- 11 pm ET – Washington State at Stanford (-2) – 135 O/U
- 11 pm ET – UCLA (-7) at Utah – 130.5 O/U
CBB Projected Team Totals
(per KenPom.com)
- Memphis – 75
- Ohio State – 75
- Penn State – 73
- Colorado – 72
- Wichita State – 70
- Illinois – 70
- Rutgers – 70
- Stanford – 69
- USC – 69
- UCLA – 68
- Washington – 68
- Washington State – 68
College Basketball CBB DFS Picks 2/23
CBB DFS Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | UCLA | UTAH | 10000 | 34.94 | 8700 | 32.78 |
| Jaquez is always a top play if you have the salary to fit him in. He’s averaging 17.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 39 DK over the past 10 games and has shown 50 DK upside at multiple points over the past month. Jaquez is one of the best DFS plays in CBB right now if UCLA is on the slate, though he’s mighty expensive. Still, he put up 33 DK vs Utah earlier this season and is averaging a strong 37 DK on the road so far. | ||||||
| Matthew Mayer | IL | NW | 9000 | 25.69 | 7000 | 23.73 |
| Mayer has taken on the alpha role for Illinois with Terrence Shannon out lately. He has 22 and 24 points scored with 47 and 37 DK, respectively, in the past two games with Shannon sidelined. It’s looking likely that Shannon remains out tonight, so Mayer is a top overall play in his elevated usage and shot volume. Mayer also had 17 points and 34 DK vs Northwestern earlier this season. | ||||||
| Boogie Ellis | USC | COL | 8700 | 30.3 | 8200 | 27.96 |
| On the road at Colorado is always a risky spot, but the USC guard duo of Drew Peterson and Boogie Ellis is firmly in play once again. Both guys are anchoring the Trojans’ late-season push for an NCAA Tournament bid and the DFS production is there on a regular basis for both. Ellis is averaging a strong 19.7 PPG and 35 DK over the past 10 games and he went for 31 DK vs Colorado earlier this season. He may get a slight nod over Peterson since he’s cheaper on both sites. | ||||||
| Craig Porter Jr. | WICH | MEM | 8600 | 31.79 | ||
| Porter is averaging a stat-stuffing 33 DK over the past 10 games and looks like a top cash guard play tonight. This home matchup with a pace boost vs Memphis is very attractive for DFS, especially for a guy that’s filling up the stat sheet like Porter. He had 31 DK vs Memphis earlier this season and should anchor cash lineups. | ||||||
| Jaykwon Walton | WICH | MEM | 7100 | 25.65 | ||
| If you don’t want to pay all the way up for Porter, then Walton is a viable pivot for much cheaper while still getting exposure to Wichita State’s paced-up matchup vs Memphis. Since returning from injury in mid-January, Walton is averaging 18.2 PPG and 26 DK over the past 10 games. He’s also gone for 20+ points and 31 DK in back-to-back games coming into tonight. The floor isn’t as safe as Porter, but Walton still has the upside to exceed value at this price. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Jalen Pickett – Penn State (GPP)
- Boo Buie – Northwestern (GPP)
- Keyon Menifield – Washington (GPP)
CBB DFS Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Luke O'Brien | COL | USC | 5700 | 14.49 | 5400 | 13.43 |
| O’Brien has been a great value for us lately and that continues as long as he’s priced below 6k. He now has at least 24 DK in three straight games and is averaging 23 DK per game over the past five contests while in a bigger role with J’Vonne Hadley out. O’Brien is producing in multiple stat categories and now logging 30+ minutes per game. Even with a price increase, he’s a good bargain. | ||||||
| RJ Melendez | IL | NW | 4300 | 12.97 | 3900 | 11.84 |
| Melendez could see another start tonight if Terrence Shannon remains out, which seems likely. The sophomore wing didn’t do much in his first start in Shannon’s place, but Monday night was a different story. Melendez went off for 27 DK with a double-double in 32 minutes. As long as he starts again tonight, he’s really cheap for the possible 5x value or better. | ||||||
| Joey Baker | MICH | RU | 3900 | 10.15 | 3900 | 9.22 |
| Baker could play a bigger role for Michigan tonight if Jett Howard sits out. Howard has an ankle injury and hasn’t practiced this week, so keep an eye on his status. Baker got a spot start earlier this season when Howard was out and he put up 19 DK with 11 points scored. Baker also put up 18 DK and played a slightly bigger role last game when Howard left early. On the road at Rutgers is a tough matchup, but the opportunity is there for Baker is Howard sits. | ||||||
| Melvion Flanagan | WICH | MEM | 3600 | 10.8 | ||
| Flanagan started the last game for Wichita State and he put up 17 DK in 28 minutes. It was only his second start of the season, but maybe this is a sign of things to come moving forward as Jaron Pierre went to the bench. Flanagan has been valuable for DFS when given the minutes and he can easily outperform this cheap price tag if he starts and gets 25+ minutes again – especially at home in a pace boost vs Memphis. | ||||||
| Wilguens Jr. Exacte | UTAH | UCLA | 3500 | 6.92 | 3600 | 6.01 |
| Exacte could be thrust into a bigger role and possibly Utah’s starting lineup with both Rollie Worster and Gabe Madsen doubtful to play tonight. The Utes are running out of healthy bodies in the backcourt and on the wing with Worster and Madsen out. Exacte played a season-high 22 minutes with 14 DK last game after Worster left early. He’s very cheap for the potential 5x return or better in his teammates’ absences. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Alex Lomax – Memphis (Cash/GPP)
- Michael O'Connell – Stanford (Cash)
- Reese Dixon-Waters – USC (GPP)
- Koren Johnson – Washington (GPP)
CBB DFS Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Hunter Dickinson | MICH | RU | 8600 | 34.47 | 8300 | 32.25 |
| Dickinson is at his cheapest DK price tag in over a month and he’s pretty affordable on FD as well. Though the Michigan big man does average better numbers at home and gets a tough road matchup at Rutgers here, there’s still upside for 35-40 DK any time out. Dickinson is playing well lately, averaging 17.2 PPG and 33 DK over the past 10 games. He may be a better GPP play than cash, but is viable in all formats. | ||||||
| Keion Brooks Jr. | UW | CAL | 8100 | 31.67 | ||
| Brooks hasn’t been as good lately as we regularly saw previously this season. Still, tonight’s favorable matchup vs Cal can easily get him back to putting up 20+ points and 35-40 DK like we were used to. If that’s the case, then he’s a good bargain at $8100. There’s risk because he’s had some duds in the past couple weeks, but Brooks had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 43 DK vs Cal earlier this season. | ||||||
| Tristan da Silva | COL | USC | 7700 | 27.73 | 6500 | 25.65 |
| We’ve mentioned before this season, but da Silva’s home/road splits should not be ignored when it comes to DFS. Well, he’s on the favorable side of those splits tonight while averaging 20.3 PPG and 33 DK at home compared to 13.1 PPG and 22 DK on the road. That’s a sizable difference. He’s also playing well lately with 28+ DK in eight of the last nine games and 20+ points scored in five of the last seven. At his prices on both sites, da Silva is a really good play in all formats. | ||||||
| Brice Sensabaugh | OSU | PSU | 7300 | 26.4 | 6800 | 23.96 |
| The freshman has been a volatile DFS play lately, but he’s locked into a bigger offensive role for Ohio State with Zed Key now out for the season. Sensabaugh had 20 points and 30 DK last game with Key sidelined. He also had 21 and 22 points with 33 and 35 DK, respectively, in two games earlier this year when Key was out. Sensabaugh has a whopping 33% usage rate and 36% shot share in conference play and should have plenty of success against Penn State’s subpar interior. | ||||||
| Harrison Ingram | STAN | WSU | 7200 | 24.49 | 6300 | 22.55 |
| Since Stanford isn’t too nationally relevant, Ingram definitely gets forgotten about in real life and DFS. However, the sophomore point-forward is really talented and he’s been stuffing the stat sheet for the Cardinal on a regular basis. Ingram is averaging 29 DK over the past 10 games and is putting up 32 DK per outing over the past four. He was great against Washington St earlier this season with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and 36 DK. At his affordable prices, Ingram makes for a great cash play tonight. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- DeAndre Williams – Memphis (GPP)
- Branden Carlson – Utah (GPP)
- Clifford Omoruyi – Rutgers (Cash)
- Aundre Hyatt – Rutgers (GPP)
CBB DFS Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Grant Newell | CAL | UW | 5000 | 15.74 | ||
| Newell went bonkers for 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 44 DK against Washington earlier this season. That was definitely a ceiling performance for the freshman big man, but it’s impossible to ignore those numbers as a potential upside tonight. Even so, Newell has 23, 18, and 19 DK over the past three games and is a decent cash play at 5k flat. | ||||||
| Ben Carlson | UTAH | UCLA | 4500 | 12.25 | 4600 | 11.42 |
| Carlson continues to be a strong value with an uptick in playing time and role recently due to Utah’s injuries. He’s averaging 19 DK over the past four games while seeing 25-30 minutes per outing. The new injury to Rollie Worster means Utah’s rotation will be tightened even more, so Carlson looks like a safe bet for 20 DK or so once again tonight. | ||||||
| Tarris Reed Jr. | MICH | RU | 4400 | 10.97 | 4500 | 10.32 |
| Reed is starting to see his price tag rise, but it’s still a good value based on his recent form. The freshman big has 17+ DK in four straight games including his impressive 30 DK performance last game. He’s playing more lately with Terrance Williams out. It’s possible Michigan is without both Williams and Jett Howard tonight, so Reed’s size will be needed. | ||||||
| Felix Okpara | OSU | PSU | 4100 | 10.66 | 3700 | 10.16 |
| Okpara moved into Ohio State’s starting lineup last game with Zed Key out. He put up 15 DK in the increased role, but his upside was capped on the road at Purdue while dealing with Zach Edey. He should have more success as a scorer and rebounder against Penn State’s undersized and weak defensive frontcourt. Key is now out for the season, so Okpara’s role at center should be there. | ||||||
| Oskar Palmquist | RU | MICH | 3000 | 4.16 | 3000 | 3.68 |
| If you want a true wild card tonight, Palmquist is a GPP dart throw at the min price. Caleb McConnell isn’t expected to play tonight for the second straight game. In his absence, Palmquist got a spot start on Saturday. Though he didn’t do much (just 4.2 DK in 18 minutes), the opportunity is there for a better stat line at home this time around if he starts again. We can’t count on much, but he’s worth a look. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Ty Rodgers – Illinois (GPP)
- Matthew Nicholson – Northwestern (GPP/Cash)
CBB DFS Core Plays
DraftKings Cash:
- Matthew Mayer – Illinois
- Craig Porter – Wichita State
- Ben Carlson – Utah
DraftKings GPP:
- Tristan da Silva – Colorado
- Brice Sensabaugh – Ohio State
- Joey Baker – Michigan
FanDuel Cash:
- Matthew Mayer – Illinois
- Jaim Jaquez – UCLA
- Luke O'Brien – Colorado
FanDuel GPP:
- Brice Sensabaugh – Ohio State
- Tristan da Silva – Colorado
- RJ Melendez – Illinois
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