Saturday afternoon brings us a jam-packed CBB DFS slate, so let's dive into top college basketball daily fantasy picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Both slates tip off at 12 pm ET with top teams like Arizona, Houston, Alabama, North Carolina, Iowa State, and Duke in action. The DK slate features 12 games while the FanDuel slate is 8 games with six matchups overlapping. Roster construction will be very different depending on the site you play because some high-scoring games are available on only DK or FD. 

Let's now take a look at the top college basketball DFS picks and plays for Saturday afternoon's main slate of games. All college basketball odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook and the KenPom team totals are up to date as of this publishing but keep an eye on any line movement. Good luck with your CBB DFS lineups!

 

College Basketball Main DFS Slate: February 21

  • 12 pm ET – Missouri at Arkansas (-6.5) – 149.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 12 pm ET – Indiana at Penn State (-2.5) – 151.5 O/U
  • 12 pm ET – Houston (-2.5) at Baylor – 137.5 O/U
  • 12 pm ET – Notre Dame at Syracuse (-8.5) – 131.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 1 pm ET – Vanderbilt at Florida (-17.5) – 153.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 2 pm ET – West Virginia at Iowa State (-17.5) – 143.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 2 pm ET – BYU (-1.5) at Kansas State – 147.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 2 pm ET – Boston College at NC State (-5.5) – 150.5 O/U (DK Only)
  • 2 pm ET – Duke at Wake Forest (-1.5) – 152.5 O/U
  • 2 pm ET – Washington at Arizona (-14.5) – 168.5 O/U
  • 2:15 pm ET – Iowa at Illinois (-9.5) – 170.5 O/U
  • 3 pm ET – Cincinnati at TCU (-5.5) – 145.5 O/U
  • 4 pm ET – Alabama at Kentucky (-1.5) – 177.5 O/U (FD Only)
  • 4 pm ET – North Carolina (-2.5) at Virginia – 130.5 O/U (FD Only)

Top KenPom Team Totals

  1. Illinois – 91
  2. Arizona – 90
  3. Alabama – 90
  4. Kentucky – 88
  5. Florida – 85
  6. Iowa – 81
  7. Iowa State – 80
  8. Penn State – 78
  9. NC State – 77
  10. Arkansas – 76
  11. TCU – 76
  12. Washington – 76
  13. Duke – 76
  14. Wake Forest – 75
  15. BYU – 73
  16. Indiana – 73
  17. Boston College – 73
 

College Basketball CBB DFS Picks 

CBB DFS Top Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Mark SearsBAMAUK  850033.08
We have the high-scoring Alabama vs Kentucky game on the FD slate, so Mark Sears should be squarely on our rader. Sears put together another stat-stuffing effort vs Florida with 37 FD points and 17 points scored. He’s now averaging 20.6 PPG over the past 10 games and has been very reliable for cash. In this fast-paced matchup, expect Sears to be heavily involved in Bama’s offense to anchor lineups.
Terrence Shannon Jr.ILIOWA890035.24840032.62
Terrence Shannon is playing at a high level right now with at least 27 points and 39 DK in four straight games. He’s seeing very heavy usage and shot volume as Illinois’ go-to playmaker. Now the Illini get a favorable home pace-boost matchup against Iowa. This game should be high-scoring and uptempo with Shannon playing a large role. He’s a top overall play in all formats.
Caleb LoveARIZUW840033.7800031.17
Arizona may score close to 100 points this weekend coming off an upset loss and now in a fast-paced matchup vs Washington. Caleb Love should be considered a top overall guard play on both sites as the main option for Arizona. He’s averaging 20.3 PPG and 35 DK over the past 10 games and just put up 27 points and 44 DK last game. Bank on a strong cash floor with plenty of upside as Love should be a popular play.
Walter Clayton Jr.UFVANDY810029.32  
Vanderbilt has the worst defense overall and worst 3-point defense in the SEC. This is a great matchup for Florida at home and the Gators’ stud guard duo of Walter Clayton and Zyon Pullin should both be considered. There is the slight blowout risk with Florida as big favorites, but Clayton/Pullin can both get theirs to aid in the big win. Clayton is rolling with 20+ points scored in four straight and five of the last six.
Jared McCainDUKEWAKE780025.29680023.08
Jared McCain was quiet in Duke’s win over Miami this week, but it was also a blowout where he wasn’t needed as much. Before that, though, McCain was rolling with DK outputs of 49, 39, 33, 44, and 37 over the previous handful of games. The stud freshman has been a top playmaker for Duke for the past month-plus now. He had 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 39 DK vs Wake in the first meeting and can easily replicate those numbers in a higher-scoring matchup. The road atmosphere gives him some slight risk, but McCain still offers a ton of potential with how well he’s playing.
Antonio ReevesUKBAMA  740027.82
If you’re playing on FD, you’ll likely want multiple pieces of this high-scoring Alabama vs Kentucky game. On the UK side, we have Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham always in play for GPP with plenty of upside but inconsistent as well. Antonio Reeves is the safer play with a stronger cash floor and tons of upside of his own. Reeves is averaging 20.3 PPG over the past 10 games and is seeing heavy shot volume right now.
Hunter SallisWAKEDUKE740030.36710028.14
If Wake Forest wants to pull the home win over Duke, it’ll need a big game from Hunter Sallis. He was excellent in the first meeting vs the Blue Devils with 22 points and 35 DK on the road. Sallis is averaging 18.9 PPG and 31 DK over the past 10 contests and can match those outputs or better in an uptempo, higher-scoring matchup at home here. He also tends to play better at home than on the road in conference play, which makes him a stronger option this weekend.

CBB DFS Value Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Koren JohnsonUWARIZ640019.66510018.24
First off, Koren Johnson is a much better value on the FD slate and is just a GPP upside play on DK. Washington’s matchup vs Arizona will surely be a fast-paced and high-scoring game. Johnson, meanwhile, is on a hot streak with 30, 16, and 17 points scored in the past three games and 41, 21, and 34 FD points, respectively. He’s seeing a heavy shot volume as one of Washington’s go-to scorers.
L.J. CryerUHBAY610024.24580022.27
Anyone interested in the revenge game narrative for LJ Cryer this weekend? The former Baylor guard faces his old team in his old stadium, which is something we can’t ignore. Besides that, Cryer has the upside to exceed his cheaper prices when he’s on. He exploded for 26 points and 30 DK vs Texas last Saturday and also recently had 24 points/34 DK vs Kansas. Baylor’s 3-point defense has been shaky and Cryer is Houston’s top shooter.
Trevin KnellBYUKSU560020.7  
Trevin Knell has now started the past four games with double-digit points scored in each. He also has double-digit points in 14 of his past 15 starts this season. Knell is seeing a larger shot volume and role in the BYU offense like he was back in December and it’s raised his DFS value to a safer cash level. This weekend, Knell may be locked into an even safer role with Spencer Johnson possibly sitting out.
Adou ThieroUKBAMA  550019.07
If you want some cheap exposure to the high-total Bama vs UK game on FD, Adou Thiero is at an affordable price point for how much he’s doing lately. Thiero has been a much bigger part of Kentucky’s rotation with Tre Mitchell out, which may continue this weekend. He has 33, 23, and 31 FD points in three of the past four with the uptick in minutes while producing across multiple stat categories.
Khalif BattleARKMIZZ520016.95  
Who wants to take a chance on an Arkansas player this weekend?! The Razorbacks’ rotations and lineups have been a complete guessing game, but it appears Khalif Battle is on the positive side of things right now. He’s started the past two games with 18 points/23 DK in 34 minutes and then 15 points/26 DK in 35 minutes. Who knows if his role continues but if it does, Battle is a bargain in the low-5k DK price range.
Rylan GriffenBAMAUK  500018.02
Rylan Griffen continues to be an affordable way to get exposure to Alabama’s high-scoring, uptempo games. This matchup vs Kentucky boasts the largest total on the slate and Griffen is a solid cheap option for FD cash lineups. He’s averaging 13.4 PPG over the past 10 games and should be locked into even more minutes/shot volume with Latrell Wrightsell possibly out again for Bama.

CBB DFS Top Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Kel'el WareIUPSU830034.02820031.83
Penn State has the worst interior defense and is the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten. It’s a great spot to target opposing bigs and Kel’el Ware can certainly exploit the matchup. The Indiana center had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 41 DK in the first meeting vs Penn State and can easily replicate those numbers. Ware has 22 pts/16 rebs/51 DK and 17 pts/12 rebs/41 DK in the past two games as well. He’s got slate-breaking upside in the right matchups and has one this weekend.
Oumar BalloARIZUW820030.62760028.75
Oumar Ballo has been a double-double machine as he continues to be a stud DFS option. The Arizona big man is averaging 13.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 34 DK over the past 10 games and he’s recorded a double-double with 33+ DK in six straight. Though Washington does have some size, it’s hard to see Ballo being held down with Arizona projected to score 90+ points in a fast-paced home matchup.
Kyle FilipowskiDUKEWAKE810036.79880034.16
If Duke is on the slate, then we have to put Kyle Filipowski in our player pool for his GPP upside. That’s especially the case this weekend in a higher-scoring matchup vs Wake Forest, whom he had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 43 DK against recently. Filipowski doesn’t have a consistent enough floor to trust in cash but he can easily break the slate at his best.
Payton SandfortIOWAIL770030.21780027.74
Despite being double-digit underdogs on the road, Iowa is still projected to score 80+ points in this fast-paced matchup vs Illinois. He may go overlooked, but Payton Sandfort should be on our GPP radars. He’s averaging 17.7 PPG and 31 DK over the past 10 games while being Iowa’s go-to scorer more often than not. There is some risk for a dud performance, but Sandfort comes in having scored 18+ points in four straight and six of eight.
Coleman HawkinsILIOWA760029.79750027.55
Targeting opposing bigs vs Iowa has been very profitable for DFS and now we get to do it with Coleman Hawkins. The Illinois center is coming off a down effort in the upset loss at Penn St, but this is a great bounceback opportunity. Hawkins is still averaging 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 34 DK over the past 10 games and he can have a ceiling performance against Iowa’s poor interior defense.

CBB DFS Value Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Zach HicksPSUIU640016.73530015.14
Zach Hicks has been a great value forward for us lately and he’s still cheap enough to roster again this weekend. Hicks is now averaging 14.7 PPG over the past six games with at least 13 points scored in each. He’s seen a notable uptick in shot volume and offensive role over this past month and that’ll only continue with Kanye Clary off the team. The DK price increase puts him more in GPP territory there, but he’s an excellent value for FD cash.
Mohamed DiarraNCSTBC610015.52  
When NC State faced Boston College back in early December, Mohamed Diarra went bonkers with 8 points, 18 rebounds, and 34 DK. It was an outlier performance for him then, but Diarra is now in a much bigger role. He’s started the past two games and is seeing 25-35 minutes per game now. This has raised his cash floor and he’s posted 36, 33, and 22 DK in the past three. Even at an elevated price tag, Diarra is worth a look in GPP lineups.
Aziz BandaogoCINCYTCU600021.78520020.50
Aziz Bandaogo is a risky value, but he has GPP potential to exceed value at his best. The Cincy big man has 26 and 27 DK in two recent games when he asserted himself in the paint. Sometimes he gets into foul trouble or takes a backseat to others, which hurts his cash floor. Still, Bandaogo can have the matchup advantage against TCU’s weaker inside defense and with Ernest Udeh possibly out again.
Patrick McCafferyIOWAIL500016.29450015.35
Take one look at Patrick McCaffery’s game logs and you know it’s impossible to trust him in cash. However, there’s GPP potential for a 4x or 5x effort at his best – especially in a fast-paced, high-scoring game environment like this one. McCaffery just had 14 points and 22 DK at Michigan St and he recently had 21 points/27 DK vs Minnesota. He’s worth a look at some cheap prices.
Nick PringleBAMAUK  410012.57
Since returning from suspension, Nick Pringle has seen his minutes increase for four straight games – culminating in 27 last outing. He’s also had a bigger offensive role lately with 17 and 13 points scored in two of the last three, including 21+ FD in those two recent games. Pringle is even more important to Alabama’s frontcourt this weekend with Mohamed Wague suspended. He’s a very solid GPP or cash value on FD in a high-scoring game flow.

 

 

CBB DFS Core Plays 

DraftKings Cash

  • Caleb Love – Arizona
  • Hunter Sallis – Wake Forest
  • Trevin Knell – BYU

DraftKings GPP

  • Terrence Shannon – Illinois
  • Kyle Filipowski – Duke
  • LJ Cryer – Houston

FanDuel Cash

  • Caleb Love – Arizona
  • Mark Sears – Alabama
  • Zach Hicks – Penn State

FanDuel GPP

  • Kel'el Ware – Indiana
  • Jared McCain – Duke
  • Nick Pringle – Alabama
 

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