Tuesday night's college basketball DFS slate is a big one and it's time to dive into top CBB DFS picks and plays. We're going to focus on the DraftKings 9-game main slate tipping off at 6:30 pm ET with Butler vs Xavier. You can also build lineups on FD but the slate is very different with some later games added in. DK also has a 9 pm ET late slate you can build lineups from. Again, this playbook centers on the early main DK slate for CBB DFS lineups. All college basketball odds are from DraftKings 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 college basketball DFS lineups tonight!

 

College Basketball DFS Slate January 16

  • 6:30 pm ET – Butler at Xavier (-5.5) – 150.5 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – Missouri at Alabama (-14.5) – 161 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – Purdue (-9.5) at Indiana – 150 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – TCU at Cincinnati (-3) – 151.5 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – Wake Forest at NC State (-2) – 149.5 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – Syracuse at Pittsburgh (-6.5) – 148 O/U 
  • 8 pm ET – Baylor at Kansas State (-1) – 140.5 O/U
  • 9:30 pm ET – St. John’s (-1) at Seton Hall – 145.5 O/U

 

Top KenPom Team Totals

  1. Alabama – 89
  2. Purdue – 81
  3. Xavier – 78
  4. Cincinnati – 77
  5. St. John's – 75
  6. Wake Forest – 75
  7. NC State – 74
  8. Seton Hall – 74
  9. Pittsburgh – 74
  10. TCU – 74
  11. Baylor – 73
  12. Missouri – 72

 

College Basketball CBB DFS Picks 

CBB DFS Top Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Kadary RichmondSHUSTJN900035.68
Kadary Richmond continues to be a stat-stuffing DFS stud. Seton Hall’s high-usage PG is averaging 17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 37 DK over the past 10 games with a couple of 50+ outbursts – including just last game vs Butler. Whether on the road/at home or against better/worse teams, Richmond is a strong cash play and now gets a pace-boost vs St. John's here at home.
Mark SearsBAMAMIZZ840034.44
Mark Sears is always a good cash guard as the usage and shot volume leader for Alabama’s fast-paced offense. He’s averaging 20 PPG and 33 DK over the past 10 games and has scored 21, 31, and 22 real points in Bama’s first three SEC games. Sears doesn’t have as strong of a floor with ancillary stats as Richmond or others, but the GPP ceiling gets a boost in a high-scoring matchup vs Mizzou.
Sean East IIMIZZBAMA740029.23
Though Missouri has lost six of the past seven games, Sean East is still a very solid cash guard. He’s averaging 18.3 points, 8.8 assists/rebounds, and 33 DK over the past 10 games and has 27+ DK in 10 of the last 11 contests. East has been as consistent as it gets for DFS while in a high-usage point guard role. Mizzou gets a pace boost tonight and while it could be a double-digit loss, East can still perform.
Desmond ClaudeXAVBUTLE730028.75
Both Quincy Olivari and Desmond Claude are firmly in play for Xavier tonight at home. The offense revolves heavily around those two guys and both are posting strong DFS performances lately. As for Claude, he has 32+ DK in four of the past six and is averaging 15 points, 9.6 rebounds/assists, and 30 DK over the past 10 games. Butler’s defense has struggled on the road in Big East play and Xaiver likes to play fast with Claude being a big part of the playmaking.
Carlton CarringtonPITTSYR720029.92
Pitt gets a notable pace-boost matchup tonight with Syracuse running at the 26th-fastest tempo. It puts Carlton Carrington in a great spot as Pitt’s main offensive playmaker from the point. The freshman is averaging a solid 13.8 points, 9.1 rebounds/assists, and 28 DK over the past 10 games and 30+ DK in six of the past nine contests. An up-tempo game gives him a boost, like when he had 17 points and 33 DK vs Cuse last month.
DJ HorneNCSTWAKE680027.33
The NC State offense mostly revolves around DJ Burns down low and DJ Horne in the backcourt. Horne boasts 24% usage and 27% shot rate in conference play so far and he’s averaging a strong 16.8 PPG and 30 DK over the past 10 games. Horne went off for 27 points and 38 DK last game vs Louisville and can carry that over into tonight’s home pace-boost matchup vs Wake. The GPP upside is there at this sub-7k price.

CBB DFS Value Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Tamar BatesMIZZBAMA570016.41
Tamar Bates has been a main contributor for Mizzou over the past month. He’s averaging 17 PPG and 24 DK over the past six games and it’s coincided with Caleb Grill being sidelined. The backcourt rotation has shortened in this recent stretch with Grill out and Bates has been a main beneficiary in terms of his scoring role and DFS outputs. In an up-tempo matchup tonight, he continues to be a solid value in the mid-5k range.
Rylan GriffenBAMAMIZZ560018.3
After starting the season slow, Rylan Griffen has taken on a bigger role for Alabama over the past month. The sophomore wing has scored double-digit points in five of the last seven games while averaging 22 DK in this stretch. He has a few outbursts of 27, 34, and 23 DK in the past six contests with an uptick in shot volume, minutes, and usage since Bama started conference play. He’s a solid cash value in the mid-5k range.
Day Day ThomasCINCYTCU560021.19
Day Day Thomas gets a price decrease tonight because of some recent subpar games. Yet, he’s a nice buy-low candidate with Cincy back at home and getting a notable pace-boost matchup vs TCU. Thomas has 20+ DK in four of the past six games and he boasts 24% usage/shot rates in conference play so far. He’s a good bet to score double-digit points with 25 DK or so tonight as a GPP value.
Langston LoveBAYKSU500016.98
Langston Love’s fluctuating role and playing time have been tough to trust for DFS this season, but he appears to be trending up. Since Baylor started conference play, Love is in a more defined role. He’s scored 14+ points with 30+ minutes in all three Big 12 games so far with an uptick in playing time and shot volume. His DFS value is still mostly reliant on pure points scored, so limit to GPPs – but the 5k price is very cheap.
Jaland LowePITTSYR440011.92
Jaland Lowe is an interesting value for Pitt tonight. He’s seen an increased role and started the past two games with Ishmael Leggett out and it’s raised his DFS floor. Lowe has 15, 23, and 17 DK in the past three games with 25+ minutes played in each. Leggett returned last game but Lowe still started and logged 31 minutes with double-digit shot attempts. We’ll see if this changes, but for now, Lowe is still viable below 5k in a pace-boost matchup at home here.

 

CBB DFS Top Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Zach EdeyPURIU1050043.53
As always, Zach Edey needs to be considered whenever on the slate. He’s coming off a massive performance vs Penn State with 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 65 DK. That’s a good reminder of his legit DFS ceiling when he’s dominating the paint on both ends. Still, he’s more optimal in GPP lineups for the upside rather than cash. Indiana has the size to slow him down more and Purdue’s road struggles are a glaring worry too.
Joel SorianoSTJNSHU800036.09
There have only been a handful of games this season when Joel Soriano didn’t put up 30+ DK as a safe cash forward. The St. John’s center is a walking double-double – averaging 17 PPG and 10 RPG this year – and you can pencil him in for 30-40 DFS points with that consistent production. Seton Hall does have Jaden Bediako to match up with Soriano tonight, but he’s also come through against quality bigs all year.
Viktor LakhinCINCYTCU710030.02
Viktor Lakhin is coming off one of his worst games of the season on the road at Baylor on Saturday. Tonight presents a nice bounce back opportunity for Cincy’s big man, though. Lakhin had 30+ DK in four of the previous five games while averaging 13.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 30 DK on the year. TCU has a weaker interior defense and Lakhin could be a mismatch in the paint. This is a season-low DK price for him and a good buy-low spot.
Efton Reid IIIWAKENCST690026.17
Since Efton Reid joined Wake’s starting lineup, he’s averaging 10 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 29 DK. His role has solidified more now since becoming eligible in December and he’s become a much better DFS play. Reid has a height advantage over DJ Burns and NC State tonight, so a double-double and another 30 DK or so is certainly in play. He’s still a nice bargain below 7k.
Grant NelsonBAMAMIZZ680027.61
Grant Nelson has been a boom-or-bust GPP play all season. The highs can be 30-35 DFS points or more when he’s at his best. The lows, though, are a 20 DK performance or worse as he can crush lineups. Tonight, we could get one of those better Nelson games in a higher-scoring matchup vs Mizzou’s below-average defense.

 

CBB DFS Value Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Will McNair Jr.KSUBAY570018.52
Will McNair has been very solid for Kansas State over the past month or so. The senior center is averaging 22 DK over the past eight games with multiple 25+ DK outbursts when he scores double-digit points. The production should be on the higher side tonight with Baylor struggling inside defensively. In the past three games since K-St started conference play, McNair has 27, 25, and 23 DK.
Mackenzie MgbakoIUPUR560018.9
Mackenzie Mgbako’s DFS outputs and playing time have been fluctuating this season. At his best, Mgabko can easily return value if he’s priced below 6k like tonight. The freshman wing has 29 and 24 DK in the past two games and has 24+ DK in four of the past six contests. In conference play, Mgbako is shooting 45% from three and that perimeter scoring will be needed to pull off an upset over Purdue – which tends to allow more three-point attempts.
Mason GillisPURIU500013.56
When Mason Gillis is hitting some threes, he’s shown the GPP upside to exceed value. He has 25, 21, and 21 DK in three of the past five games and just went 5-for-10 from deep in a recent road game at Nebraska. His cash floor isn’t strong, but Gillis is in play because Indiana has struggled to defend the three this year.
Jamille ReynoldsCINCYTCU470014.21
Jamille Reynolds has been up and down for real life and DFS since becoming eligible for Cincy in early December. He does have at least 15 DK in five of the last six games, though, while giving Cincy better size to compliment Viktor Lakhin at the center spot. TCU’s interior defense has struggled at times this season and Reynolds will be a handful for a mostly undersized frontcourt. He’s more of a GPP play but the sub-5k price is attractive in a home pace-boost matchup.

 

CBB DFS Core Plays 

DraftKings Cash

  • Mark Sears – Alabama
  • Joel Soriano – St. John's
  • Tamar Bates – Missouri

DraftKings GPP

  • Zach Edey – Purdue
  • Grant Nelson – Alabama
  • Day Day Thomas – Cincinnati 
 

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