Who's ready for another fun college basketball DFS slate on Wednesday night?! We have a ton of intriguing matchups on tap with top teams like UConn, Arizona, Kentucky, Houston, Creighton, and Texas in action. This CBB DFS Playbook will focus on the main slates on both DraftKings and FanDuel. The DK main slate is an 8-gamer that includes the 7 pm ET tipoffs and a couple of 8 pm ET games. There is a late 9 pm ET slate on DK, FYI. The FD slate is a 7-gamer that includes two later games. Keep this in mind when building CBB DFS lineups as the top plays and values differ a ton depending on which site you're playing on. 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 17
- 7 pm ET – Mississippi State at Kentucky (-6.5) – 154.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Ole Miss at LSU (-3) – 150.5 O/U (DK Only)
- 7 pm ET – Creighton at UConn (-6.5) – 144.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Nebraska at Rutgers (-3) – 144 O/U (DK Only)
- 7 pm ET – Florida State at Miami FL (-7) – 158.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Virginia Tech at Virginia (-4) – 124.5 O/U
- 8 pm ET – West Virginia at Oklahoma (-12.5) – 144.5 (DK Only)
- 8 pm ET – UCF at Texas (-8.5) – 137 O/U
- 9 pm ET – Texas Tech at Houston (-13) – 129.5 O/U (FD Only)
- 10 pm ET – USC at Arizona (-19) – 158.5 O/U (FD Only)
Top KenPom Team Totals
- Arizona – 88
- Miami FL – 81
- Kentucky – 80
- LSU – 75
- Mississippi State – 75
- Florida State – 75
- UConn – 74
- Texas – 73
- Ole Miss – 73
College Basketball CBB DFS Picks
CBB DFS Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Baylor Scheierman | CRE | UCONN | 8900 | 37.02 | 8500 | 33.51 |
| Baylor Scheierman continues to be a stat-stuffing DFS stud for cash lineups and is firmly in play tonight despite the road matchup at UConn. He’s averaging a strong stat line of 17.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 38 DK over the past 10 games with 32+ DK in 11 straight contests. Scheierman is producing both on the road and at home, in easy or tough matchups, and in slow or fast-paced games. Despite the expensive price, he’s as consistent as it gets. | ||||||
| Caleb Love | ARIZ | USC | 8100 | 30.52 | ||
| On the FD main slate, Caleb Love should be considered a top overall guard play with Arizona being big home favorites in a high-total matchup. Love has at least 20 points scored in seven of the past nine games and 32+ DK in seven of the past 10 contests. He’s the offensive catalyst for Zona and gets an easy matchup here against a USC backcourt that’s likely without both Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis tonight. | ||||||
| Max Abmas | UT | UCF | 8200 | 30.39 | 7700 | 27.44 |
| Max Abmas has been a top playmaker for Texas all season and he hasn’t slowed down in conference play. The dynamic guard has 46, 28, and 32 DK in the first three Big 12 matchups and just dropped 32 points scored last game. The Texas offense is leaning heavily on Abmas and Dylan Disu right now with both guys being elite plays. Abmas is averaging 19.7 PPG and 32 DK over the past 10 games and is a great cash guard, especially on FD at a cheaper price. | ||||||
| Matthew Cleveland | MIA | FSU | 8000 | 29.8 | 7600 | 27.61 |
| Matthew Cleveland is another DFS stud cash guard who just continues to produce. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 31 DK over the past 10 games and we can basically pencil him in for 30 DK or so every night. While Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar, and Norchad Omier are upside GPP plays from Miami, it’s Cleveland who is the consistent cash guy no matter the matchup. Tonight, it’s a revenge spot for him against his former Florida State squad. | ||||||
| Tristen Newton | UCONN | CRE | 7800 | 35.21 | 8200 | 32.24 |
| Since his dud outing vs DePaul, Tristen Newton has returned to his cash DFS stud level. He’s put up 33, 46, and 30 DK in the past three games with his normal stat-stuffing on full display. Though Cam Spencer is lighting it up lately, Newton continues to bring a strong cash floor with his assists, rebounds, and scoring. He’s averaging 14.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over the past 10 games and we can pencil him in for 30-40 DFS points tonight in a tight matchup vs Creighton. | ||||||
| Sean Pedulla | VT | UV | 7700 | 29.04 | 8300 | 26.01 |
| Sean Pedulla has been going bonkers lately. He’s scored 33, 32, and 26 points in the past three games with 57 and 54 DK in the last two. Pedulla has taken on very heavy shot volume and usage in the Virginia Tech offense and he’s instantly become an upside GPP stud for us. On the road at Virginia is tough, especially in a slower-tempo game, but it’s impossible to ignore the heater that Pedulla is on right now. | ||||||
| Rob Dillingham | UK | MSST | 7100 | 27.62 | 7100 | 25.62 |
| Kentucky’s guards continue to be upside GPP plays that are tough to trust in cash but always carry potential. Reed Sheppard and Antonio Reeves are always in play, but Rob Dillingham is slightly cheaper than both with the same level of GPP ceiling. Dillingham still leads Kentucky in usage and shot rate in conference play and he always has that 30+ DK upside when the shot is falling. It’s admittedly hard to get a read on these guys game-to-game, but consider all three in GPP lineups and hope you hit on the right one. | ||||||
CBB DFS Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Josh Hubbard | MSST | UK | 5700 | 22.1 | 5800 | 20.53 |
| Kentucky plays at the 12th-fastest pace in college basketball and it’s a major pace-boost for Mississippi State tonight. The uptempo game flow should favor the Miss St guards to keep the pace – especially since Kentucky is weaker defensively on the perimeter. Josh Hubbard is still a huge part of the offense since Tolu Smith arrived and he’s in a high-usage role as the shooting guard. Hubbard is averaging 13.7 PPG and 20 DK over the past 10 games and his scoring will be needed if Miss St wants to keep this close. | ||||||
| Oziyah Sellers | USC | ARIZ | 4900 | 8.44 | ||
| You may think Bronny James is the play in USC’s backcourt with Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis out, but Oziyah Sellers may actually be the way to go. The sophomore just led USC in scoring last game with 18 points while Collier/Ellis were sidelined. He took 14 shot attempts in 27 bench minutes and thoroughly outplayed Bronny. Even though Arizona likely wins big here, the uptempo game flow can still allow Sellers to return value on the FD slate. | ||||||
| Steven Ashworth | CRE | UCONN | 5300 | 17.66 | 4800 | 15.94 |
| On the road at UConn tonight, Steven Ashworth’s guard play will be needed for Creighton to generate offense. The Bluejays basically only have three reliable ball-handlers with Ashworth as the secondary guy behind Scheierman and Alexander. That role has allowed Ashworth to produce 20+ DK in three of the past four games as his offensive usage and role have increased a bit in Big East play. He's a decent salary-saver in cash tonight. | ||||||
| Jalen Warley | FSU | MIA | 4600 | 16.62 | 5700 | 15.99 |
| Though he’s in a secondary role for Florida State, Jalen Warley still has the GPP potential to exceed value. He has 20+ DK in four of the past seven games and tends to do just enough across the board. Warley’s minutes and offensive role are fluctuating, but it’s good to see him take double-digit shots with 25 DK last game. In this uptempo matchup vs Miami, Warley should be needed more – especially as a key defender on the wing vs Matthew Cleveland. That ideally will lock him into more minutes. | ||||||
| Austin Williams | RU | NEB | 4100 | 11.6 | ||
| Austin Williams has now started the past two games for Rutgers, playing 32 and 24 minutes. It’s coincided with Noah Fernandes demoted to the bench and barely getting playing time now. We’ll see if this trend continues but if it does, then Williams to way too cheap. He has 19, 24, and 13 DK in the past three and doesn’t need to do much in his starting role to return value – despite playing in a lower-scoring game. | ||||||
CBB DFS Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | CRE | UCONN | 8300 | 32.13 | 8400 | 30.50 |
| While Ryan Kalkbrenner has been inconsistent at times this season, he’s picked it up lately. The Creighton center has 40+ DK in three straight games while averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds in this recent stretch. If Donovan Clingan is out again for UConn here, then Kalkbrenner should have the advantage in the paint and another 20-point double-double with 40 DK or so is in the cards. People may overlook him because of the tougher road matchup, but Kalkbrenner certainly has GPP upside. | ||||||
| Alex Karaban | UCONN | CRE | 7700 | 29.56 | 7700 | 27.42 |
| This is now Alex Karaban’s highest DK price since November, but he’s still in play as a main part of UConn’s offense right now. Over the past four games with Donovan Clingan out, Karaban is averaging 19.3 PPG and 34 DK with at least 30 DK in all four. If Clingan is out again tonight (which is likely), then Karaban should be firmly on our GPP radar despite the price increase. He has the upside to go for 20+ points and 35+ DK in any game right now. | ||||||
| Tolu Smith | MSST | UK | 7200 | 28.06 | 7300 | 25.85 |
| We’re starting to see Mississippi State lean on Tolu Smith more often now that he’s fully back from the early-season injury recovery. The big man has put up 30 and 33 DK in the past two games since he entered the starting lineup. He took double-digit shots in both with 23 points and 4 rebounds in one game and 15/10 in the other. Kentucky does have multiple bigs to throw at him tonight, but Smith will always be in play and he’s still a tad cheaper than what we’d normally get him at. | ||||||
| Dylan Disu | UT | UCF | 7100 | 26.32 | 7200 | 24.20 |
| After an up-and-down start to the season following a return from injury, Dylan Disu’s offensive usage and role have now increased a ton. He’s started the past two games, dropped 54 and 30 DK in the two games, and logged 34 and 28 minutes. Disu has scored 33 and 18 points in these two starts with 23 and 12 shots taken, respectively. He’s now a main scorer for the Longhorns and it looks like his expanded role should continue in Big 12 play. | ||||||
| Clifford Omoruyi | RU | NEB | 6900 | 29.66 | ||
| Cliff Omoruyi has seen a notable price decrease now after some terrible offensive performances lately. He’s scored in single-digits in four straight games and five of the past six. However, this is a classic buy-low opportunity on a guy that still has the GPP upside to drop 40-50 DFS points in any given night. He has the potential to post a 15-20 point double-double and smash the slate with the blocks added in. At home would be the spot to target him and Nebraska isn’t too tough of a matchup to get one of those ceiling games. | ||||||
CBB DFS Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Tyler Nickel | VT | UV | 5400 | 15.95 | 4800 | 14.55 |
| With Hunter Cattoor out, Tyler Nickel has stepped into more playing time with a bigger role. He just played 37 minutes as a starter with Cattoor out on Saturday and had 15 DK. In the game before, Nickel dropped 24 points and 36 DK after his teammate got hurt. Nickel has taken double-digit shots in both of these past two games and that uptick in shot volume can continue if Cattoor remains out here. | ||||||
| Aaron Bradshaw | UK | MSST | 4700 | 16.16 | 5500 | 15.31 |
| This is a nice buy-low opportunity on Aaron Bradshaw. The freshman big man only played 7 minutes last game after getting into foul trouble and most people will likely stay away from. His playing time and DFS production are impossible to trust in cash, but he definitely has the talent to exceed GPP value if he can stay on the court. Bradshaw just had 25 and 18 DK in the two previous games while playing 25 and 30 minutes, respectively. If he can avoid foul issues vs Tolu Smith tonight, then Bradshaw is too cheap. | ||||||
| C.J. Walker | UCF | UT | 4400 | 15.35 | 5000 | 14.32 |
| C.J. Walker has now started the past two games after recently returning from injury. He’s logged 30 and 28 minutes in these past two starts with 19 and 18 DK, respectively. The DFS outputs aren’t flashy, but Walker’s increase in playing time and starting role make him a slightly safer cash value now. While the road matchup at Texas is tough tonight, Walker is still in play at 5k and cheaper. | ||||||
| Tyrell Ward | LSU | MISS | 3900 | 14.5 | ||
| Tyrell Ward’s DFS production has been fluctuating with LSU running a deep rotation and the minutes being fluid. Tonight could be one of those higher-level performances from Ward, though. He should see the higher end of his minutes against Ole Miss, who has more length on the wing than normal. Ward’s versatile skillset will likely be needed more often and if he gets 25-30 minutes, then he can return value. He had 18 DK in 27 minutes last game and has shown 20+ DK upside at times this year. | ||||||
| Jordan Minor | UV | VT | 3600 | 5.75 | 3800 | 5.40 |
| With Virginia losing four of the last six games, the lineups and rotations are very much in flux. One guy who could start seeing more playing time is Jordan Minor. He actually got the start last game and put up 18 DK in a season-high 22 minutes. Minor was previously a high-usage stud center at Merrimack and the UVA coaching staff might now look to see if he can perform better than freshman Blake Buchanan, who only got 8 minutes last game. If we see Minor starting again tonight, then he’s worth a GPP dart for the chance at 20 DFS points or so like last time. | ||||||
CBB DFS Core Plays
DraftKings Cash
- Matthew Cleveland – Miami FL
- Tristen Newton – UConn
- Austin Williams – Rutgers (if starting)
DraftKings GPP
- Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton
- Rob Dillingham – Kentucky
- Jalen Warley – Florida State
FanDuel Cash
- Caleb Love – Arizona
- Dylan Disu – Texas
- Matthew Cleveland – Miami FL
FanDuel GPP
- Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton
- Alex Karaban – UConn
- Oziyah Sellers – USC
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