College Basketball DFS Playbook March 16 NCAA Tournament: Top DraftKings & FanDuel CBB DFS Picks
Welcome to our first full CBB DFS slate for the 2023 NCAA Tournament as the first round of March Madness games tip-off on Thursday. Our first game is at 12:15 pm ET with West Virginia vs. Maryland and the games last until late with UNC Asheville vs. UCLA wrapping it up at night. You can build CBB DFS lineups on both DraftKings and FanDuel for Thursday's NCAA Tournament games, and both sites are handling things differently. DraftKings has an all-day slate that features all 16 games while FanDuel broke it up into early and late slates. DK also has smaller slates with chunks of games if you want to do it that way. The highest totals on the slate overall are Utah State vs. Missouri, Auburn vs. Iowa, Princeton vs. Arizona, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Alabama.
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NCAA Tournament College Basketball Betting Odds March 16
(per DraftKings Sportsbook)
- 12:15 pm ET – West Virginia (-2) vs. Maryland – 137.5 O/U
- 12:40 pm ET – Furman vs. Virginia (-6) – 132 O/U
- 1:40 pm ET – Utah State (-1.5) vs. Missouri – 155.5 O/U
- 2:00 pm ET – Howard vs. Kansas (-22) – 146 O/U
- 2:45 pm ET – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Alabama (-24) – 155.5 O/U
- 2:55 pm ET – Charleston vs. San Diego State (-5) – 141.5 O/U
- 3:55 pm ET – Princeton vs. Arizona (-14.5) – 154.5 O/U
- 4:15 pm ET – Illinois vs. Arkansas (-2) – 144 O/U
- 6:50 pm ET – Auburn (-1) vs. Iowa – 151.5 O/U
- 7:10 pm ET – Oral Roberts vs. Duke (-5.5) – 146 O/U
- 7:25 pm ET – Colgate vs. Texas (-13.5) – 150.5 O/U
- 7:35 pm ET – Boise State vs. Northwestern (-2) – 127.5 O/U
- 9:05 pm ET – Northern Kentucky vs. Houston (-19) – 121.5 O/U
- 9:25 pm ET – Louisiana vs. Tennessee (-11.5) – 136.5 O/U
- 9:40 pm ET – Penn State vs. Texas A&M (-3) – 135 O/U
- 9:50 pm ET – UNC Asheville vs. UCLA (-17.5) – 135.5 O/U
CBB Top Projected Team Totals
(per KenPom.com)
- Alabama – 87
- Arizona – 85
- Utah State – 83
- Texas – 83
- Missouri – 79
- Auburn – 78
- Iowa – 77
- UCLA – 76
- Duke – 75
- Arkansas – 73
College Basketball CBB DFS Picks 3/16
CBB DFS Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Jamal Shead | UH | NORKY | 8400 | 25.92 | 7300 | 24.08 |
| Houston would be smart to hold Marcus Sasser out of this game, which would lock Shead into heavy offensive usage. Shead put up 38 and 25 DK in the past two games with Sasser sidelined and he can easily go for 30-40 DFS points in an easy matchup vs Northern Kentucky here. The cash floor should be strong for Shead if Sasser sits again, though the GPP ceiling is capped with the blowout potential. | ||||||
| Tyger Campbell | UCLA | NC-AS | 7900 | 26.35 | 7600 | 24.58 |
| Campbell ended the season strong for UCLA, averaging 19 PPG and 34 DK over the last seven games. He’s locked into more offensive usage and shot volume now with Jaylen Clark sidelined as the UCLA attack regularly centers around him, Jaime Jaquez, and Amari Bailey. Although the price tag has increased a bit over the past few weeks, Campbell is still a strong cash play and the Bruins get a pace boost vs UNC Asheville in the first round. | ||||||
| Santiago Vescovi | TENN | ULL | 7800 | 27.64 | 6800 | 25.21 |
| Vescovi is Tennessee’s clear offensive alpha now with Zakai Zeigler sidelined. He’s scored at least 14 points with 26+ DK in all four games with Zeigler out and he’s averaging a strong 16.8 PPG and 31 DK over this span. Vescovi was already a top offensive weapon for Tennessee, but Zeigler’s absence locks him into more consistent shot volume, usage, and overall ancillary stats – especially assists now. He’s a safe cash play and the FD discount is pretty nice. | ||||||
| Marcus Carr | UT | COLG | 7600 | 29.71 | 7700 | 27.75 |
| Though Sir’Jabari Rice and Dylan Disu came on strong for Texas in its Big 12 Tournament run, Carr should not be forgotten about as the Longhorns’ main offensive catalyst. The vet point guard is averaging a solid 13.4 PPG and 29 DK over the past 10 games and he offers a strong cash floor of ancillary stats and heavy usage. There’s a chance Colgate pushes Texas here, so Carr could be leaned on to keep the offense afloat more often than not. | ||||||
| Steven Ashworth | UTST | MIZZ | 7500 | 30.32 | 7100 | 27.72 |
| The Utah State vs Missouri matchup is definitely one to target with one of the high totals on the board and a tight spread. Ashworth is the main guy for Utah St and he can go off for 25+ points and 40+ DK in any game when he gets going from three-point range. He’s draining 44% from three with high volume this season and is averaging 17.4 PPG and 32 DK over the past 10 games. Ashworth has been a top playmaker for the Aggies over this past month and he should carry it right over in the bracket. | ||||||
| Jeremy Roach | DUKE | ORR | 6500 | 22.63 | 5700 | 20.67 |
| Roach came up big for Duke in the ACC title game with 23 points and 28 DK. He’s been a bit volatile scoring-wise lately, but the 20+ points and 30+ DK are there for him in a pace-boost matchup vs Oral Roberts. Duke will likely lean on Roach and his veteran presence at point guard to avoid an upset here and he shouldn’t go overlooked as a top guard in cash or GPP lineups. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Jalen Pickett – Penn State (Cash)
- D'Moi Hodge – Missouri (Cash)
- Anthony Black – Arkansas (Cash)
- Gradey Dick – Kansas (GPP)
- Max Shulga – Utah State (GPP)
CBB DFS Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Sean Bairstow | UTST | MIZZ | 5500 | 21.82 | 5300 | 19.98 |
| Bairstow presents an affordable way to get exposure to one of the slate’s highest totals. The senior wing is averaging a stat-filled 21 DK over the past 10 games and he’s shown the upside to go for 25-30 DK at his best. In an uptempo matchup like this one vs Mizzou, the path to value is definitely there for Bairstow with his ability to rack up ancillary stats even if he isn’t scoring many raw points. | ||||||
| Tyrese Proctor | DUKE | ORR | 5400 | 19.32 | 6100 | 17.61 |
| Proctor is a better value on DK than FD, but he’s still a solid bargain in a pace boost vs Oral Roberts. The freshman is averaging 10.6 PPG and 22 DK over the past 10 games and recently went off for 36 and 28 DK in the ACC Tournament. He’s been a bigger part of Duke’s offense down the stretch and his scoring/playmaking in the backcourt could be crucial to match Max Abmas on the other side. | ||||||
| Kerr Kriisa | ARIZ | PRIN | 5200 | 22.32 | 5000 | 19.54 |
| Kriisa has admittedly shot it terribly lately while nursing a shoulder injury and his DFS production has taken a hit in recent games. Still, this is too cheap for a guy that can easily drop 20-25 DK with his overall stats even if he’s not shooting it well. The blowout risk is definitely in play in what should be an easy win over Princeton, but Kriisa can still rack up stats to return value at his season-low DK price by a good margin. | ||||||
| K.D. Johnson | AUB | IOWA | 5000 | 15.47 | 4600 | 13.95 |
| Johnson is definitely a volatile DFS play, but he tends to have his better offensive performances in uptempo matchups – which will be the case vs Iowa. The combo guard just went for 20+ points scored and 30+ DK in two of the last three games coming into this one. Both were higher-scoring matchups vs Arkansas and Alabama. He also had 27 and 29 DK against Missouri and Bama, respectively, back in February. It’s boom or bust, but the 5x or 6x return is possible. | ||||||
| Don Carey | UMD | WVU | 4200 | 12.79 | 4600 | 11.40 |
| Carey ended the season hot, scoring in double figures in six straight games coming into this one. He also has at least 17 DK in five straight while averaging 19 DK over that span. Carey is one of Maryland’s best three-point shooters and West Virginia allowed opponents to shoot 34% from three this season. There’s a path for Carey to return value at his cheap price tags as he’s draining 40% from three over the past 10 games. | ||||||
| Joseph Yesufu | KU | HOW | 3500 | 6.99 | 4500 | 6.34 |
| Yesufu moved into Kansas’ starting lineup last game with Kevin McCullar out. He scored 11 points with 19 DK over 29 minutes in that Big 12 title game. There’s a decent chance McCullar sits out again since this should be an easy win over Howard, so Yesufu may get another start. If so, then he’s a massive bargain as Kansas is rolling with a tight rotation. Even in a blowout win, Yesufu will likely be in there late and racking up DFS points. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- JP Pegues – Furman (GPP)
- Allen Flanigan – Auburn (Cash/GPP)
- Pelle Larsson – Arizona (GPP)
- DeAndre Gholston – Missouri (Cash)
- David Singleton – UCLA (GPP)
- Lamont Butler – San Diego State (Cash)
- Terrance Arceneaux – Houston (GPP)
CBB DFS Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Azuolas Tubelis | ARIZ | PRIN | 9800 | 37.46 | 8800 | 35.10 |
| Tubelis is definitely expensive, but the Arizona big man should have his way with Princeton’s frontcourt in this first round. We know he’s locked into usage and shot volume on a regular basis and a 20-point double-double with a 40-50 DK upside is always in play. We may see Tubelis be more involved offensively and as a rebounder with Oumar Ballo nursing a fractured hand, which could limit his playing time in a presumed blowout. | ||||||
| Jalen Wilson | KU | HOW | 9300 | 37.37 | 9000 | 34.24 |
| If you played CBB DFS at all this season, you know Wilson is always top play if Kansas is on the slate. The Big 12 Player of the Year is averaging 18.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 35 DK over the past 10 games and he’s scored 20+ points in five straight coming into this matchup. Even in a blowout win, Wilson should do his thing and stuff the stat sheet per usual. Plus, he’ll be locked into even more DFS production if Kevin McCullar sits. | ||||||
| Kyle Filipowski | DUKE | ORR | 9000 | 32.93 | 8100 | 29.96 |
| Filipowski has been Duke’s best player all season and he’ll need to be great again to avoid an upset by Oral Roberts. Even though Filipowski has to deal with 7-foot-5 Connor Vanover, he should still be heavily involved offensively with 30-40 DFS points on the table. The freshman is averaging 15.3 PPG and 31 DK over the past 10 games and has four double-doubles in the past five coming into this matchup. Oral Roberts presents a nice pace boost for Duke too. | ||||||
| Johni Broome | AUB | IOWA | 8600 | 32.21 | 8000 | 30.83 |
| Broome hasn’t always been a trustworthy DFS option, but this is a very tasty matchup. Iowa has a poor interior defense and plays at a fast pace. It sets up well for the Auburn big man to have a double-double and 35-40 DFS points if he’s dominating inside. Broome is averaging 14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 31 DK per game over the past 10 contests. The pace boost should result in a lot more rebounding opportunities than usual. | ||||||
| J'Wan Roberts | UH | NORKY | 7800 | 25.52 | 6800 | 24.36 |
| Northern Kentucky is very undersized and a poor defensive rebounding team. It plays right into Roberts’ strengths as Houston’s top offensive rebounder and a physical presence around the rim on both ends. The big man just went off for 12 points, 20 rebounds, and 47 DK vs Memphis. Roberts is averaging 30 DK and a double-double over the past 10 games and he may be involved more offensively if Marcus Sasser sits. There's an upside to smash the slate in this favorable matchup. Don't overlook Jarace Walker either. | ||||||
| Taylor Funk | UTST | MIZZ | 7000 | 26.45 | 6600 | 24.18 |
| Funk’s DFS floor isn’t great, but he has plenty of GPP upside to smash the slate with his three-point shooting. He’s making 38% from deep this season and tends to take a ton of threes per game. Funk recently went off for 39 DK in back-to-back games with 24 and 32 points scored and 10-for-16 combined from three. It’s a boom-or-bust play, but there’s ceiling potential in an uptempo, high-total matchup vs Mizzou. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Brandon Miller – Alabama (Cash)
- Kobe Brown – Missouri (GPP)
- Drew Pember – UNC Asheville (GPP)
- Tre Mitchell – West Virginia (GPP)
CBB DFS Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Julian Phillips | TENN | ULL | 5300 | 19.62 | 5100 | 18.42 |
| Phillips has taken on a bigger role for Tennessee ever since Zakai Zeigler got hurt. The talented freshman is averaging 19 DK over the past four games, which isn’t anything flashy but he’s been more consistent than in previous games where his playing time and role fluctuated more. Phillips is a decent bargain at his low-5k price tags and he has the ceiling to pop off for 25-30 DFS points in this first-round matchup based on his talent alone. | ||||||
| Jaedon LeDee | SDSU | COFC | 5300 | 17.07 | 4700 | 16.22 |
| LeDee is one of those boom-or-bust GPP value plays, but the ceiling gives him 5x or 6x potential on this slate. Charleston allows a large majority of its points inside and that’s exactly where LeDee lives offensively as San Diego State’s top post scorer. He’s gone for 28+ DK in three of the last four games coming into this contest. The Aztecs may lean on LeDee offensively at times to avoid the upset and exploit Charleston’s main weakness defensively. | ||||||
| Charles Bediako | BAMA | TA&MC | 4800 | 18.92 | ||
| Bediako is a really good value for a guy that just went for 12 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, and 42 DK last game. The Alabama big man has been up and down this season, but he ended the season strong with 20+ DK in six of the last seven games and averaging 23 DK over the past 10 contests. He can easily record a double-double with 25-30 DK against an undersized Texas A&M-CC team in an uptempo matchup. | ||||||
| Kadin Shedrick | UV | FUR | 4500 | 15.28 | 5000 | 14.73 |
| Shedrick has moved into a bigger role in Virginia’s frontcourt with Ben Vander Plas out for the season. The junior center has 16, 20, and 16 DK in the past three games with Vander Plas out. He’s still been coming off the bench, but he’s logging more minutes than starter Francisco Caffaro during this recent stretch. At 6-foot-11, Shedrick will have a height advantage over Furman and Virginia gets a pace boost here. | ||||||
| Shy Odom | HOW | KU | 4300 | 20.5 | 5400 | 19.90 |
| Although Howard will surely lose big to Kansas in this first-round matchup, Odom is still a glaring value. His 25% usage rate and 24% shot share are both second on the team in conference play and that role gives him DFS value. The freshman wing is averaging 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 26 DK over the past 10 games and he’s exploded for 30+ DK in three recent outings. Yes, those performances came against weaker competition than Kansas. Still, there’s the upside to return value. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Makhi Mitchell – Arkansas (GPP)
- Christian Bishop – Texas (GPP)
- Julius Marble – Texas A&M (Cash)
- Noah Gurley – Alabama (GPP)
CBB DFS Core Plays
DraftKings All-Day Cash:
- Jalen Wilson – Kansas
- Johni Broome – Auburn
- Charles Bediako – Alabama
- Kerr Kriisa – Arizona
DraftKings All-Day GPP:
- Steven Ashworth – Utah State
- Azuolas Tubelis – Arizona
- Don Carey – Maryland
- K.D. Johnson – Auburn
FanDuel Early Cash:
- Steven Ashworth – Utah State
- Jalen Wilson – Kansas
- Kerr Kriisa – Arizona
FanDuel Early GPP:
- Azuolas Tubelis – Arizona
- Taylor Funk – Utah State
- Jaedon LeDee – San Diego State
FanDuel Late Cash:
- Santiago Vescovi – Tennessee
- Johni Broome – Auburn
- Jeremy Roach – Duke
FanDuel Late GPP:
- J'Wan Roberts – Houston
- Kyle Filipowski – Duke
- K.D. Johnson – Auburn
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