The college basketball week rolls on with another fun night of CBB DFS picks on Thursday. Tonight's slate features a couple of marquee Big Ten matchups and a slew of Pac-12 showdowns late. You can build CBB DFS lineups tonight on DraftKings for the 8-game main slate tipping off at 7 pm ET with Iowa vs Michigan State and SMU vs Memphis. Some of the top players in action include Zach Edey, Kendric Davis, Kris Murray, and Azuolas Tubelis. 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, January 26th.

 

College Basketball CBB DFS Slate & Betting Odds January 26

(via DraftKings Sportsbook)

  • 7 pm ET – Iowa at Michigan State (-2) – 145.5 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – SMU at Memphis (-13) – 150.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – Purdue (-5) at Michigan – 135.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – Colorado at Oregon (-6.5) – 136.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – UCLA (-5) at USC – 133.5 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Utah (-7.5) at Oregon State – 129.5 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Arizona State (-2.5) at Washington – 142.5 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Arizona (-5) at Washington State – 144.5 O/U

CBB Top Team Totals

(via KenPom.com)

  1. Memphis – 81
  2. Michigan State – 76
  3. Arizona – 75
  4. Iowa – 73
  5. Washington State – 72
  6. Purdue – 72
  7. Oregon – 71
  8. Arizona State – 71
  9. UCLA – 70

 

College Basketball CBB DFS Top Plays 1/26

CBB DFS Top Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Kendric DavisMEMSMU960037.99
If you can fit him into lineups, Davis is always a top overall player when Memphis is on the slate. The dynamic point guard is rolling through conference play and averaging 23.9 PPG and 42 DK over the past 10 contests. You can always count on 30-35 DK with his consistently high usage and heavy shot volume. Plus, the upside for a 50-burger is definitely there against a bottom-tier SMU defense tonight.There's even more added incentive with Davis facing his old team for the first time.
Will RichardsonORECOL790030.6
Richardson is coming off of one of his worst games of the season, so DK has priced him below 8k for the first time since early December. This is a nice buy-low opportunity for a guy that can put up 35-40 DK at his best and will benefit from playing at home in a pace-boost vs Colorado. Ironically, Richardson had a complete dud vs the Buffs earlier this season – but we have to bank on him playing a lot better in this rematch.
Zhuric PhelpsSMUMEM750030.01
SMU is rightfully a big underdog to Memphis tonight, but Phelps can still pop off in DFS in an uptempo matchup. The Mustangs’ point guard boasts a whopping 30% usage rate and 34% shot share during conference play and regularly pumps out 30-35 DK performances with the sizable role. Phelps has gotten back on track in the past three games after missing time with an injury. He could also be motivated to play well against his former teammate, Kendric Davis.
Tyger CampbellUCLAUSC740026.01
Before we get into Campbell, know that both Jaime Jaquez and Jaylen Clark are also good plays tonight for UCLA. If you want to go a bit cheaper and lock in 25-30 DK for cash lineups, then Campbell is your guy. The Bruins’ point guard boasts a consistent DFS floor with his high-usage role and he’ll be plenty involved in this tough road matchup. Campbell tends to step up on the road, averaging 16.6 PPG and 30 DK away from home in Pac-12 play.

Also Consider:

  • Drew Peterson – USC ($8700) – Cash
  • Jaylen Clark – UCLA ($8200) – Cash/GPP
  • A.J. Hoggard – Michigan State ($7600) – GPP
  • Fletcher Loyer – Purdue ($6200) – GPP

CBB DFS Value Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Jaden AkinsMSUIOWA570018.3
Michigan State gets a great matchup tonight for DFS in a major pace-boost against the worst defense in the Big Ten. It benefits all the Spartans, but especially Akins with a likely uptick in shot volume and ancillary stats to be a solid cash value. He’s averaging 20 DK over the past 10 games and should give us 25-30 DK tonight.
Keonte KennedyMEMSMU550015.21
Kennedy has 20+ DK in four straight games while benefiting from Alex Lomax’s absence. He’s now started the past three games with Lomax out and that’ll continue for another game or two until his teammate returns. Kennedy is a solid value in the sub-6k range for the 4x return or so. You could do a lot worse in cash lineups.
David SingletonUCLAUSC510019.08
People may avoid Singleton tonight since Amari Bailey is expected back. Bailey will likely be on a minutes restriction, though, and Singleton should still start and see 30 minutes or so. We get a price decrease on Singleton after he had his worst game of the season on Saturday. This is a great buy-low spot for a guy who’s at his cheapest price in a month. Besides that dud against Arizona last game, Singleton has been usually rolling out 20 DK or more in his starting role while Amari Bailey’s been out.
Ahron UlisIOWAMSU410013.57
When Ulis gets the minutes, he’s been a good value for 20 DK or so lately. The only problem is that it’s impossible to trust his playing time in an unpredictable Iowa rotation – especially if Patrick McCaffery returns tonight. Still, he’s worth strong consideration for the 5x upside at this cheap price tag.
Joey BakerMICHPUR35008.97
Baker will likely start tonight for Michigan if Jett Howard is out. Howard is dealing with an ankle injury and should be considered doubtful after not practicing this week. If Baker starts, he might be a cash lock at this dirt cheap price and he’ll be popular. The former Duke transfer has been a solid bench player for the Wolverines this season, but he can potentially return 7x value or more in a starting role.

Also Consider:

  • TJ Bamba – Washington State ($6100) – GPP
  • Tre White – USC ($5300) – Cash
  • Elijah McCadden – Memphis ($5200) – GPP
  • Julian Hammond – Colorado ($4100) – GPP

CBB DFS Top Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Kris MurrayIOWAMSU940039.85
Like his twin brother last year, Murray has been a stud all season in a high-usage role for Iowa and dominating the Big Ten on a nightly basis for DFS. Since returning from injury in late December, Murray is averaging 23.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 41.5 DK per game in the past seven contests. This expensive price tag is certainly warranted, but it’s actually the cheapest he’s been in a while. On the road at Michigan State is a tad worrisome, but Murray should anchor cash lineups with plenty of upside per usual.
Azuolas TubelisARIZWSU920038.31
When Arizona faced Washington St earlier this season, Tubelis went off for 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 51 DK despite the Wildcats losing by double-digits. We can’t expect a complete repeat of that performance, but the big man should have plenty of success against a bottom-tier WSU frontcourt. Expect Tubelis to get a ton of looks inside as Arizona tries to exploit that matchup and get revenge tonight. We could be looking at another 40-50 DK outing with a 20-point double-double.
Keion Brooks Jr.UWASU840031.72
Brooks continues to produce for DFS whether or not Washington wins games. He just had 17 points, nine rebounds, and 37 DK last game despite the Huskies losing by 25. He also had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 43 DK last week in a win over Cal. Brooks has turned into a safe cash stud every time out and he’s averaging 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 33 DK over the past 10 games. He had a double-double and 30 DK vs Arizona State earlier this season and should do something similar in this rematch.
Joey HauserMSUIOWA720028.26
Hauser is really affordable for someone who’s averaging 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 29 DK over the past 10 games. In a major pace-boost matchup tonight, Hauser has the upside for 35-40 DK and a double-double. He’s shown that ceiling at times this season but the uptempo atmosphere against a weak Iowa defense benefits him and the Spartans overall for DFS. Don’t overlook Hauser in cash or GPP.

Also Consider:

  • Zach Edey – Purdue ($11000) – GPP
  • DeAndre Williams – Memphis ($9500) – GPP
  • Hunter Dickinson – Michigan ($8800) – Cash
  • Adem Bona – UCLA ($6600) – GPP

CBB DFS Value Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Andrej JakimovskiWSUARIZ500012.55
Jakimovski has been very inconsistent to trust for DFS, but the potential 5x upside is there in a pace-boost matchup at home tonight. The Washington State power forward has popped off for 25 DK in two of the last three games while scoring in double figures both times. He has that potential if he’s more involved offensively, but it’s not a consistent role right now.
Jaxon KohlerMSUIOWA38009.94
Kohler has stepped into a bigger role off the Michigan State bench recently with Malik Hall sidelined. The freshman exploded for 34 DK and a double-double in 23 minutes vs Purdue two games ago and then had 16 DK in 18 minutes on Sunday. Kohler has been productive when given the playing time this season and he’s a solid value under 4k for the possible 6x return in a pace-boost matchup here vs Iowa.
Tarris Reed Jr.MICHPUR370010.12
Reed has been a decent frontcourt bench option for Michigan, but he could step into more playing time at power forward if Jett Howard is out tonight. It’s unlikely Reed starts if Howard is out, but there will be plenty of minutes up for grabs and Reed is a candidate to play more – especially with Michigan needing multiple bodies to throw at Zach Edey in this matchup. Reed has shown he can put up 20 DK or so when given the minutes, so don’t overlook him.
Vincent IwuchukwuUSCUCLA33007.81
The freshman is slowly starting to get more playing time in USC’s rotation. He’s logged 15 and 14 minutes in the past two games and looks pretty healthy out there after missing the first chunk of the season following a preseason cardiac arrest. Iwuchukwu played well last time out with 12 points, five rebounds, and 19 DK in just 14 minutes and could be a steal at this price if he starts getting 20-25 minutes soon.

Also Consider:

  • Connor McCaffery – Iowa ($5700) – GPP
  • Caleb Furst – Purdue ($5600) – Cash
  • Nate Bittle – Oregon ($4500) – GPP

 

CBB DFS Core Plays 

DK Cash:

  • Azuolas Tubelis – Arizona
  • Keion Brooks – Washington
  • Joey Baker – Michigan (if starting)

DK GPP:

  • Kris Murray – Iowa
  • Joey Hauser – Michigan State
  • Vincent Iwuchukwu – USC
 

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