Welcome back to another jam-packed college basketball slate for our CBB DFS lineups tonight. You can build CBB DFS lineups on DraftKings for the 12-game main slate tipping off at 6:30 pm ET with Maryland vs Rutgers. We also have top teams like Gonzaga, Arizona, UCLA, Purdue, Ohio State, Houston, Iowa, and Indiana headlining the slate. Keep in mind that the slate includes games all the way through 11 pm ET tonight, so don't be afraid to late swap. There are a ton of ways to go for CBB daily fantasy picks, so let's dive in! 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 5th.

 

College Basketball CBB DFS Slate & Betting Odds January 5

(via DraftKings Sportsbook)

  • 6:30 pm ET – Maryland at Rutgers (-5.5) – 130.5 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – Purdue at Ohio State (-1.5) – 139 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – UAB at Florida Atlantic (-2) – 147 O/U
  • 7 pm ET – SMU at Houston (-20) – 130.5 O/U
  • 8 pm ET – Washington State at Arizona State (-4) – 130.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – Indiana at Iowa (-1) – 152.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – Oregon at Colorado (-2) – 143.5 O/U
  • 9 pm ET – Cincinnati (-2) at Wichita State – 134 O/U
  • 9:30 pm ET – USC at UCLA (-11) – 137 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Oregon State at Utah (-13) – 130 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Gonzaga (-9.5) at San Francisco – 156.5 O/U
  • 11 pm ET – Washington at Arizona (-18.5) – 154.5 O/U

CBB Top Team Totals

(via KenPom.com)

  1. Arizona – 87
  2. Gonzaga – 82
  3. FAU – 78
  4. UCLA – 78
  5. Indiana – 77
  6. Iowa – 76
  7. Houston – 74
  8. San Francisco – 74
  9. Colorado – 74
  10. UAB – 73
  11. Oregon – 72
  12. Ohio State – 72

 

College Basketball CBB DFS Top Plays 1/5

CBB DFS Top Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Jordan WalkerUABFAU910039.31
Jelly Walker has been a stud this season, averaging 25.2 PPG and 39 DK while having one of the highest usage rates and shot volumes in the country. We know he’ll be active offensively, especially in a tough road matchup like this one, and he should anchor cash lineups with ease. Walker has put up at least 31 DK in nine straight games and he’s scored 22+ points in five straight. It doesn’t get more consistent than that.
Will RichardsonORECOL900032.79
Richardson is pricey, but he’s locked into very heavy offensive usage and shot volume as Oregon’s top playmaker in a tight rotation. He’s literally playing 40 minutes or just about on a regular basis with the Ducks missing a few guards right now. The playing time and clear role as the team’s offensive catalyst keeps his DFS floor/ceiling in the 35-40 DK range more often right now. He’s put up 39, 45, and 40 DK in the past three games and recorded a triple-double with 56 DK earlier in December. The pace-boost vs Colorado should make Richardson a top overall play in cash or GPP tonight.
Khalil ShabazzSFOGONZ790032.54
San Francisco’s matchup vs Gonzaga is one of the slate’s highest totals and Shabazz will be leading the way for the Dons. The senior point guard has plenty of experience facing the Zags and he won’t back down from this matchup. Shabazz comes in hot with 20+ points scored and 33+ DK in two straight games. It’s tough to tell how popular he’ll be, but Shabazz is a great play in all formats and gives us exposure to the late window.
Marcus SasserUHSMU720027.4
Houston should win big over SMU tonight and Sasser will surely be a big part of that effort. He’s coming off an 18-point, 32 DK performance on Saturday and brings a strong floor of 25 DK to the table on a daily basis. This price tag is really affordable when you consider Sasser’s actual talent and DFS production to those priced well above him. Don’t overlook him in cash if you want to fade some of the higher-priced guys.
Jalen Hood-SchifinoIUIOWA680024.18
Since returning from a back injury, Indiana’s freshman wing has started to take on a bigger offensive role. He’s scored in double figures with 26+ DK in each of the last three games since returning. Hood-Schifino is also now being asked to run the offense more with Xavier Johnson out. Even with an elevated price tag, he’s a great play in an uptempo matchup with Iowa where the potential 30+ DK performance is there.

Also Consider:

  • KJ Simpson – Colorado (Cash/GPP)
  • Julian Strawther – Gonzaga (GPP)

CBB DFS Value Guards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
David SingletonUCLAUSC540019.45
Amari Bailey will miss a third straight game for UCLA, so Singleton is set to benefit in his teammates’s absence again. Singleton has started the past two games with Bailey out and he scored 14 points, put up 20+ DK, and logged 30+ minutes in both. We can expect a similar output tonight as a solid cash value.
Nick BoydFAUUAB520020.65
Boyd is tough to roster in cash, but he has tons of GPP upside in this high-total matchup with UAB. The FAU freshman has gone off for 30+ DK in four of the last seven games and 34+ DK in two of the last four. Unfortunately, we have some sub-20 DK efforts mixed in there – which makes him risky. At his best, though, Boyd can push you ahead in tournaments in a pace-boost and higher-scoring matchup vs UAB tonight.
Brennan RigsbyORECOL510018.43
Rigsby is usually locked into 30+ backcourt minutes for Oregon with Jermaine Couisnard and Keeshawn Barthelemy still out. That tight rotation for the Ducks out of necessity puts Rigsby in play as a solid value for the potential 5x return. He’s put up 26, 31, 18, and 16 DK in the past four games. Rigsby and Oregon will benefit from a notable pace-boost tonight vs Colorado.
Trey GallowayIUIOWA460014.85
Galloway will play a bigger role in Indiana’s backcourt with Xavier Johnson out with a foot injury. Though he's apparently going to come off the bench tonight with Tamar Bates starting, Galloway should still log starter-level minutes and return value in this uptempo matchup with Iowa. The sophomore guard will be asked to run the point more often and it should keep his DFS floor safe for cash even if he doesn’t start.
Noah WilliamsUWARIZ370010.08
Williams is back for Washington after missing most of the season with a knee injury. He logged 36 minutes and got the start last game with PJ Fuller out, which is a good sign of his role and playing time moving forward if Fuller remains sidelined. This is a really cheap price for a guy that was Washington State’s best player last year and could grow into that role with Washington now that he’s healthy. At least he'll benefit from the pace-boost tonight vs Arizona and is worth rostering in GPP.
Shammah ScottWICHCINCY33007.48
Wichita State is dealing with a slew of injuries right now and Scott has benefited from an increased role in the backcourt. He’s started the past two games and went off for 19 points and 27 DK last game. He’ll be needed to run the point more tonight with Jaykwon Walton doubtful to play. At this cheap price, it’s worth a shot at the 8x value or more. You can also look at Jaron Pierre as a value from Wichita.

Also Consider:

  • Malachi Smith – Gonzaga (GPP)
  • Johnell Davis – UAB (GPP)
  • Tamar Bates – Indiana (Cash/GPP)
  • Emanuel Sharp – Houston (GPP)
 

CBB DFS Top Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Zach EdeyPUROSU1020045.04
If you’ve played CBB DFS at all this year, there’s not much else left to say about Zach Edey. The POY candidate is now averaging an insane stat line of 21.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 45 DK. He should have plenty of success against an undersized Ohio State frontcourt that’s allowed big games to multiple opposing centers including Armando Bacot, Daniel Batcho, and Kyle Filipowski. The only question is whether you roster Edey or Drew Timme – but you can’t go wrong with either.
Kris MurrayIOWAIU960039.6
Choosing between rostering Timme and Edey is difficult, but then there’s Kris Murray at a slightly cheaper price tag. Could that make him more popular tonight? We’ll see. Either way, he’s a top play now that he’s back healthy. Murray has dropped 38 and 50 DK in the past two games since returning from injury and he’s right back into a high-usage role with heavy shot volume for Iowa. Expect him to do his thing at home in a high-total matchup with Indiana.
Trayce Jackson-DavisIUIOWA920037.75
TJD has missed the last two games against mid-major opponents for precautionary reasons, but he should be back tonight. Weirdly enough, the Indiana center could fly under-the-radar while everyone rosters Timme, Edey, and Murray. It’s possible rostership percentages are spread out pretty evenly across all four, though. As for Jackson-Davis, he should go off against Iowa’s soft interior defense in an uptempo matchup. He's had some good games against Iowa in the past few years and that should continue tonight if he's back.
Clifford OmoruyiRUUMD810033.2
Maryland has really struggled against opposing bigs this season due to their undersized frontcourt and lack of depth down low. Hunter Dickinson’s slate-breaking stat line of 32 points and 12 rebounds vs the Terps last game was evidence of those struggles. Expect Omoruyi to take advantage and dominate the paint on both ends tonight. He can give us 40+ DK at a notably cheaper price than other top forwards on the slate.
KJ BuffenUABFAU710026.32
Buffen will surely go overlooked on this slate with all of the big-name forwards in action. In GPPs, though, the UAB big man is worth strong consideration for the potential 30-40 DK performance at a much cheaper cost than Edey, TImme, or Murray. We’ve seen Buffen put up 40 and 33 DK in the past two games and he had 41 DK against South Carolina earlier in December too. The ceiling is there, but there are some floor games. Let’s hope he’s at his best in this pivotal road matchup vs FAU which should be a high-scoring contest.

Also Consider:

  • Drew Timme – Gonzaga (Cash/GPP)
  • Oumar Ballo – Arizona (Cash/GPP)
  • Jaime Jaquez – UCLA (GPP)
  • Brice Sensabaugh – Ohio State (GPP)

CBB DFS Value Forwards

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPG
Zane MeeksSFOGONZ570023.53
Meeks has been bouncing in and out of San Fran’s starting lineup lately, but he’s still a core piece of the frontcourt and his talent on both ends will be needed tonight vs Gonzaga and Drew Timme. He has 34 and 23 DK in the past two games and moved back among the starters last time out. Meeks is a solid cash or GPP value in an uptempo matchup.
Connor McCafferyIOWAIU560018.9
McCaffery likely moves back into Iowa’s starting rotation tonight with brother Patrick stepping away from the team. Connor started three games in December with Kris Murray out and the sixth-year senior is the logical choice to start over sophomore Payton Sandfort for tonight’s marquee matchup with Indiana. With an increased role and playing time, McCaffery can put up 25-30 DK with the upside for more.
Tyler BilodeauORSTUTAH420010.64
Rostering anyone from Oregon State is obviously a risk, but Bilodeau is worth a GPP dart throw. The freshman has been seeing more minutes off the bench in recent games and he logged a season-high 28 minutes on Saturday vs Oregon. The extended playing time allowed Bilodeau to put up 24 DK. It appears the coaching staff is giving him a bigger role in the Beavers’ rotation with conference play starting up.
Andrej JakimovskiWSUASU42009.94
After missing the first part of the season with a foot injury, Jakimovski is back and he’s started the past two games for Washington State. He replaced the freshman Houinsou in the starting lineup and could remain there moving forward. Jakimovski put up 19 DK across 28 minutes last time out vs USC and is a solid cash bargain if starting again tonight.

Also Consider:

  • Trey Jamison – UAB (GPP)
  • Vladislav Goldin – FAU (GPP)
  • Isaiah Hawthorne – San Francisco (GPP)
  • Duke Brennan – Arizona State (GPP)

 

CBB DFS Core Plays 

DK Cash:

  • Kris Murray – Iowa
  • Will Richardson – Oregon
  • Trey Galloway – Indiana
  • Shammah Scott – Wichita State (is starting)

DK GPP:

  • Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana (if playing)
  • Clifford Omoruyi – Rutgers
  • Connor McCaffery – Iowa
  • Noah Williams – Washington
 

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