This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
We have reached the midpoint of conference play, and there are plenty of intriguing conference matchups Saturday. Perhaps the biggest game in terms of national profile is a non-conference battle between Duke and St. John's. Do the Red Storm have more of that magic dust that allowed them to beat Duke, then Villanova, last season? This year's contest is at Cameron Indoor, so it probably won't be too dusty. Let's take a spin through the country for your best DFS bets.
Top Players
Ky Bowman, G, Boston College vs. Notre Dame ($9,800 DK/$8,600 FD): To look at Bowman and his 6-1 stature, you wouldn't think he would be a good rebounder. The guard leads the Eagles with 7.7 rebounds a game to go along with his excellent scoring. It also helps that Bowman does not have a viable backup and the guard has played all 40 minutes in each of his last five games. Notre Dame swept the Eagles last season and Bowman only provided 12.0 points and 3.0 assists. He should be more effective this year.
Tremont Waters, G, LSU vs. Arkansas ($8,400 DK/$8,700 FD): Waters has met the Razorbacks three times in his young career. Each time the Tigers have come away with a win. He shredded Arkansas for 17 points and 11 assists in the overtime win at Fayetteville on Jan. 12. The 5-11 sophomore did have seven turnovers, but he should cut down on his miscues at home. Waters has upped his scoring in his last five games with 20.6 points per contest. He scored 36 points Wednesday in the win over Texas A&M.
Jarrett Culver, G, Texas Tech at Kansas ($9,000 DK/$8,400 FD): If the Red Raiders are ever going to take advantage of the question marks with Kansas, this could be the year. Texas Tech gets its shot in Lawrence with a Jayhawk team that might be missing Marcus Garrett, perhaps its most important defensive player. Culver does not need much of an edge to put up impressive numbers. He has scored at least 15 points in each of his last five games and adds rebounds, assists and steals. Culver averaged 13.0 points against Kansas last year in a much smaller role.
Admiral Schofield, F, Tennessee at Texas A&M ($8,200 DK/$8,200 FD): When Schofield is scoring 20 points in a game, he usually doesn't stop at one. In non-conference play, he's scored 20 points or more in five of six games. The 6-6 senior is coming off a 24-point game in the win over South Carolina, so he should go for more than 20 against the Aggies. It would help if the burly forward could knock down some perimeter shots. In his last four games, he is just 3-of-20 (15.0 percent) on three-pointers, but he is still hitting 39.8 percent from long range on the season.
Value Players
Lamonte Turner, G, Tennessee at Texas A&M ($5,500 DK/$5,500 FD): The Volunteer backcourt is relatively deep, but there is a possibility that Jordan Bowden will not be able to play due to a knee injury. Even if Bowden does take the court, Turner has been knocking down shots. The 6-2 junior has averaged 18.0 points on 72.2 percent from the field to go along with 4.0 assists in his last two games. Bowden did not play Tuesday against South Carolina, but Turner has played at least 32 minutes in his last three contests. Sign him up while he is hot.
Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas vs. Texas Tech ($4,600 DK/$4,000 FD): If Garrett is unable to play because of a sprained ankle, Agbaji could be in for big minutes against the rough defense of the Red Raiders. The freshman, who was almost redshirted, sprang up for 24 points on 8-of-11 from the field in the loss at Texas on Tuesday. He is hitting 57.9 percent of his field goals and 38.9 percent of his three-pointers since coming off the pine Jan. 9. Agbaji might be Kansas's third-best offensive player after Dedric Lawson and Legerald Vick.
Aaron Henry, F, Michigan State vs. Indiana ($4,300 DK/$4,600 FD): The flu has caught Nick Ward, and his availability for Saturday's game against the Hoosiers is not yet known. If Ward requires more bed rest, then Henry could be in for a bigger role. He played 30 minutes in the loss to Purdue and provided four points, four rebounds and three blocks. These are modest numbers, but the price is also right. Henry has some passing skills for a big and had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win over Maryland on Jan. 21. The 6-6 freshman can put up all-around numbers and Indiana is flailing.
Wabissa Bede, G, Virginia Tech at North Carolina State ($3,800 DK/$4,100 FD): There is a chance that Justin Robinson does not play Saturday in Raleigh. If his leg injury keeps Robinson out, Bede could move into the starting lineup. He played 33 minutes in the win over Miami on Wednesday and did not miss a shot. He only attempted three and finished with seven points. The 6-1 sophomore has earned consistent minutes off the Hokie bench and had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the win over UMES on Dec. 28.
Games/Teams to Target
St. John's (+17.5) at Duke (o/u 160.5), 12PM EST: As noted above, this might be the biggest game on Saturday's slate. When Duke plays, it is always notable, but they will be trying to avenge last year's surprising loss to the Red Storm. Granted, the majority of the Blue Devil rotation was still in high school last year, but coach Mike Krzyzewski surely remembers losing to Shamorie Ponds ($10,100 DK/$8,700 FD) and friends. Ponds is coming off one of his best all-around performances with 26 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and six steals in the win over Creighton on Wednesday. Justin Simon ($6,700 DK/$6,700 FD) had a decent game against the Blue Devils last year as well with five points, five rebounds and seven assists. Tre Jones ($6,400 DK/$6,700 FD) will be charged with slowing down Ponds. He has provided 7.5 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals since returning from a shoulder injury. Zion Williamson ($11,000 DK/$9,100 FD) and R.J. Barrett ($10,200 DK/$8,800 FD) will assault the basket, which could cause coach Chris Mullin to try to counter with Sedee Keita ($3,100 DK/$4,000 FD). It won't matter as the freshmen will score in bunches at home.
Texas-San Antonio (+3.5) at Marshall (o/u 167), 7PM EST: This DraftKings-only meeting of two Conference USA teams features plenty of excellent scorers. The Thundering Herd, coached by Dan D'Antoni, like to push the pace. The team is eighth in adjusted tempo, per KenPom, and they have excellent guards aplenty. Jon Elmore ($9,400 DK) is coming off a dominant performance in the win over UTEP on Thursday. He took over the game for 44 points, including seven three-pointers. C.J. Burks ($7,800 DK) complemented Elmore with 18 points and added four rebounds with five assists. Keep an eye on freshman Taevion Kinsey ($4,900 DK), who is the team's best finisher but has only scored a combined eight points in his last two games. Elmore was outdone in scoring Thursday by Roadrunner guard Jahvvion Jackson ($8,300 DK), who scored a career-high 46 points in the overtime loss to Western Kentucky. Sophomore guard Keaton Wallace ($9,100 DK) has tallied at least 24 points in four of his last five games. He also had a pair of double-doubles with rebounds in mid-January.
North Carolina (+1) at Louisville (o/u 155.5), 2PM EST: There is little doubt that the Tar Heels have not forgotten the drubbing they took in the Dean Dome at the hands of the Cardinals on Jan. 12. UNC was unable to dig their way out of a nine-point halftime deficit and ended up losing by 21 points. The Cardinals hit 51.9 percent of their field goals and 32.3 percent from long range. As he usually does, Jordan Nwora ($8,600 DK/$8,100 FD) led the way with 17 points, including five three-pointers. The 6-8 sophomore has only been under 17 points once in his last six games and is good for a handful of rebounds, assists and steals. Steven Enoch ($5,100 DK/$5,400 FD) was able to battle the Tar Heels bigs and finished the win with 17 points off the bench. He has quieted down since that win, but could be a matchup-based play. The Tar Heels have reeled off four straight wins since losing to the Cardinals. Cameron Johnson ($7,400 DK/$7,800 FD) has scored 22 points twice in that span. Luke Maye ($8,100 DK/$8,200 FD) has been a mild disappointment all season, but should be well rested after playing just 26 minutes Tuesday before fouling out against Georgia Tech. Coby White ($7,500 DK/$7,600 FD) has averaged 19.5 points a game for the Tar Heels during their winning streak, but was held to four points in the Jan. 12 loss.
Games/Teams to Consider Fading
Kansas State (-3) at Oklahoma State (o/u 123), 6PM EST: Any team in the rough-and-tumble Big 12 is a candidate for fading. Kansas State is the most defensively minded squad in the 10-team conference and they play the offensively challenged Cowboys in Stillwater on Saturday. The Wildcats had won five straight games before losing to former Big 12 team Texas A&M last Saturday. Coach Bruce Weber has had a week to conjure up plans for Oklahoma State. Dean Wade ($7,100 DK/$6,900 FD) has looked good since returning from a foot injury. In his last five games, the 6-10 forward has averaged 16.5 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the field. Barry Brown Jr. ($7,500 DK/$7,300 FD) has ceded some of the offense to Wade, but has scored in double digits in seven straight games and is always good for some thievery. Cowboy coach Mike Boynton has had to shorten his rotation since booting three players off the team. Over his last five games, Cameron McGriff ($8,200 DK/$7,800 FD) has averaged 15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Lindy Waters ($6,500 DK/$6,500 FD) has put up a combined 37 points in his last two games and is hitting 45.5 percent of his three-pointers.
Kentucky (-2) at Florida (o/u 127.5), 4PM EST: This game could be a minor surprise to find in the fade section. Florida plays at the slowest pace in the SEC and 338th-slowest pace in the country, per KenPom. Coach Mike White has discovered that his team is not particularly gifted offensively, but they can slow opponents down. Kentucky is more balanced and is playing very well. The Wildcats have won seven straight games and have pasted their last three opponents. Coach John Calipari has four players averaging between 12.3 and 14.4 points. Freshman Keldon Johnson ($6,300 DK/$6,600 FD) leads the way, but has only scored better than his average twice in the last five games. Stanford transfer Reid Travis ($6,300 DK/$6,500 FD) had been hitting boards consistently, but was held to one point and three rebounds in the win over Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Tyler Herro ($6,500 DK/$6,700 FD) has been slumping and has missed his last seven three-point attempts. He could be in for a bounce back in Gainesville. For Florida, freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard ($5,800 DK/$5,900 FD) is a reliable place setter. He leads the team with 6.0 assists, although his shooting is spotty. KeVaughn Allen ($6,400 DK/$6,400 FD) has increased his offensive output and averaged 18.6 points over his last five games.
Miami (+21) at Virginia (o/u 126), 2PM EST: It almost goes without saying that if Virginia is involved in a game, it is a stay away. The Cavaliers like to play deliberately and are last in the country in tempo, per KenPom. It isn't really all that close. On offense, Virginia will continually probe the opponent's defense until they find a decent shot. Kyle Guy ($6,300 DK/$6,900 FD) is often the shooter and he is hitting 45.0 percent of his three-pointers. Guy has scored in double digits in 15 straight games, including 30 points in the win over Marsahll on Dec. 31. De'Andre Hunter ($7,000 DK/$7,700 FD) is the frontcourt's best scorer. Other than a lull around the change of the year, he has been a consistent presence in double digits and has averaged 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds over his last five games. Ty Jerome ($7,800 DK/$7,900 FD) ties things together and leads the team with 5.0 assists. He has scored in double digits in his last five games. The Hurricane backcourt of Chris Lykes ($7,200 DK/$6,800 FD) and Zach Johnson ($6,200 DK/$7,300 FD) is offensively oriented. Lykes broke out of a slump with 19 points in the loss to Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Johnson scored 20 points in the loss to Florida State last Sunday. Ebuka Izundu ($7,300 DK/$7,000 FD) could be a surprise, but his recent performances have been underwhelming. In his last two games, the 6-10 senior has combined for only 13 points and five boards.
