This article is part of our DraftKings College Basketball series.
t's a full college basketball slate for Friday night with a solid variety from eight games. The majority are double-digit favorites, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't back someone from St. John's or Butler in what is expected to be closer games. I looked through every lineup and hopefully found all of the hidden plays no one else is considering.
St. John's (-3.5) @ Rutgers, o/u 147.5, 7 p.m. EST
Shamarie Ponds ($9,600) is the big name on St. John's, but Mustapha Heron ($7,900) has fit seamlessly into the lineup after averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 boards with Auburn last season. Ponds may score a few more points, but Heron is safer due to rebounds and he costs much less. It's a little harder to trust anyone on Rutgers since everyone's numbers and prices are juiced after two easy wins. I'm not sure Eugene Omoruyi ($7,700) can keep up his pace of scoring, rebounding and shooting, but the slightly cheaper Geo Baker ($7,200) is probably the best way to go if you're intrigued by the Scarlet Knights at home.
Georgetown (-6.5) vs. Loyola Marymount, o/u 145.5, 7 p.m. EST
Marymount has played extremely slow in the first three games with an adjusted tempo that ranks 261st in the country and that could be reason enough to avoid this game. Freshman James Akinjo ($6,500) may be most useful as he's averaging seven assists per game and doesn't cost a supreme amount like Jessie Govan ($9,100). Jeffery McClendon ($5,400) makes the most
t's a full college basketball slate for Friday night with a solid variety from eight games. The majority are double-digit favorites, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't back someone from St. John's or Butler in what is expected to be closer games. I looked through every lineup and hopefully found all of the hidden plays no one else is considering.
St. John's (-3.5) @ Rutgers, o/u 147.5, 7 p.m. EST
Shamarie Ponds ($9,600) is the big name on St. John's, but Mustapha Heron ($7,900) has fit seamlessly into the lineup after averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 boards with Auburn last season. Ponds may score a few more points, but Heron is safer due to rebounds and he costs much less. It's a little harder to trust anyone on Rutgers since everyone's numbers and prices are juiced after two easy wins. I'm not sure Eugene Omoruyi ($7,700) can keep up his pace of scoring, rebounding and shooting, but the slightly cheaper Geo Baker ($7,200) is probably the best way to go if you're intrigued by the Scarlet Knights at home.
Georgetown (-6.5) vs. Loyola Marymount, o/u 145.5, 7 p.m. EST
Marymount has played extremely slow in the first three games with an adjusted tempo that ranks 261st in the country and that could be reason enough to avoid this game. Freshman James Akinjo ($6,500) may be most useful as he's averaging seven assists per game and doesn't cost a supreme amount like Jessie Govan ($9,100). Jeffery McClendon ($5,400) makes the most sense for the Lions if he can replicate what he did in the win against UNLV (28.5 fantasy points).
East Carolina @ Georgia Tech (-15.5), o/u 143, 7:30 p.m. EST
This is the other game to possibly avoid with the lowest over/under. The Yellow Jackets have a mostly new roster and no one stands out as Brandon Alston ($5,400) is the leading scorer at 16.5 PPG, yet he does little else. On the positive, he doesn't cost as much as teammate Jose Alvarado ($7,100). It's the same thing with ECU as K.J. Davis ($5,400) is the best play because he's good for 20 fantasy points, while it's hard to put faith in any of his more expensive teammates.
Louisiana @ Kansas (-21), o/u 161.5, 8 p.m. EST
The Jayhawks are expected to score the most points on this slate, but you still have to pick your players wisely because Lagerald Vick ($7,600) isn't going to make all his shots again. If you want a safe 35 fantasy points, Udoka Azubuike ($8,600) should eat in the paint similar to the prior two games. Dedric Lawson ($10,600) costs too much to consider, especially after scoring zero points against Vermont. Unfortunately, I think everyone else outside of Quentin Grimes ($7,300) is priced too high. And even with Grimes, he's had a couple great games yet has maxed out around 30 fantasy points. I actually prefer Marcus Stroman ($6,300) of the Ragin' Cajuns after he dished out nine assists against Tennessee. His price is reasonable and he has the same upside as Grimes and more than Devon Dotson ($6,500).
Ole Miss at Butler (-9.5), o/u 150.5, 10 p.m. EST
Kamar Baldwin ($10,300) is one of the few guys that could be worth the high price because you know he's going to be on the ball a ton. In addition to taking 31 shots through two games, he also has 12 rebounds and 12 assists. The jury is still out on Ole Miss under Kermit Davis, but not many will stop Baldwin this year. Other than Baldwin, it's a mixed bag for the Bulldogs and it's kind of the same for the Rebels. In addition to Terence Davis ($8,400) and Breein Tyree ($6,700) being overpriced, it's usually not wise to go against Butler's usually efficient defense.
Louisiana Tech at LSU (-12), o/u 155.5, 8 p.m. EST
LSU is ranked and a double-digit favorite, but this is far from a freebie considering Louisiana Tech already picked up a big win at Wichita State. The problem is that Tremont Waters ($9,400) costs too much for a guy that only steps up when needed. He's an elite guard that could easily drop 10 dimes, but he has more scoring help around him this season and that could see his point total drop. That offensive balance is why I'm tentative on LSU as a whole in this matchup. Freshman Ja'vonte Smart may be my favorite player in this spot since he's still fairly cheap and has shown he can get his own shot in addition to boards and steals. DaQuan Bracey ($5,600) missed Tech's last two games and his absence would be a detriment to the entire squad. Amorie Archibald ($6,000) leads Tech in fantasy scoring, but I wouldn't trust him in this matchup. Exavian Christon ($4,500) could be a worthy gamble since he's most likely to play at least 30 minutes.
Long Beach State at Mississippi State (-20.5), o/u 151.5, 9 p.m. EST
LBSU has already given up 90 points to UCLA and Arizona State so there's a chance this goes the same way, especially with this being in Starkville. The hope is that the 49ers stay somewhat competitive because that's how Quinndary Weatherspoon ($9,000) will repeat what he did last game en route to 43.5 fantasy points. His floor is around 30, but due to price, you need that extra 10 points for him to be worth it. But no matter how the game goes, Aric Holman ($8,200) should be a lock for 30 fantasy points due to rebounds and blocks. As for the 49ers, it's hard to put faith into any of them with only two players averaging more than 20 minutes per game. I'd roll with KJ Byers ($5,400) because of rebounds, but he hasn't reached 20 minutes in the last two games.
Omaha at Colorado (-17.5), o/u 157, 9 p.m. EST
The Buffaloes could be the best team to look at for multiple players because they're playing at altitude against a team that already gave up 100 points to Minnesota. Namon Wright ($6,100) is an obvious option on paper after posting 25 points, eight boards and a team-high 29 minutes in the first game. Sure, he won't reach those numbers again, but even if he hits 30 fantasy points, that's still enough to make value. McKinley Wright IV ($8,800) is Colorado's stat-sheet stuffer, yet as seen in the opener, if he doesn't play more than 25 minutes, it'll be tough for him to be worth the price. Tyler Bey ($6,400) also probably costs too much, but if he's Colorado's top rebounder, that may be enough. If you want to go against everyone else, Zach Jackson ($7,400) does a little of everything for the Mavericks and while they could lose by 30, that doesn't mean he won't hit 30 fantasy points again.
