College Basketball CBB DFS Playbook & Core Plays November 18: Jaylen Clark Leads UCLA vs Illinois
The college basketball Friday night slate is loaded up with Top 25 matchups for our CBB DFS lineups. We have the Illinois vs UCLA showdown to wrap up the slate while Baylor vs Virginia is a marquee game as well. You can build CBB DFS lineups on DraftKings as tonight's 8-game slate tips off at 6 pm ET with Indiana at Xavier. 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 Friday, November 18th.
College Basketball CBB DFS Slate & Betting Odds November 18
(via DraftKings Sportsbook)
- 6 pm ET – Indiana (-2.5) at Xavier – 142.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Oklahoma State (-6.5) vs. UCF – 132.5 O/U
- 7 pm ET – Baylor (-5) vs. Virginia – 130.5 O/U
- 8 pm ET – Boston College vs. George Mason (-3) – 131.5 O/U
- 8 pm ET – Florida (-7) at Florida State – 145 O/U
- 8 pm ET – Villanova at Michigan State (-6.5) – 130.5 O/U
- 9:30 pm ET – DePaul (-2.5) vs. Santa Clara – 152 O/U
- 9:30 pm ET – UCLA (-3.5) vs. Illinois – 144.5 O/U
Top CBB Team Totals
(via KenPom.com)
- DePaul – 77
- UCLA – 76
- Florida – 76
- Indiana – 74
- Santa Clara – 73
- Illinois – 72
- Xavier – 72
- Florida State – 72
- Oklahoma State – 71
College Basketball CBB DFS Top Plays November 18
CBB DFS Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Keyonte George | BAY | UV | 9200 | 38.17 | ||
| The five-star freshman has started the season hot while being Baylor’s best overall player. George is averaging 16 points, 6.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game through the first three contests. He has at least 33 DK in each outing with this stat-stuffing while having a 26% usage rate and 27% shot rate. There’s some risk a pace-down spot against Virginia’s defense, but George is a top talent in college hoops and is always in play. | ||||||
| Umoja Gibson | DPU | STC | 8500 | 36.75 | ||
| As DePaul’s offense catalyst, Gibson is a great play tonight in a major pace-boost against Santa Clara. The Blue Demons’ attack mostly revolves around Gibson and Javan Johnson. As for Gibson, the OU transfer is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game through three contests and has at least 32 DK in each. The uptempo game environment will give him a high floor/ceiling combo for all formats. | ||||||
| Adam Flagler | BAY | UV | 8100 | 35.58 | ||
| Flagler, like Keyonte George, brings some risk in a pace-down matchup against a stout Virginia defense. Still, his DFS floor is pretty safe while running the point for Baylor. He’s averaging 17.3 points and 7.7 assists per game so far and can go for 30+ DFS points if he’s hitting from three-point range tonight. Flagler may end up more popular than George since he's notably cheaper. | ||||||
| Tyger Campbell | UCLA | IL | 6500 | 25.25 | ||
| The UCLA offense is running through Campbell at the point and we can bank on a safe DFS floor on the road here against Illinois. The Bruins have yet to play a close opponent, so Campbell’s stat lines haven’t been anything too crazy. Still, he’s leading UCLA in shot rate (29%) so far with double-digit attempts in each game. This price tag is a tad too cheap for how good Campbell is and the potential for 30+ DFS points. | ||||||
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | IL | UCLA | 6000 | 39.83 | ||
| The Texas Tech transfer has started the season hot at Illinois and is taking on a big offensive role. Through three games, Shannon has a 28% shot rate and 27% usage rate while playing a point/combo guard role. He’s put up 40, 28 and 51 DK in the three contests and is simply way too cheap for his production and new role already this season. Yes, those performances came against easy competition, but Shannon is clearly in an alpha role with Illinois and his veteran presence will be needed in this matchup against UCLA. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. – UCLA ($7500 DK) – Cash
- Kyle Lofton – Florida ($7300 DK) – GPP
- Bryce Thompson – Oklahoma State ($7100 DK) – GPP
- Kihei Clark – Virginia ($6200 DK) – GPP
CBB DFS Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Adam Kunkel | XAV | IU | 5600 | 17.92 | ||
| Kunkel moved into Xavier’s starting lineup last game with Colby Jones out and benefited from an increased role. He went off for 21 points and 30 DK over 33 minutes while taking double-digit shots. Jones could be out again tonight with his ankle injury, so Kunkel would be a great value with his increased playing time and offensive usage. | ||||||
| Jaylen Clark | UCLA | IL | 5300 | 41.67 | ||
| Clark might be a lock in all formats tonight as he’s way underpriced based on his new role this year. Clark looks like he’s taking a massive leap forward in his junior season now that Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard are gone. He has at least 38 DK in all three games so far while averaging 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 4.3 steals per game. It was against easy competition, but Clark is clearly taking a step up for UCLA with more opportunity. | ||||||
| Brandin Podziemski | STC | DPU | 5300 | 47.33 | ||
| Get ready for Podziemski to be very popular in all formats tonight. The Illinois transfer has been lighting it up for Santa Clara early on and looks to have taken over the alpha role left by the departed Jalen Williams. He’s put up 57, 59 and 25 DK in the first three games and is mispriced here based on his new role. Podziemski was a former four-star recruit who just never got his chance at Illinois, but he’s clearly more comfortable with more usage at Santa Clara. This matchup vs. DePaul will be a high-scoring one so it’ll be tough to fade him. | ||||||
| Jayden Epps | IL | UCLA | 5100 | 19.5 | ||
| Illinois has multiple values to consider tonight. We have Shannon (outlined above), Skyy Clark, Coleman Hawkins (below), Michael Mayer, RJ Melendez, and Jayden Epps who can all return value at their depressed price tags. As for Epps, the freshman has been very active off the bench in a super-sub role and he’s actually been outperforming top recruit Skyy Clark so far. We’ll see what happens against tougher competition tonight, but Epps is a bucket-getter who could be leaned on at times. | ||||||
| Amari Bailey | UCLA | IL | 5000 | 19.33 | ||
| Bailey is yet another value from this UCLA-Illinois matchup. The top freshman is a starter for UCLA right away and he’s a tad too cheap for a guy that can regularly put up 20-25 DFS points with his talent. Though Bailey had to cede shots and usage to Campbell, Clark, and Jaquez, he should still be plenty involved on both ends in this marquee matchup. | ||||||
| Victor Bailey Jr. | GMU | BC | 4900 | 24.42 | ||
| Bailey Jr. is simply too cheap on this slate at sub-5k. He leads George Mason in shot rate with double-digit attempts in every game thus far. The Tennessee transfer has a ton of talent and he looks like the new alpha for GMU. Bailey went off for 23 points and 34 DK last game and can easily do that again tonight. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Skyy Clark – Illinois ($5000 DK) – Cash
- Dale Bonner – Baylor ($4900 DK) – GPP
- Jalen Warley – Florida State ($4900 DK) – Cash
- Kowacie Reeves – Florida ($4700 DK) – Cash
- Carlos Stewart – Santa Clara ($4700 DK) – Cash/GPP
- Jordan Akins – Michigan State ($4000 DK) – GPP
- Philmon Gebrewhit – DePaul ($3800 DK) – GPP
CBB DFS Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Colin Castleton | UF | FSU | 10100 | 49.83 | ||
| If you follow college hoops, then you know Castleton is a top play whenever he’s on the slate. The Florida center has dominated the last two games with 57 and 59 DK, featuring at least 30 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in both contests. Castleton should have a ton of success against Florida State’s subpar frontcourt that’s dealing with key injuries. He’s almost a must-play in cash and GPP. | ||||||
| Trayce Jackson-Davis | IU | XAV | 9500 | 32.12 | ||
| If Indiana is on the slate, then we have to consider TJD. The Hoosiers’ big man will see heavy offensive usage and shot attempts every game to keep his DFS floor high. He’s put up 32 and 31 DK in the first two games despite playing limited minutes in blowout wins. On this slate, though, limit to GPPs because he has to contend with Xavier’s bigger frontcourt. Still, the upside is there to go off for 50 DFS points any time out. | ||||||
| Zach Freemantle | XAV | IU | 7600 | 39.75 | ||
| Xavier’s big man duo of Freemantle and Jack Nunge are both in play tonight for all formats. Freemantle gets the slight edge because he’s a tad cheaper for similar production. He’s coming off a triple-double and 51 DK last time out and looks like he’s back to being an All-Big East performer that we saw in 2021 before being limited with an injury last season. | ||||||
| Joey Hauser | MSU | LY-IL | 6400 | 25.58 | ||
| Hauser has been the definition of boom-or-bust this season. When he’s on, though, Hauser is a slate-breaker and a top GPP play. He just went off for 23 points and 38 DK against Kentucky last game and also had a double-double with 35 DK in the season opener. However, that dud of 3.7 DK against Gonzaga is impossible to ignore. That can crater your cash lineup. Still, there’s upside when Hauser’s shot is hitting and he gets to play at home tonight. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Dain Dainja – Illinois ($8100 DK) – GPP
- Jack Nunge – Xavier ($8000 DK) – GPP
- Moussa Cisse – Oklahoma State ($7900 DK) – GPP
- Josh Oduro – George Mason ($7000 DK) – GPP
- TJ Bickerstaff – Boston College ($6600 DK) – Cash
CBB DFS Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Javan Johnson | DPU | STC | 6000 | 35 | ||
| Johnson is still very underpriced after being a value for us last week. He’s now put up 44, 25, and 35 DK in the first three games while being a top playmaker for DePaul alongside Umoja Gibson. Now Johnson gets a huge pace-boost matchup against Santa Clara and the floor/ceiling combo is great for just 6k. | ||||||
| Coleman Hawkins | IL | UCLA | 5400 | 29.67 | ||
| Hawkins is one of many Illinois values worth rostering tonight. He’s now a regular starter in the Illini frontcourt after mostly backing up Kofi Cockburn last season. The increase in playing time and role definitely raises Hawkins’ floor and ceiling. In fact, he went off for 23 points, 12 rebounds and 52 DK in the season opener. We can’t expect that against UCLA, but the potential for 20-30 DFS points is there if he stays out of foul trouble. | ||||||
| Mady Sissoko | MSU | VU | 4900 | 23.75 | ||
| Sissoko has broken onto the scene the last two games with impressive performances against both Gonzaga and Kentucky. The junior center looks like a legit breakout candidate while averaging 15 points, 8.5 rebounds, and about 30 DK in these past two. He’s slowly rising in price, but it’s still a bargain at sub-5k tonight. | ||||||
| Cameron Corhen | FSU | UF | 4500 | 16.08 | ||
| Corhen has been logging big minutes the last two games with Naheem McLeod injured. He’s put up 18 and 16 DK, which is decent, but the locked-in playing time is what we love here. Corhen has played 35 and 34 minutes the past two and is one of the only healthy big men for Florida State right now. The ‘Noles will need his size down low tonight against Castleton, which should give him a solid cash floor if he stays out of foul trouble. | ||||||
| C.J. Walker | UCF | OKST | 4300 | 13.25 | ||
| After returning from injury, Walker has come off the bench in the first two games and his minutes have been limited. Walker is expected to be one of UCF’s best players when healthy and he could move into the starting lineup and more playing time tonight. It’s risky, but this price tag is too low based on his talent and expected role coming into this year. | ||||||
Also Consider:
- Malik Hall – Michigan State ($5700 DK) – Cash
- Yor Anei – DePaul ($5300 DK) – GPP
- Parker Braun – Santa Clara ($5000 DK) – Cash
- Michael Mayer – Illinois ($4800 DK) – GPP
- Kadin Shedrick – Virginia ($4700 DK) – Cash
- Alex Fudge – Florida ($4500 DK) – GPP
CBB DFS Core Plays November 18
DK Cash:
- Colin Castleton – Florida
- Jaylen Clark – UCLA
- Brandin Podziemski – Santa Clara
DK GPP:
- Javan Johnson – DePaul
- Joey Hauser – Michigan State
- Terrence Shannon Jr. – Illinois
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