College Basketball DFS Playbook January 6: Top DraftKings & FanDuel CBB DFS Picks

Welcome back to another weekend of college basketball action as we dive into top CBB DFS picks for Saturday. The marquee game of the slate is an ACC battle pitting two Top-25 teams as RJ Davis and No. 9 North Carolina travels south to visit PJ Hall and No. 16 Clemson. Other top teams and players in action will be Hunter Dickinson and Kansas, Tyler Kolek and Marquette, Johni Broome and Auburn. It's a 12-game slate on DraftKings while FanDuel brings us 9-games. Let's dive into all the top CBB DFS picks and value plays at the guard and forward positions today. All college basketball odds below are via DraftKings Sportsbook when publishing. Good luck with your college basketball DFS lineups today!
College Basketball DFS Slate January 6, 2024
12p ET Marquette (-5.5) @ Seton Hall 144.0 O/U
12p ET Mississippi State (-3.5) @ South Carolina 135.0 O/U
12p ET Rutgers @ Iowa (-7.0) 152.0 O/U
12p ET North Carolina @ Clemson (-3.0) 158.5 O/U
12:30p ET Kentucky @ Florida (-3.5) 168.0 O/U
1p ET Georgia @ Missouri (-5.0) 148.0 O/U
1p ET St. John’s @ Villanova (-4.5) 143.0 O/U
2p ET Auburn (-2.5) @ Arkansas 157.5 O/U
2p ET Providence @ Creighton (-11.0) 140.5 O/U
2p ET West Virginia @ Houston (-21.0) 135.0 O/U
2p ET TCU @ Kansas (-9.5) 152.5 O/U
2p ET Virginia @ North Carolina State (-1.5) 127.5 O/U
2:15p ET Miami @ Wake Forest (-4.5) 159.5 O/U FD Only
2:15 p ET Nebraska @ Wisconsin (-6.5) 143.5 O/U FD Only
Top CBB DFS Guards
Kevin McCullar Jr. - Kansas vs. TCU ($9.2K DK/8.8K FD)
Over the last month Kevin McCullar averaged 19.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. These are First-Team All-American type numbers, and everyone knew that McCullar Jr. would be better this season, but his jump in national prominence has been extraordinary. He is now the No. 5 ranked player in the KenPom Player of the Year rankings thanks to a 26.6% usage/26.5% shot and 22.8% usage rate and is scoring at 40.8 DK point clip over the last five games. Kansas has the third highest team implied total on the slate at 81.0 points against TCU today and be sure to believe that Kevin McCullar Jr. will be stuffing the stat sheet from all angles.
Emanuel Sharp - Houston vs. West Virginia ($6.0K DK)
Emanuel Sharp, the sophomore who is the forgotten one of a high-profile recruiting class that included Top 10 NBA pick Jarace Walker, is a cold-blooded sharpshooter that finds himself in a great spot today against West Virginia. Sharp has the highest usage over the last five games (26.9%) on a Houston team that is eighth nationally in offensive efficiency (113.95). At only $6.0K the wing is averaging 25.4 DK points and is now playing nearly 30 minutes after cracking back into the starting lineup a month ago. He is 30.0+ DK in three of his last games and a steal this afternoon.
Derek Simpson - Rutgers @ Iowa ($6.0K DK)
Derek Simpson is geo Baker-lite. The Rutgers sophomore guard looks like Baker and both players have worn the number 0. Simpson’s play style, and stat lines are also reminiscent of the former Scarlet Knight star. Simpson has missed a handful of games this season (though he's started the last two) but he's still the third and final double-digit scorer for Rutgers this season, averaging 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He has 39.5 and 31.5 DK points in his last two games and $6.0K is just too cheap for a player that is not just scoring reliant.
Other Top CBB DFS Guards
- Tyler Kolek, Marquette ($8.6K DK/8.3K FD) - Kolek mis the best PG in the nation.
- Baylor Scheierman, Creighton ($8.4K DK/8.4K FD) - Scheierman is always one of the safest plays on the slate and has not gone below 29 DK in any game this season. I will try to have one of McCullar Jr. or Scheierman in all my lineups today.
- Kadary Richmond, Seton hall ($8.4K DK/8.2K FD) A top GPP play as Richmond could nuke this slate in a pace up game.
- Walter Clayton Jr., Florida ($7.4K DK/6.9K FD) - Clayton Jr. is a top GPP play in a high paced game with Kentucky.
- Antonio Reeves, Kentucky ($7.5K DK/7.1K FD) - Reeves is averaging 30 DK over his last five games and is a nice piece to pair with Clayton Jr. in a Florida/Kentucky mini game stack.
- Jamal Shead, Houston ($7.1K DK)
- Chase Hunter, Clemson ($6.3K DK/6.1K FD)
Top CBB DFS Value Guard
Keyon Menifield Jr. - Arkansas vs. Auburn ($4.6K DK/6.4K FD)
Arkansas is a team that has been playing much improved since Washington transfer Keyon Menifield showed up and injected life into an offense that was very erratic at times in the non-conference schedule. Menifield has only played three games for the Razorbacks this season, but he's already an invaluable piece to Arkansas after scoring a career-high 32 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds (45 DK) in last Saturday's win over UNC-Wilmington. Menifield brings point-guard smarts to this team and will be a fixture in the rotation for the rest of the season. He will be industry chalk but chalk that you want to eat at only $4.6K DK.
Other Top CBB DFS Value Guards
- Riley Kugel, Florida ($5.8K DK/5.8K FD) - This is a GPP-only play but Kugel could easily have a monster game in this pace up environment today.
- Hakim Hart, Villanova ($5.6K DK/5.9K FD) - Without Justin Moore Hart is playing 30+ minutes and 4-6X value.
- Jayden Pierre. Providence ($4.6K DK/4.9K FD) - Pierre is playing massive minutes with Bryce Hopkins out.
- Casey Morsell, North Carolina State ($4.9K DK)
- Seth Trimble, North Carolina ($4.1K DK/4.8K FD)
- Corey Floyd, Providence ($3.6K DK/4.5K FD) - With Bryce Hopkins out for the season with a torn ACL Floyd gets a big minute’s bump and could easily hit 5X or higher today in 20-25 minutes. This could be a piece that makes everything work in your lineup today.
Top CBB DFS Forwards
PJ Hall - Clemson vs. North Carolina ($8.8K DK/8.6K FD)
PJ Hall is currently the ACC Player of the Year favorite as he ranks second in the conference in scoring at 20.2 points per game, trailing only UNC’s RJ Davis (21.1 points per game). Hall also averages a league-best 2.2 blocked shots per game and has recorded at least one rejection in 12 games. The No. 4 ranked player in the KenPom Player of the Year rankings, Hall has a massive 29.8% usage/31.9% shot rate to go along with a 25.3% combined rebound rate and has actually seen his price drop to a season low $8.8K on DK after two mediocre games. You need to have a short memory in DFS and I will take a sub-$9K PJ Hall every day of the week.
Tyrese Samuel - Florida vs. Kentucky ($7.7K DK/7.9K FD)
When Tyrese Samuel transferred in from Seton Hall this offseason, he was figured to be a defensive presence, but after EJ Jarvis had to step down from basketball, Samuel has been forced to fill both offensive and defensive roles down low in the 4 for Florida. The scoring is a pleasant surprise as Samual is putting up 14.3 points per game, which is second on the team, on 64.6% from the field. His consistent scoring while playing 27.5 minutes per game has been impressive, and something that the Gators will need to continue if they want to make a push in the SEC. With a propensity to crash the glass early and often (32.8% combined rebound rate). Samuel has six double-doubles this season and is averaging 33.5 DK over his last five games. This may be a low owned play, but Tyrese Samuel has a great shot as a main team lineup piece on today’s slate.
Other Top CBB DFS Forwards
- Hunter Dickinson, Kansas ($9.5K DK/9.2K FD)
- Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers ($7.9K DK) - Big Cliff is a GPP special in a pace up game.
- Armando Bacot, North Carolina ($8.3K DK/8.3K FD) - Bacot is too cheap in this spot as he is starting to regain his All-ACC form.
- Emanuel Miller, TCU ($7.7K DK/7.7K FD) - Miller is another stud that could nuke the slate as a low owned banger.
- Tre Mitchell, Kentucky ($7.1K DK/7.8K FD) - Mitchell is a sneaky low owned play in a high scoring game (31.6 DK over his last five games).
- Ian Schieffelin, Clemson ($7.0K DK/6.7K FD) - Three double-doubles (near four) in his last six games.
- Eric Dixon, Villanova ($6.9K DK/6.7K FD) - Dixon’s FD price puts him in core territory as a safe cash play with a 27% usage rate over his last five games.
- Owen Freeman, Iowa ($6.9K DK) - Freeman has emerged at center for the Hawkeyes and is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, becoming one of Fran McCaffery’s go-to guys with a team second-best 23% usage rate and four double-doubles over the last month. He is a nice “last man in” type play for your main lineup.
Top CBB DFS Forward Values
Note: Forward value is extremely lacking on this slate but here are a few plays that you can consider while filling out your GPP lineups.
- Mason Miller, Creighton ($4.8K DK/4.6K FD) - Miller starts and should be good for 30 minutes but is an afterthought on the Blue Jay offense with a 20 DK ceiling.
- Micah Handlogten ($5.6K DK/5.7K FD) - Handlogten finds himself in foul trouble often but is a sure thing for 4X value as he scored between 20.3 DK-24.3 DK in his last five games straight.
- Jalen Graham, Arkansas ($3.9K DK/4.3K FD) - Graham is coming off a season high 27-minute/24.5 DK point game. If we could trust Coach Musselman I would be all in at this price, but we know where that would get us.
DRAFTKINGS CORE
Keyon Menifield Jr. - Arkansas
PJ Hall - Clemson
Emanuel Sharp - Houston
Derek Simpson - Rutgers
FANDUEL CORE
PJ Hall - Clemson
Eric Dixon - Villanova
Keyon Menifield Jr. - Arkansas
Player News
Mike Tauchman played the role of hero for the White Sox on Friday night, delivering a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning of a 5-4 victory over the Guardians.
After both teams grounded into double plays with a man on third base in the 10th inning, the White Sox finally got their run across in the 11th as Tauchman reached on an infield single to the shortstop to plate Colson Montgomery with the game-winning run. He finished the evening 1-for-4 plus a pair of walks and is now hitting .292/.382/.448 with four homers and 19 RBI on the season.
Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-4 and crushed a pair of solo home runs on Friday night as the White Sox eked out a one-run victory over the Guardians in 11 innings.
The 25-year-old infielder opened the scoring in the contest with a 426-foot (109.2 mph EV) solo shot off of Gavin Williams in the home half of the first inning. He then replicated the feat with a 440-foot (111.2 mph EV) solo blast in the fifth inning that gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead. He also drew a walk in the contest. On the season, Sosa is now hitting .272/.295/.427 with nine homers and 31 RBI.
Jonathan Cannon pitched well in a no-decision against the Guardians on Friday evening, surrendering two runs on three hits over five frames.
The 24-year-old hurler racked up five strikeouts on the evening while issuing three free passes. All of the damage done against him came on one swing of the bat by José Ramírez in the third inning. Aside from that blemish, he was terrific though. Cannon generated 10 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 24 percent. He heads into the All-Star break with a 3-7 record, 4.44 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 61/29 K/BB ratio over 77 innings through his first 15 appearances (13 starts) on the season.
José Ramírez swatted a two-run homer in the second inning on Friday night, but the Guardians were unable to outlast the White Sox in the nightcap of their doubleheader.
The 32-year-old superstar launched a 1-0 cutter from Jonathan Cannon for a 384-foot (106.7 mph EV) two-run shot in the third inning that gave the Guardians a 2-1 advantage. He also drew a walk and swiped a base in the fifth inning, finishing the night 1-for-3. On the season, he’s now slashing a robust .297/.364/.512 to go with 18 homers, 47 RBI and 26 stolen bases in what has been a terrific first half.
Nolan Jones went 2-for-5 with a triple, walk and a run scored on Friday night as the Guardians dropped a heartbreaker to the White Sox in 11 innings.
Jones smacked a two-out triple off of Jonathan Cannon in the eighth inning but wound up stranded there. He then led off the seventh inning with a single and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double off the bat of Angel Martinez. With his two-hit effort, Jones is now hitting .233/.320/.338 with just three homers, 23 RBI and six stolen bases on the season.
Gavin Williams wasn’t at his best in a no-decision against the White Sox on Friday night, allowing three runs on four hits over his five-plus innings of work.
The 25-year-old right-hander struggled badly with his command in this one, issuing five walks and throwing just 59 of his 102 pitches for strikes. Williams struck out five batters on the evening. Most of the damage done against him came via the long ball — with Lenyn Sosa belting a pair of solo home runs in the first and fifth innings. He got 11 whiffs on the evening, registering a CSW of 25 percent. He finishes an inconsistent first half with a 5-4 record, 3.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 95/57 K/BB ratio across 97 1/3 innings through his first 19 starts on the season.