It's Fri-Yay over here at Fantasy Alarm and we look to end the work week as we head into Super Bowl Sunday with some extra change in our pockets thanks to Underdog Fantasy's NBA Pick'em. Over the past three weeks we are now 19-6; that's a 76% hit rate with our individual picks. Overall, we've gone 1-1 each of the last two days so let's get back on the right track and see if we can 3x our money tonight over on Underdog Fantasy.

 

Best Underdog Fantasy NBA Bets for Today, 2/9

Onyeka Okongwu DFS Picks: C, Atlanta Hawks

Honestly, I'm kicking myself for not taking this play the other night. We hammered Ony's projection when he got the starting nod against the Clippers and he did not let us down, scoring 18 points while pulling down five rebounds. He then drew a matchup against a much tough Boston Celtics team with a lower projected total than the game prior and I didn't go back to him, and he crushed it, scoring 19 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. 

So, here's the deal: we know Okongwu is a great per minute producer. Tonight, he draws a depleted 76ers team that is still without Joel Embiid. This season, when playing at least 30 minutes, Okongwu has finished with more than 21.5 points+rebounds in six of those eight games which includes a game against the 76ers where he had 30 points+rebounds. 

The future is bright for Okongwu, and we are getting in on the ground level with some of these projections.

Pick: Higher than 21.5 Points+Rebounds

 

CJ McCollum DFS Picks: PG, New Orleans Pelicans

Ok, so, I'm breaking my own rules with this one so at least I'm being self-aware. I've preached about targeting first quarter scoring projections for players that tend to play the entire first quarter. It maximizes their opportunities to hit the projection seeing as they play the entire 12 minutes while most will only play 6-to-9 minutes given a team's substitution pattern. 

BUT sometimes matchups dictate the plays, and this is where tonight's picks come into play as I look at CJ McCollum against the Lakers. Yes, McCollum usually only plays about minutes in the first quarter, but he is also on fire right now from three-point range and he is not shy about shooting from beyond-the-arc. 

Today he faces a Lakers team that is one of the worst defensive teams against the three-point shot in the NBA, allowing 14.2 three-pointers per game to opponents, tied for the second most in the league. McCollum had 15 first quarter points against the Lakers the last time these two teams faced off as he knocked down five three-pointers. If he can knock down a three-pointer early I think we are going to cruise here in this matchup.

Pick: Higher than 5.0 1Q Points