THE SLATE (Odds & Totals via KenPom):

7 pm ET -- Iowa (-1) at Virginia -- 135 o/u

7 pm ET -- Central Michigan at Kentucky (-28) -- 146 o/u (DK)

8:30 pm ET -- Sam Houston State at Texas (-20) -- 130 o/u (DK)

9 pm ET -- Notre Dame at Illinois (-6) -- 144 o/u

10 pm ET -- Tarleton State at Gonzaga (-28) -- 140 o/u

10 pm ET -- Montana at Oregon (-12) -- 136 o/u (DK)

Top Implied Team Totals (per KenPom)

Kentucky -- 87 points

Gonzaga -- 84

Texas -- 75

Illinois -- 75

Oregon --74

 

Top Guards

Top Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Timmy AllenUTSHSU680025.95  
Unfortunately for DFS, it’s tough to trust most of the Texas players on this slate because we have blowout risk and a deep rotation hurting their value. If any of the Longhorns are playable in cash, though, it’s Allen who’s more often than not been the team’s offensive leader and best overall player this season. The Utah transfer just put up 34 DK last time out in a blowout win and could easily do the same here while stuffing the stat sheet. Allen is the best per-dollar play from Texas right now until salaries adjust more.
TyTy Washington Jr.UKCMU670029.08  
It took a few games, but Washington is now looking much more comfortable at the collegiate level after starting the season slow. There’s a reason why he’s considered a future NBA lottery pick and that talent has shone through lately with 46, 36 and 32 DK points over the last three games - all against softer competition like he’ll face tonight. Washington is still too cheap considering he offers similar DFS production to Sahvir Wheeler but is $1400 cheaper.
Andrew NembhardGONZTARLS660024.39740022.30
The top-end of the guard position is a bit weak tonight, so it may be tough to fade Nembhard and a Gonzaga stack on FD’s smaller slate. The Zags’ point guard was excellent last week when he put up 44 DK points vs. UCLA and 37 DK vs. Duke while taking a bigger offensive role than we’ve seen previously this season. Though tonight will surely be a blowout win where Nembhard might take a backseat to other Zags scoring-wise, there’s also a chance where he dominates and anchors your lineups.
Alfonso PlummerILND430018.25580015.65
Depending on Illinois’ backcourt injury situation tonight, Plummer will either be a lock-and-load option or just a boom-or-bust play. Either way, he’s massively underpriced on DK and will be much more popular there than on FD. Plummer scored 30 real points with 37 DK points last game with Andre Curbelo, Tim Frazier and Jacob Grandison all out. If one or all three are out again, Plummer would have a high-usage role offensively. There’s some GPP upside tonight with Plummer being the Illini’s best perimeter shooter and facing a poor Notre Dame three-point defense.

Other Top Guards to Consider:

Sahvir Wheeler -- Kentucky ($8,100 DK Only)

Kihei Clark -- Virginia ($6,400 DK / $5,200 FD)

Savion Flagg -- Sam Houston State ($6,100 DK Only)

Value Guards

Value Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Tahj SmallTARLSGONZ520023.08520020.14
Though Tarleton State will surely get blown out by Gonzaga tonight, some of those players are still worth a look because the team runs a very short rotation and will benefit from a pace-up environment. Small is the starting wing who plays nearly every minute and has already put up 20 DK points against both Michigan and Kansas this season. He’s right on the fringe of being cash viable, but all the Tarleton guys are contrarian value options tonight.
Nolan HickmanGONZTARLS510014.07400013.27
When Gonzaga plays lesser competition, the backups become a lot more relevant for DFS while getting more playing time in the second half. Hickman is a guy who’s been given the green light for 20+ minutes and significantly higher offensive usage in these blowout wins. The freshman put up 18-25 DK points in three of the four Zags’ blowouts so far - and he had 15 DK in the other one. Both Hickman and fellow top recruit Hunter Sallis are solid options tonight with an uptick in playing time and role against a weak opponent.
Joe ToussaintIOWAUV350018.46420017.23
Playing anyone from Iowa isn’t ideal tonight in a pace-down matchup vs. Virginia’s tough defense - especially with the Hawkeyes rolling with a deep rotation to start the year. Still, Toussaint is too cheap on both sites for being a starting point guard who’s put up 17+ DK points in four of six games this year. While his minutes have been on the lower-end, Iowa has yet to play in a close game against a decent opponent thus far - so expect the starters to play more tonight.
Blake WesleyNDIL300016.05370011.10
Fortunately for DFS purposes, Notre Dame runs a very short rotation with only seven players regularly getting playing time. Wesley is one of only two bench players for the Irish and when the freshman is in the game - which is about 15-20 minutes or more per game - the ball is in his hands plenty. He leads the team in usage rate and shots share when he’s on the floor and has even outperformed starters Cormac Ryan and Prentiss Hubb at times. He’s worth a shot at some dirt cheap price tags.

Other Value Guards to Consider:

Dane Goodwin -- Notre Dame ($5,500 DK / $6,900 FD)

Da’Monte Williams -- Illinois ($4,900 DK / $5,400 FD)

Hunter Sallis -- Gonzaga ($4,400 DK / $4,400 FD)
 

Top Forwards

Top Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Chet HolmgrenGONZTARLS940033.75830031.63
If Gonzaga is on the slate, it’s always a decision of whether to play Holmgren, Drew Timme or both in your lineups. When the Zags play weaker opponents in blowouts, it’s usually Holmgren who has the better stat line compared to Timme because his “unicorn” skill set simply shines through more against lesser competition. His best DFS performances this season have come in the Zags’ blowouts and he’ll have another size/talent advantage over Tarleton tonight.
Kofi CockburnILND830043.83900040.83
Since returning from suspension, Cockburn has been the real-life and DFS beast like we all remember. In his three games back, the big man has stepped right into a high-usage role offensively and it’s clear he’ll unsurprisingly be the headliner all year. The Notre Dame frontcourt has some size but lacks the talent and physicality to contain Cockburn down low tonight. Expect him to anchor your lineups in all formats on this slate.
Jayden GardnerUVIOWA740025.07650022.94
Like Virginia as a team, Gardner has been up-and-down all season for DFS with real boom-or-bust potential either way. He can easily have a dominant performance like his 21 points, 13 boards and 36 DK vs. Providence. Or he can let you down like the 8.5 DK vs. Houston. He should be in the 30+ DFS point range tonight in a pace-up spot vs. Iowa while being the most talented big man on the floor.
Keegan MurrayIOWAUV590046.88950044.93
Before we get into anything else about Murray, note that he’s a much better play on DK with the massive price differential and it’s hard to swallow that much on FD. The sophomore power forward leads the Hawkeyes in usage rate and shots share with both marks being at Luka Garza-like levels early on. This offense had a massive hole to fill with Garza gone and it seems Murray has stepped right into that heavy-usage spot. He’s definitely a GPP risk/reward play tonight in a pace-down spot vs. Virginia’s defense.

Other Top Forwards to Consider:

Oscar Tshiebwe -- Kentucky ($9,800 DK Only)

Drew Timme -- Gonzaga ($8,800 DK / $8,200 FD)

Paul Atkinson -- Notre Dame ($8,700 DK / $6,700 FD)

Value Forwards

Value Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Eric Williams Jr.OREMONT560025.33  
Oregon is a tough team to get a read on for DFS this season. The Ducks’ best players, Will Richardson and Quincy Guerrier, have struggled to produce and haven’t lived up to their current price tags. Meanwhile, Eric Williams Jr. has looked like the team’s best all-around player more often than not and he’s certainly been more consistent for DFS purposes. He’s too cheap for someone who’s averaging 13 PPG and 25 DK points and now gets an easy matchup.
Kadin ShedrickUVIOWA490022.5550021.33
UVA’s starting center continues to be a bargain as long as he’s priced in the 5k range on both sites. Shedrick has put up 20+ DK points in six of seven games thus far and now gets a pace-up spot vs. Iowa. Though he’s not involved much offensively, the 6-foot-11 big man has a solid DFS floor because of his rebounding and shot-blocking ability that’s been pretty consistent.
Josh BannanMONTORE430031.46  
Simply put, this is yet another pricing mistake by DK as Bannan should be in the 6k range. He’s Montana’s best player leading the team in usage rate and shots share while averaging 14.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 31 DK points per game - and yet he’s oddly below 5k. Maybe he’s less popular on this slate because he plays for Montana as a huge underdog to Oregon, but Bannan can realistically 5x his salary tonight.
Patrick McCafferyIOWAUV350018.94490017.95
McCaffrey returned from injury last game, immediately stepped back into the starting lineup and put up 20 DK points. He now has at least 17 DK in every game thus far while averaging 12.5 PPG as the starting small forward for Iowa. Though this is a pace-down spot vs. Virginia, these are some cheap tags for a starter like McCaffrey who doesn’t have to do much to return value.

Other Value Forwards to Consider:

Freddy Hicks -- Tarleton State ($4,700 DK / $4,900 FD)

Ralph Bissainthe -- Central Michigan ($4,500 DK Only)

Daimion Collins -- Kentucky ($4,400 DK Only)

Franck Kepnang -- Oregon ($3,200 DK Only)

Kris Murray -- Iowa ($3,000 DK) -- another DK mispricing
 

DraftKings Core Plays

Kofi Cockburn -- Illinois ($8,300)

TyTy Washington Jr. -- Kentucky ($6,700)

Josh Bannan -- Montana ($4,300)

 

FanDuel Core Plays

Chet Holmgren -- Gonzaga ($8,300)

Jayden Gardner -- Virginia ($6,500)

Joe Toussaint -- Iowa ($4,200)