College basketball season is in full swing, and DraftKings and FanDuel continue to provide sizable contests for CBB DFS grinders. Examining the slate for March 9, a number of core plays stand out. In this piece I’ll be locating top plays from each college basketball matchup and determining the top CBB DFS picks for your DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.
CBB DFS Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Core Plays | March 9
Stud Tier
Max Abmas ($9,000) — With most conference tournaments underway, DraftKings provided a series of mid-major games to complement the start of the ACC tournaments. Abmas stands out in the expensive for an Oral Roberts team with a top-four implied total. Oral Roberts is a 1-point underdog to North Dakota State in a game totaled at 146.5 points. Abmas plays every minute for Oral Roberts and has an elite 23.1% usage rate. He has scored at least 18 points in each of his last three games, accounting for a 22.5% shot rate and 39% assist rate in that span. For those looking at contrarian studs, Abmas should continue his recent tear over North Dakota State’s 172nd-ranked defense.
Jalen Suggs ($8,000) — Just like yesterday, Suggs is the cheapest Gonzaga stud on the board. Gonzaga has the highest implied team total on the slate as a 13.5-point favorite over BYU in a game totaled at 154.5 points. Suggs brings an 18.6% usage rate, 14.9% shot rate, 20.6% rebound rate and 35.3% assist rate in Gonzaga’s last three games. While Corey Kispert ($8,200) and Drew Timme ($8,500) deserve consideration as well, Suggs provides the top price-adjusted play from the offense.
Rocky Kreuser ($7,200) — On the other side of the Oral Roberts game, North Dakota State has the third-highest implied team total. Oral Roberts plays fast with the 282nd-ranked defense, setting up North Dakota State for a strong performance. Kreuser continues to lead the Bison with a 17.6% usage rate while averaging 30 minutes per game. Hitting 33 and 34 in his last two, Kreuser still presents GPP-winning upside. On the year he accounts for a 20.2% shot rate, 18.9% rebound rate and 15.6% assist rate. Now playing elevated minutes with a tournament berth at stake, Kreuser presents a strong price-adjusted play in this matchup.
Mid-Priced Tier
Hall Elisias ($6,900) — Bryant is a 7-point favorite over a Mount Saint Mary’s team in a game totaled at 134 points. Mount Saint Mary’s plays slow, defensively sound basketball, but Bryant has one of the top tempos in the country. After overcoming a COVID-19 scare in their most recent game, Bryant has a full roster. Elisias has now played 32 minutes in back-to-back games, with an increasing usage rate. He accounts for a 17.4% shot rate and 26.5% rebound rate in Bryant’s last three games. With Elisias somewhat expensive, Michael Green III ($6,600) or Chris Childs ($5,100) could be used as cheaper attachments to the offense.
Tre Gomillion ($6,100) — A 2-point favorite over Oakland, Cleveland State has a middling 70.5-point implied team total. However, Oakland’s 333rd ranked defense creates a solid scoring environment. With a middling price, Gomillion has a 14.5% usage rate. Gomillion only played 26 minutes in Cleveland State’s most recent win, but he scored 16 points in an efficient outing. In his two games prior, Gomillion easily eclipsed 30 minutes, giving him elite rates in Cleveland State’s last three. He provides a 19.8% shot rate, 21.2% rebound rate and 16.3% assist rate in his last three games.
Darius Buford ($5,500) — An overall underwhelming game for DFS, Elon has a modest 63.5-point implied total. Pegged as a 3.5-point underdog to Drexel, this game brings a 130.5-point overall total. Elon presents a potential value option in Buford despite the low implied total. Buford has played at least 30 minutes in two of Elon’s last three games. He has a 16.2% usage rate and has seen an uptick in his involvement. In Elon’s last three, Buford accounts for a 17.1% shot rate and 27.8% assist rate. While holding some risk, Buford deserves a look in GPPs.
Value Tier
Andrew Nembhard ($5,000) — For those looking at cheaper attachments to Gonzaga, Nembhard has an affordable $5,000 price tag. Outside of Senior Night, Nembhard continues to start for Gonzaga and average 27.9 minutes per game. Nembhard has reached for eclipsed that mark in each of his last three games. His 15.3% usage rate gives him solid upside, and a 23.2% assist rate keeps his floor elevated. With Gonzaga implied for 84 points, taking multiple players from this game is viable.
Trey Wertz ($4,800) — Kicking off the ACC tournament, Notre Dame is an 8-point favorite over Wake Forest in a game totaled at 143.5 points. Both teams struggle on defense, with Wake Forest ranking 281 in overall defensive efficiency. Now using an expanded rotation, Notre Dame’s stud provide less value than earlier this season. However, Wertz continues to start and play solid minutes for the Irish at an affordable price tag. Wertz has at least 32 minutes in three straight games with a useable 13.6% usage rate. With the second-highest implied team total on the slate, Wertz makes sense as a value option for Notre Dame.
Darius Cook ($4,600) — For those looking at cheaper attachments to North Dakota State, Cook has played 31 and 32 minutes in their last two games. He has a 13% usage rate on the year, which includes a 14% shot rate. Cooks provides little peripheral involvement with an 8% rebound rate and 8.2% assist rate. However, he provides consistent minutes in a game with a solid total. For that reason, he is consideration as a potential value sleeper on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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