🎓 CBB DFS Breakdown & Best Bets: March Madness Elite Eight Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel | 3/30

Now through three rounds of tournament action, the final two matchups of the Elite Eight are on tap for Tuesday. DraftKings and FanDuel continue to provide sizable contests for CBB DFS grinders. Examining the slate for the Elite Eight, a number of core CBB DFS picks stand out. Likewise, a number of core bets stand out against the market using the Awesemo OddsShopper tool.

For a more in-depth look at all the data, check out Matt Gajewski’s expert projections that will help take your CBB DFS lineups to the top of the DraftKings and FanDuel leaderboards.

Don’t miss our FREE CBB DFS picks cheat sheets for DraftKings and FanDuel Elite Eight lineups tonight based on Matt’s expert projections and ownership.

CBB DFS Picks & Bets: DraftKings + FanDuel

USC vs. Gonzaga

Despite being a No. 6 seed, USC faced relatively little resistance on their way to the Elite Eight. Knocking off Drake, Kansas and Oregon, USC won all three games by a margin of victory north of 10 points. Likewise, Gonzaga continues to roll through every opponent they face. The Bulldogs already knocked off Norfolk State, Oklahoma and Creighton to get here. As it stands, Gonzaga is an 8.5-point favorite in a game totaled at 153.

Even with USC’s recent surge, Gonzaga has most of the advantages in this spot. The Bulldogs rank first in overall offensive efficiency and face a USC defense with one glaring weakness. The Trojans pace the NCAA in interior defense but rank 160th from beyond the arc. Gonzaga shoots 37.3% from beyond the arc, headlined by Corey Kispert‘s 46% 3-point percentage.

Gonzaga has only allowed one victory all season to fall within 10 points. Even in a close game Gonzaga still has the advantages. USC shoots 64.6% from the free-throw line, which ranks outside the top 300. They also commit 12.4 turnover per game (236th), while Gonzaga’s defense forces them at the 48th-highest rate.

Best Bet — Gonzaga -8.5

Elite Eight CBB DFS Picks

Evan Mobley ($8,400) — With extra attention focused in his direction against Oregon, Mobley only managed 10 points and eight rebounds against the Ducks. Despite the floor game, Mobley has a playable price here even against Gonzaga’s 11th-ranked defense. Mobley has played 36 and 38 minutes in USC’s two tournament games that ended with a margin of victory below 20. Mobley currently has a 16.1% shot rate, 31.7% rebound rate and 24.5% assist rate. His shot rate should see positive regression moving forward, and Gonzaga has actually struggled to defend elite big men. While Gonzaga plays a weaker conference schedule, they faced Luka Garza and Derek Culver early in the season. Culver notched 18 points and 15 boards, while Garza tallied 30 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley still looks like a stud to target here.

Jalen Suggs ($7,300) — Offering the top price-adjusted projection among the Gonzaga studs, Suggs is highly affordable at $7,300. While Drew Timme ($8,200) and Kispert ($7,000) also warrant consideration, Suggs looks like the buy-low. Suggs has played 34 and 35 minutes in back-to-back games for Gonzaga. However, he has had two straight floor performances, shooting 5-for-13 and 3-for-7 in these games. On the year Suggs has an 18.5% usage rate while providing upside across the major statistical categories. While Kispert’s 3-point shooting takes advantage of USC’s defensive weakness, Suggs’ overall involvement gives him the edge here.

Andrew Nembhard ($5,500) — The cheapest viable attachment to Gonzaga’s offense, Nembhard has played 36 and 38 minutes in back-to-back games. Nembhard’s overall usage leaves a bit to be desired, but he enters the value conversation on a two-game slate as a cheap attachment to the highest implied team total on the board. Nembhard accounts for a 10.9% shot rate and 24.2% assist rate in Gonzaga’s last three games. He even displayed his upside in Gonzaga’s most recent game against Creighton, scoring 17 points and dishing out eight assists.

Drew Peterson ($4,700) — Another potential value play in this game, Peterson to start for USC. He will not have the same minute consistency that Nembhard brings, but he also offers some salary relief. Peterson has played 26, 34 and 28 minutes in the last three games. On the year he has a 14.4% usage rate, 13.8% shot rate, 12.7% rebound rate and 19.6% assist rate. After a ceiling game from Isaiah White against Creighton, it is possible that Peterson could play a reduced role moving forward. However, he has shown 30-minute upside, making him a strong GPP play on DraftKings and FanDuel.

UCLA vs. Michigan

From play-in game to Elite Eight, UCLA has now knocked off Michigan State, BYU, Abilene Christian and Alabama to get here. Meanwhile, Michigan overcame the loss of Isaiah Livers to beat Texas Southern, LSU and Florida State. Michigan is a 6.5-point favorite over UCLA in a game totaled at 135.5 points.

From an efficiency standpoint, Michigan has numerous advantages. The Wolverines rank 10th in offensive efficiency and 58th in defensive efficiency on the season. They were able to dismantle a Florida State team that ranked 10th in interior defense. All of Hunter Dickinson, Franz Wagner and Brandon Johns Jr. scored at least 13 points with six boards in the matchup. UCLA already ranks 158th in interior defense and continues to play without big man Jalen Hill. With major height advantages, the Wolverines should exploit this matchup here.

Meanwhile, UCLA draws their best matchup from beyond the arc. The Bruins shoot 39% as a team from 3-point territory, and Michigan ranks 112th in defending 3’s. However, Michigan’s defensive pressure often limits the number of 3’s opposing teams can take. Opponents average 19.6 3-pointers per game, which ranks 66th in the country. Making matters worse, UCLA needed overtime to overcome an Alabama team that shot 44% from the line and 25% from 3-point land. Alabama shoots 71% from the line and 35.2% from 3 on the year, making UCLA a potential team to fade moving forward.

Best Bet — Michigan -6.5

Elite Eight CBB DFS Picks

Hunter Dickinson ($6,700) — This game does not have as much intrigue from a DFS standpoint, but multiple players deserve consideration on the two-game slate. With Livers out of the picture, Dickinson has played 30 and 31 minutes in back-to-back games. On the year he has a 15.6% usage rate, but these numbers continue to climb down the stretch. Dickinson accounts for a 16.2% shot rate and 20.2% rebound rate. With UCLA unlikely to have an answer for Dickinson’s 7-foot-1 frame, he deserves consideration across contest formats on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Jules Bernard ($6,100) — Slowly seeing his role grow throughout the year, Bernard has now played at least 32 minutes in three straight games. In that span Bernard accounts for an 18.4% shot rate, 16.8% rebound rate and 21.6% assist rate. More importantly, he exploits Michigan’s primary defensive weakness. Bernard shoots 40% from beyond the arc, where Michigan has shown vulnerability this season. While Johnny Juzang ($6,800) and Jaime Jaquez ($7,100) both deserve consideration for the same reasons, Bernard saves the most salary.

Mike Smith ($5,300) — For those looking at cheaper options, Smith provides the most secure value. Smith is now priced $100 above Johns. Unlike Johns, Smith plays a consistent role, has at least 32 minutes in three straight games and brings a 15.8% usage rate. In that span Smith accounts for a 17.6% shot rate, 8.9% rebound rate and 25% assist rate. While Johns is viable in GPPs, Smith will bring the consistency desired for low-risk contests on tonight’s slate.

Tyger Campbell ($5,100) — For those looking at cheaper attachments to the UCLA offense, Campbell continues to bring value. Dealing with a bit of foul trouble in UCLA’s last game, Campbell only notched 30 minutes in the overtime contest. However, Campbell has now played at least 30 minutes in two of UCLA’s last three games. The team’s primary ball handler, Campbell accounts for a 14.2% shot rate and 37.8% assist rate in that span. With a tight distribution of minutes overall, UCLA’s safest value comes through Campbell.


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Author
Matt Gajewski graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Economics. Matt has worked in the fantasy industry for the past four years, focusing on DFS and Sports Betting. Matt specializes in NFL, College Football, College Basketball, XFL, and MMA. With GPP victories across the major sports, Matt also qualified for the DraftKings 2020 Sports Betting Championship and won a seat to the College Basketball Tourney Mania final.

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