Iowa @ Illinois headline 3-Game Mini-Slate

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We have a small 3-game slate tonight to get us warmed up for the weekend. The slate features a pair of mid-major games from Conference USA and the Atlantic 10 that tip at 5:00 and 5:30, followed by an amazing nightcap that pits #7 Iowa heading to Champaign to take on #19 Illinois. This game has a total of 163.5 right now and is also available as an excellent showdown option for our Bucketheads. #LFG #Dab

Charlotte -6, (136) – 5:00

FIU @ Charlotte

Why I am writing up this game and not Xavier at Butler is beyond me, but we play the hand we are dealt right? Hopefully DK at least has live scoring updates for this one, but I am not holding my breath. FIU will want to push pace and they are horrible defensively, oh and they have lost 5-straight – so there’s that. They are also 16th in the nation in bench minutes, so piss off already Panthers ?. Antonio Daye (G, 8000) leads their team in every major category, so he is about the only one I can recommend. Travis Brewer (G, 6200) plays safe minutes, and after that it looks as if Javaunte Hawkins (G, 4400) and Johnathan Nunez (G/F, 4000) were voted to get additional floor time over the past 4 games. Outside of Daye, this team is a mess from a DFS standpoint.

The 49ers typically want to play slow, so they’ll benefit from FIU’s style. Conversely, they don’t go deep in their bench (334th in bench minutes) so the options are more reliable here. Jahmir Young (G, 7500) has 27% usage and shot rates while averaging 19-6-3 on the season. Love him tonight at that price. Jordan Shepard (G, 6000) and Jhery Matos (G/F, 5500) are seniors who rarely step off the floor and are solid cash options. Brice Williams (G, 5400) actually starts at the 4 and has approached 5x in 3-of-4. Rissetto (F, 4000) and Supica (3900) split time at the 5, but in this range I’d rather take a ? on Marvin Cannon (G, 3900). The Washington State transfer has played only the last two games, but this is a guy who once hung 25 real points on a good Washington team in 2019. If he gets 20 minutes, he could smash value.

Charlotte -6, (136) – 5:00
Richmond -1.5, (146.5) – 5:30

#22 Saint Louis @ Richmond

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS GAME WAS CANCELLED POST RELEASE


The extended time off was unkind to SLU, who lost at home to Dayton on Tuesday. They’ll head to Richmond to face a Spider team giving up 53% effective FG% defensively, including almost 55% on 2-point field goals. That profiles well for Jordan Goodwin (F, 9000), who’s double-double last game was his “worst” DK performance all season. Hasahn French (F, 6500) is a do everything forward with a high ceiling while Javonte Perkin (G, 6300) is more of a scorer, sitting a 29% shot share. Both are priced appropriately and viable in all formats. Yuri Collins (G, 5800) has at least 7 dimes in 3 straight and some steal upside, which helps since he’s a low shot share guy. Gibson Jimerson (G, 4200) would be a shot dependent tourney flyer only.
 
Randomly enough, 3 of Richmond’s 4 losses are at home this season. Tyler Burton (F, 8500) has gotten it done with efficiency this season and is red hot of late, but if you look past his 3-game fireball stretch and sub-20% usage, there is cause for concern. Grant Golden (F, 7000) has higher usage and fills up the ancillary stats, so he’s a higher floor play with upside. Blake Francis (G, 6600) has the highest shot share and should play 35 minutes. Jacob Gilyard (G, 6400) plays the 5th most minutes and 5th highest steal rate and was priced at $9k earlier this year, so strong price point for the senior guard. Nathan Cayo (F, 5000) has 4x in 5 of his last 6, so lots of guys here who will be on the court all game, as the Spiders barely play their bench at this point.

Richmond -1.5, (146.5) – 5:30
Illinois -1.5, (163.5) – 8:00

#7 Iowa @ #19 Illinois

This is a pace-up game for Iowa if you can believe it, Illinois the fastest team in B1G play. Luka Garza (F, 10,000) is averaging 1.53 DK/min, so the only thing he needs to do is play, had 28 & 8 last year in Champaign. Joe Wieskamp (G/F, 7200) returned to form vs Indiana with 5x, Illinois giving up 37% from 3. Not likely Jordon Bohannon (G, 6700) will go 0-fer again, down $1400 so he’s live. Take away the Minny game, Keegan Murray (F, 4500) averaging nearly 6x over last 5. He and Jack Nunge (F, 4200) may see time against the undersized Illini 4s.
 
Ayo Dosunmu’s (G, 7700) price seems like a clerical error. He’s been as high as Garza twice in the last 9 games. Had 17/8/7 last year, so I expect he’ll be very highly owned. Kofi Cockburn (F, 8200) only had 12 & 8 last year but on another level right now. Iowa giving up 42% of opponents’ total points from 3, so Adam Miller (G, 5200) and Trent Frazier (G, 5100) both in play. Da’Monte Williams (G/F, 4800) and Andre Curbelo (G, 4700) viable in GPP as well.

Illinois -1.5, (163.5) – 8:00

Prize Picks – 1/29/21

Javonte Perkins

Saint Louis

Perkins is averaging 18 real points per game, so if he can fall into a steal or two he should cruise OVER 24.8 in a game where both teams should score in the 70s.

DeVante’ Jones

Coastal Carolina

Kind of a wild play but he’s gotten 5 or more steals in 6 games already this season, leads the team in usage, and has a top 30 ORtg nationally which is why I think he’ll go OVER 40.0

– James

David Roddy

Colorado State

He had 27 points and 15 rebounds in this Boise State match-up on Wednesday. He needs 29.7 to go OVER tonight. I think he does.

– Joe