Monday 4-Game Slate Kicks Off Final Week

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We made it to the final week of the regular season and our 3rd year of giving absolute ? content is coming to a close. While the conference play wraps up, we want to make sure we finish strong and tonight we are looking at a solid 4-game slate to get the week started. The match-ups include a B1G and ACC showdowns tipping at 6:00 followed by PAC12 and B12 match-ups starting at 8:00. Let’s finish with a bang!

On the Prize Picks front, we are coming off a red hot week (excluding mid-major Friday). We went 3-for-3 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday netting 5x entry fees each time. Wednesday we just missed a 3-of-3 by 0.5 on a late turnover and Saturday we missed our 3-for-3 by 0.2 since Trendon Watford wasn’t credited with a rebound. Overall a 13-2 (yes, omitting Friday) week should have made our Bucketheads some scratch!

Staying with Prize Picks – It looks like they have added a single stat feature (points). So tonight, for example, you can do Cade Cunningham over 35.0 (traditional) or over 20 points. A nice little wrinkle to consider and a good way to have more pick options on a given night. The selections are combinable, so I am sure you will see us recommend a mix of the traditional and the points only feature in the future.

Rutgers -7, (139.5) – 6:00

Rutgers @ Nebraska

Should be a good matchup for Ron Harper Jr (G/F, 7200) and Geo Baker (G, 7000), both coming off huge games vs Indiana. Myles Johnson (F, 6900) should have nice rebounding and block upside, making him a great GPP play. Jacob Young (G, 6100) should get plenty of open looks; he’s ideal for cash. Caleb McConnell (G, 5000) is priced down a little after a couple subpar games, but he’s a nice play tonight.
 
Teddy Allen (G, 6600) is dealing with a wrist injury, so tough telling what we’ll see from him quit the team. Trey McGowens (G, 6400) has been in good form his last 3 games, averaging nearly 5x. He’s solid cash play here. Dalano Banton (G/F, 5900) and Derrick Walker (F, 5200) have some rebounding upside. The latter coming off a 6x game. Kobe Webster (G, 4000) is playing a lot of minutes of late, a cheaper option you can consider. 

Rutgers -7, (139.5) – 6:00
Oregon -4.5 (141) – 8:00

Arizona @ Oregon

This is a must win for Oregon, who I feel can win some games in March Madness if they can make it to the dance. I’m also a bit of a Pac-12 homer after covering them from a DFS perspective for 3 years now, but I like their talent despite an undersized frontcourt. Azoulas Tubelis (F, 7800) enjoyed his first matchup against that undersized front line, dropping 20 real points in a 63-61 loss a couple weeks ago. He was the only Wildcat with success against the Oregon zone, while James Akinjo (G, 8400) struggled to 1-8 shooting from the floor. Since that game, Akinjo has hit 30 DK in every game and should have open shots behind the arc, but price is at a season high so definite risk on the road. Bennedict Mathurin (G/F, 5300) has the highest NBA upside on the roster and has gone 5x/6x over his last two, seeing mid-30s minutes in each game and he’s fairly priced. The rest of the Wildcats (Brown, Brown, Koloko, and Krissa) are risky tourney options at this point.
Not only am I a Pac-12 homer, but I’m also a Chris Duarte (G, 8200) homer. He’s an elite shooter with steal upside, so he’s a solid 4x option that has shown 40 DK upside. LJ Figueroa (G/F, 8000) is coming off a 50 burger, but got a huge price bump and is really their 3rd option offensively. Eugene Omoruyi (F, 7500) has the highest shot share on the team and 30 DK upside, so I prefer him for $500 less than LJ, but both are tourney options. Eric Williams (F, 6100) is getting 30+ minutes a game, but he is solely a tourney option who seems to pop every 4 games or so. I’ll keep banging my head against the wall with Will Richardson (G, 4800), as his price continues to drop. I’ll continue to shove him in my lineup every time the Ducks are on the slate. He’s more talented than his price and recent performance suggest, or at least I’m pretty sure he is. In general, Arizona is just average defensively, but are pretty neutral in terms of how they give up points, so no bias between guards or bigs here.

Oregon -4.5 (141) – 8:00
Oklahoma -1, (142.5) – 8:00

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State

If you prefer audio versions of content, check out Saturday’s pod because that is the last time these two squared off and not much has changed. Oklahoma St. won 94-90 in OT and assuming the NCAA doesn’t rule on the Cowboys appeal, they should be in good position to make the tourney. Do everything guard Austin Reaves (G/F, 8700) put up 45 DK Saturday and continues to fill up the stat sheet. De’Vion Harmon’s (G, 6200) price jumped after a 23 real point performance but hadn’t hit 4x at this price in 5 games prior. As we discussed on the pod, Elijah Harkless (G, 6000) continued his run of 5x performances Saturday and has finally gotten a price increase. He’s still a solid bet for 4x at his new price point. Umoja Gibson (G, 5800) is priced down slightly and more of a tourney option that has shown 30 DK upside in the past, but more volatile than Harkless has been over the last 30 days. Brady Manek (F, 4300) is a cheap option if you still believe in him.

Cade Cunningham (G/F, 9200) broke the slate, dropping 65 DK Saturday at $8700. His price didn’t increase too much and he’s the #1 overall pick for a reason. Can’t expect another 60 burger, but he clearly has a massive ceiling. Kalib Boone (F, 6300) remains a boom or bust tourney option, along with Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe (F, 5700), who saw 32 minutes on Saturday. Avery Anderson III (G, 5600) is more of a high floor play given his stable minutes and his price actually dropped despite 30 DK in OT on Saturday. Rondel Walker (G, 5400) played a ton of minutes and has shown some tourney upside with Issac Likekele (G/F, 4900) out. If Likekele is back, it would reduce some playing time for the guards and potentially impact Moncrieff as well. Likekele would likely be eased back into the rotation, giving him health risk with the banged-up hand and foot. Bryce Williams (G, 4200) minutes would also drop with a Likekele returned, but if he remains out, he’s a potential punt option on a short slate.

Oklahoma -1, (142.5) – 8:00
UNC -2.5, (149) – 6:00

North Carolina @ Syracuse

North Carolina’s talented front court has gotten even harder to predict as the season has worn on. Walker Kessler (F, 5800) played a season high 24 minutes vs FSU good for 8x. That came at the expense of Day’Ron Sharpe (F, 6700) and Armando Bacot (F, 5000) who only played 12 and 15 respectively. This is a terrific matchup for whoever actually plays. Garrison Brooks (F, 6500) is playing steady minutes but hasn’t hit 5x at that price in 10 games. He did have 40 DK last time though, so he’s an option. Leaky Black (G/F, 4500) is a solid play at that price. Sharpshooter Kerwin Walton (G, 5500) should be looked at in GPP. I expect he’ll get a ton of 3s up. Caleb Love (G, 5700) and RJ Davis (G, 4400) have some value in cash games.
 
The usual suspects for Syracuse are all in play. Quincy Guerrier (F, 6800) had 23 points, 11 boards, and 5 blocks last time, so he jumps out as the third priced option. Alan Griffin (F, 7400) and Buddy Boeheim (G, 7300) are still solid plays as UNC gives up 37% from 3. I’m less enthused about Mark Dolezaj (F, 5400) and Kadary Richmond (G, 5200) due to matchup. Joseph Girard (G, 4700) is a decent punt play on the smaller slate.

UNC -2.5, (149) – 6:00

Prize Picks – 3/1/21

Garrison Brooks

UNC

Brooks high post game profiles perfectly against the Syracuse 2-3 zone we’ve seen get shredded by bigs this year. Brooks has averaged over 20 real points in his last 3 games vs. Cuse, so I think these trends continue tonight. Give me the OVER 24.2.

– Byrd

Jay Huff

Virginia

He should be able to get his full game going, scoring, rebounds, blocks. Miami will be a pace-up game (who isn’t?), and they’re injured and hopeless right now. I like Huff to go OVER 32.0

– James

Cade Cunningham

Oklahoma State

He had 40 real points, 11 boards, 2 blocks, and 3 steals in this match-up on Saturday. Did OU figure out how to keep him quiet in 2 days? I am betting they didn’t. Cade goes OVER 35.0.

– Joe