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DFS picks: Top Underdog plays for the first round of the NCAA Tournament (March 20)
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The greatest 4-day stretch in sports has finally arrived. The NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday with round-the-clock action.
Below are 4 DFS picks for the slate that can be found on Underdog Fantasy. If you’re new to Underdog, grab Saturday Down South‘s exclusive Underdog Fantasy promo code (SDS) that will help you earn up to $1,000 in bonus cash when you sign up!
Johni Broome, Auburn: Higher than 23.5 points+assists
Stopping Auburn in the NCAA Tournament will come down to doing 1 of 2 things exceptionally well — sending extra attention and praying his teammates miss, or playing him straight up and locking down the others. Alabama State (278th in average height, 256th in defensive efficiency) has neither the defensive might nor the size to hold Broome in check. Broome has scored at least 23 points in 3-straight games. He’s the hub through which everything runs, and he has shown all season long he’s capable of making smart plays for his teammates when faced with extra attention. Broome has 8 games this season with at least 5 assists. If Alabama State tries to double him, Broome will be able to see over the top and make the right pass. Broome should also get plenty of opportunities for freebies at the line thanks to the Hornets’ foul-happy nature on defense.
Vladislav Goldin, Michigan: Higher than 19.5 points
UC San Diego has an outstanding defense, but no one in the rotation is taller than 6-8 and slowing down 7-footers as skilled as Goldin and Danny Wolf is a tough ask. Goldin had 25 points and 10 boards in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, his seventh 20-point game in a 9-game stretch. He has double-digit shot attempts in 7 straight games and is shooting 62% from the field on the season. Goldin is also a proven postseason performer. He scored 19 for FAU in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, and he had a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double in the Elite Eight 2 years ago. Off a 4-for-12 performance in the Big Ten Tournament title game against Wisconsin, I’m looking for Goldin to have a bounce-back game in what could very well be a down-to-the-wire game. The Tritons are a trendy upset pick. To get past them, there’s no reason why the Wolverines shouldn’t lean into their frontcourt.
John Poulakidas, Yale: Higher than 2.5 made 3-pointers
In last season’s upset of Auburn, Poulakidas scored 28 points and drilled 6 of his 9 triples. The Bulldogs’ senior guard has hit 13 of his last 28 from 3-point land and scored at least 25 points in 2 of his last 3 games entering the NCAA Tournament. He leads Yale this season with 19 points per game and has shown he can score on power programs. In a game against Purdue back in November, Poulakidas scored 23 points while making 5 triples. He scored 21 on 4-of-7 shooting from deep in a 3-point loss to Minnesota days later. Overall, Poulakidas has at least 3 made 3s in 17 of his 26 appearances this season. He also averages 10 attempts per 40 minutes. If Yale is going to pull another upset, it needs Poulakidas to knock down big shots. He’ll take plenty against a Texas A&M team that gives up a ton of shots from beyond the arc.
Mark Mitchell, Mizzou: Higher than 13.5 points
An All-SEC selection this season, Mitchell enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 14 points per game. He scored 7 in 12 minutes before leaving the Tigers’ SEC Tournament game with an injury, then missed the next game. Mitchell is expected to be back for this game and he’ll be important for a Mizzou team hoping to stave off a Cinderella in the making in Drake. The Bulldogs play at the slowest pace in the Division I, so possessions will be limited, but they’re also a little too prone to turnovers and give up 54% shooting on 2s. Against a smaller lineup that features multiple former D2 players, Mitchell stands out as an obvious matchup problem for Mizzou to try and exploit. When the big man has been aggressive this season, he has eaten opposing defenses alive. In the 16 games this season where Mitchell has attempted double-digit shots from the field, he’s averaging 19 points. Even if the possessions are limited, I expect to see a heavy dose of Mitchell.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
