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DFS picks: Top Underdog plays for the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament (March 27)
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The Sweet 16 gets underway Thursday evening with Alabama and BYU. No. 1 seed Duke will also face Arizona. In the night cap, Florida takes on Maryland while Arkansas looks to keep its run going against 3-seed Texas Tech.
Below are 4 DFS picks for the Thursday slate of games 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!
Alabama G Labaron Philon: More than 0.5 made 3-pointers
As a starter this season, Labaron Philon has averaged 1 made 3 per game. But he hasn’t yet hit a triple since the NCAA Tournament began. I expect that could change in the Sweet 16. BYU gives up 3s at a rate that should make Nate Oats giddy. The Crimson Tide take 46% of their shots from beyond the arc. The BYU defense yields 45% of its shots from beyond the arc. BYU — 1 of just 2 teams left in the NCAA Tournament that ranks outside the top 100 in 3-point defense — gives up 35% shooting on opponent 3s. It would come as no surprise to see Alabama exceed its season average for 3-point attempts (29). Mark Sears will draw a ton of attention, so the other guards will need to make shots. Prior to the tourney, Philon had 6-straight games with at least 1 make from downtown. He didn’t look for his shot in the Round of 64, then got up 8 attempts in the second round. There will be plenty of opportunities to take 3s for Philon in the Sweet 16.
Duke C Khaman Maluach: More than 7.5 points
The 7-2 big man for the Blue Devils has been uber-efficient over his last 5 games. Since the end of the regular season, Khaman Maluach has made 24 of his 29 shot attempts from the field. He has yet to miss a shot in the NCAA Tournament, going 5-for-5 in the first-round win over Mount St. Mary’s and then 3-for-3 against Baylor. He’s also a 75% foul shooter. The attention for any opponent facing Duke will obviously be on Cooper Flagg. Flagg’s ability to make plays for his teammates sets him apart as a prospect, and it makes Maluach an attractive option in this game. In the regular-season meeting between these 2 sides, Maluach had 8 points while battling foul trouble. He has cleared this number in 21 of his 36 overall appearances this season, as well as in each of the last 5 games.
Arizona F Tobe Awaka: Lower than 7.5 points
This will be a tough game for the 6-8 Tobe Awaka. He was excellent in the second-round win over Oregon, but consistency hasn’t been there for much of the year. He has 11 games this season with at least 12 points, and he has 12 games this season with fewer than 5 points. He fouls a ton — 6 per 40 minutes — and against Duke’s size, I just don’t see a ton of minutes awaiting him. Consider also that Duke has the nation’s second-best 2-point defense. Awaka has made just 2 triples all year, so playing him and Henri Veesaar together just doesn’t make sense against the Blue Devils. And Arizona needs Veesaar’s length. This strikes me as a game where the guards (namely Caleb Love) consume a ton of possessions.
Florida G Will Richard: Higher than 5.5 rebounds+assists
On the season, Will Richard is averaging 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In the second-round win over UConn, he had 6 boards and 2 assists. In the first-round win over Norfolk State, he had 4 boards and 5 assists. I’m playing this mainly for the rebounding number, with the potential for a couple helpers serving as insurance. Florida is the better rebounding team and has a clear advantage on the offensive glass. Maryland’s 2 bigs, Derik Queen and Julian Reese, both average 9 boards a game between them to lead the Terps. The Maryland guards aren’t as aggressive on the boards as Florida’s. Extra possessions are going to be huge against Maryland’s top-10 defense, and I’d expect Florida to be as physical as possible with the Terps given their lack of depth beyond the starting 5. That means crashing the glass and looking to draw fouls. Richard is a big, physical wing player who has at least 5 rebounds in 21 games this season.
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.
