Are you missing the NFL yet? This is our second Sunday without professional football. The good news? The UFL and other leagues are less than a month away. Better news? College hoops is still here and we haven’t even hit conference tournament season yet. Sunday has a solid slate of games, and it’s a great opportunity to put together an Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry. We’ve found three plays that you’ll want to consider for February 23.
Keep in mind that playing all three legs of our plays in Underdog Fantasy could win you 6X your money on a single entry. Let’s dig into tonight’s plays and remember to let it ride!
Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Picks February 23
Matt Dewoskin Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Pick Em Record (Est 11/4/2024)
All Pick Em Selections: 153-135-3
Perfect 3-0 Pick Em Entries: 16-81
Aaron Scott Higher Than 7.5 Points
UConn and St. John’s face off at Madison Square Garden today. Let’s roll with Red Storm guard Aaron Scott to score more than 7.5 points here.
Scott has gone higher than 7.5 points in three out of four MSG games this year. He’s also scored more than 7.5 points in four of his last five games. The only miss was a blowout win over DePaul. Scott also played UConn in Connecticut during that stretch and scored nine points. He comes into this one averaging 8.6 points per game. All he has to do is play to his average and he clears.
UConn allows opponents to shoot 35.7% from beyond the arc this year. That’s 282nd in the nation. Scott is one of the better shooters from distance, and should knock down at least one three-pointer in this game. One made three-ball, and he only needs to put together five points to clear his 7.5-point projection. His 3-Pointers made number is a little beefy at 1.5, but it’s also in play here.
Scott has all the trends pointing in the right direction, and a defense that allows opponents to make three-pointers. This is a solid play on a slate with limited options. Lock this one up in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry for February 23rd.
Oumar Ballo Higher Than 11.5 Points
This is one of the stinkiest projections on the day. Indiana big man Oumar Ballo gets to face Purdue in Bloomington, IN today. he comes into this game averaging 13.6 points per game and just put up 14 points against Purdue on January 31st. Why is this projection only at 11.5 points?
Ballo has been in single digits in three of his last four games. The only outlier was a 14-point outburst against Michigan State on February 11th. Some view Indiana as a bubble team for the NCAA tournament and need every win they can get. This is also a rivalry game, and the Hoosiers have to get up for this one, right?
Purdue allows opponents to shoot 55.5% on two-point shots. That’s 331st in the nation. The way to beat Purdue is to beat them up in the paint, and you know who’s good at getting points in the post? Oumar Ballo.
Ballo has gone higher than 11.5 points in five out of seven conference home games. He’s missed in each of his last two games, but this has to be the spot for him. Lock up Ballo to score more than 11.5 points against Purdue at home. Let’s dive into the stink with Ballo in an Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
David N’Guessan Higher Than 12.5 Points
Arizona State heads to Manhattan, KS for a match up with Kansas State. These two teams just played on February 4th, and K-State escaped Tempe, AZ with a win. Wildcats guard David N’Guessan went off for 22 points against the Sun Devils in their own building. Now? His projection is only 12.5 points at home. This is another stinky play, and we’re diving in on a Sunday.
N’Guessan comes into this game averaging 13.1 points per game at home. He’s gone higher than 12.5 points in four out of seven home conference games. N’Guessan has also gone higher in three of his last five, but he struggled in back-to-back road games against Utah and BYU. His recent struggles are likely why this projection is a little lower than it should be.
Arizona State allows opponents to 50.0% on two-point shots this year. That’s 139th in the nation. The Sun Devils also allow opponents to score 74.4 points per game. That’s 231st in the nation.
Arizona State can be leaky at times, and N’Guessan made them pay once this year. Let’s roll with N’Guessan to get the job done again at home. Make sure you go higher on N’Guessan’s points projection in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2024-25 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
