NCAA Tournament Picks for CBB DFS & PrizePicks - Friday, 3/28

This. Is. March. The NCAA Tournament field of 68 teams is down to 12 teams, with each team eying a spot in the national semifinals next weekend in San Antonio.

While Cinderellas have all but left the ball, day one of the Round of 16 provided offensive fireworks (I think Bama just hit another 3-pointer), another Cooper Flagg legacy game, and a dramatic overtime win by Texas Tech to reach Saturday’s regional finals. Who knows what Friday’s games will bring…

With the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament picking up again tonight, let’s break down the games and give you the top CBB DFS picks of the day on PrizePicks.

‍

Bracket already busted? No worries — you can still cash in on the NCAA Tournament on PrizePicks. Just pick More or Less on player stats such as points, rebounds, or combos. The more players you pick, the more you can win, all the way up to 1000x. If you’re new to PrizePicks, you can claim $50 instantly after playing your first $5 Lineup.

NCAA Tournament Picks for Friday: Round of 16

Here’s a look at some of the CBB DFS picks and player projections to target in Friday’s NCAA Tournament college basketball games in the Round of 16 for March 28 on PrizePicks. 

Friday CBB Games to Target

• No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Tennessee: Preview & Pick
• No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 1 Houston: Preview & Pick

CBB DFS Picks Today for PrizePicks

• Michigan State G Jase Richardson — 11.5 Points (Goblin) or 2.5 3-Pt Made (Demon)
• Ole Miss G Matthew Murrell — 8.5 Points
• Michigan C Vladislav Goldin — 7.5 Rebounds
• Purdue F Trey Kaufman-Renn — 27.0 Pts+Rebs+Asts

Friday CBB DFS Picks & Game Previews for PrizePicks

Here are the top games to target for CBB DFS fantasy production today, Friday, March 28.

2-seed Tennessee vs. 3-seed Kentucky: Preview, Pick

Time: 7:39 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TBS

No. 2 seed Tennessee (29-7) takes on SEC rival No. 3 seed Kentucky (24-11) in what should be one of Friday’s best Round of 16 games.

The Tennessee Volunteers reached their third consecutive Round of 16 with perhaps their best chance yet to reach the program’s first national semifinal. Coach Rick Barnes and his team have proven throughout the season that they can win in multiple ways.

The Volunteers can dictate a physical, defensive battle with their third-ranked defense (according to KenPom) or race you to 75 in a higher scoring game behind their deliberate yet efficient offense. Senior point guard Zakai Zeigler — who averages 7.4 assists per game — is the team’s heart and soul, while senior transfer Chaz Lanier — averaging 18.1 points — provides a dynamic scoring presence.

No. 3 seed Kentucky is back in the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Under first-year coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats boast a deep bag offensively with nine players getting regular playing time. That includes Otega Oweh — brother of Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Odafe Oweh — and one of the nation’s most efficient scorers in senior Koby Brea.

Kentucky is seeking a rare three-game sweep of its SEC rival for a spot in the Midwest Regional Finals. The Wildcats defeated the Volunteers twice during the regular season, winning 78-73 and 75-64.

Here are a few key stats to help you make your DFS picks for Friday’s tournament matchup on PrizePicks:

• Kentucky guard Otega Oweh is averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season. The junior has scored 20+ or more points in four of his last six games.
• Kentucky guard Koby Brea is averaging 11.8 points and 2.6 3-pointers per game. KenPom ranks Brea among the top 30 most efficient offensive players in the country. He is shooting 43.8% from 3-point range on 210 attempts, the 36th-best percentage in the nation.
• Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is averaging 13.7 points and 7.4 assists per game. His assist average ranks fifth nationally and second among players remaining in the tournament. 
• The 5-foot-9 senior has recorded six or more assists in six of his last seven games.
• Zeigler had six assists in both matchups with Kentucky this season. Over his last six games against the Wildcats, his assist totals are 6, 6, 9, 13, 3 and 7.
• KenPom projects this to be one of the highest-scoring games of the night, with an estimated total of 148 points.

CBB PrizePicks Pick: Tennessee G Zakai Zeigler — 5.5 Assists (Goblin) & 7.0 Assists

1-seed Houston vs. 4-seed Purdue: Preview, Pick

Time: 10:09 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TBS

1-seed Houston (32-4) looks to knock off 2024’s national runners-up, 4-seed Purdue Boilermakers, in what should be a difficult environment.

After falling just short in last year’s national championship game against UConn, seed Purdue is back with a slightly different look on offense. With National Player of the Year Zach Edey now in the NBA, Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American Braden Smith has shouldered much of the offensive load. Smith is averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 assists per game, while Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG) has been a dominant force in the post. 

Purdue fans are expected to show up in full force for tonight’s game in downtown Indianapolis, which is 90 minutes from the West Lafayette, Ind., campus.

Houston enters the matchup riding the nation’s longest active winning streak at 15 games and hopes to continue its dominance and earn a spot in the Midwest Regional Final. Under Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars have been a model of consistency, reaching the Round of 16 for the fifth straight season and winning 30 or more games in each of the past three years. 

With a tenacious defense, an emphasis on rebounding and a slow but highly efficient offense driven by second-chance opportunities, this Houston team resembles the 2018-19 Virginia squad that went on to win the national championship.

Here are a few key stats to help you make your DFS picks for Friday’s showdown on PrizePicks:

• Purdue struggles to defend the paint, allowing opponents to shoot 56.2% from the field — one of the 25 highest conversion rates in the country. 
• Houston G Milos Uzan is averaging 11.5 points per game this season. The junior has come on strong lately, scoring 12 points in four of his last five games.
• Uzan is shooting 48.3% from 2-point range this season, while shooting 43.7% from 3-point range, the 37th best rate in the country. Both rates are the highest among Houston’s guards
• The Cougars offense operates at a snail-like pace, ranking 360th out of 364 teams in tempo (KenPom). If Houston establishes itself early, possessions — and points — could come at a premium in this game.
• Due to the anticipated pace of play and lock-down Houston defense, KenPom projects Purdue to score just 64 points, which would be the Boilermakers’ third-lowest scoring output of the season.

CBB PrizePicks Pick: Houston G Milos Uzan — 12.5 Points

PrizePicks CBB Picks Today in NCAA Tournament

Here are four CBB DFS picks to use in your PrizePicks CBB Lineups for today, Friday, March 28, in the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State G Jase Richardson — 11.5 Points (Goblin) & 2.5 3-Pt Made (Demon)

• No. 2 seed Michigan State takes on No. 6 seed Mississippi in Atlanta at 7:09 p.m. ET on CBS.
• Michigan State G Jase Richardson is averaging 11.9 points and 1.3 made 3-pointers per game this season.
• Since entering the starting lineup — and scoring a career-high 29-point against Oregon — Richardson is averaging 16.2 points and 1.9 made 3-pointers per game. The freshman is also shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc.
• While he scored just six points in Michigan State’s Round of 32 win over New Mexico, Richardson had reached double figures in each of the previous 12 games since becoming a starter.

💰 Use PrizePicks Promo Code "Playbook": Claim free $50 with your first $5+ Lineup

‍

Mississippi G Matthew Murrell — 8.5 Points

• No. 6 seed Mississippi faces No. 2 seed Michigan State for a chance at its first regional finals appearance in program history. Tipoff is set for 7:09 p.m. ET on CBS.
• Senior G Matthew Murrell averages 10.7 points per game this season.
• According to KenPom, Murrell plays 66.1% of available minutes for the Rebels and is involved in just 17.1% of their offensive possessions.
• Michigan State boasts the nation’s top-ranked 3-point defense, limiting opponents to 27.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
• Murrell has attempted nearly as many 3-pointers (127) as 2-point field goals (138) this season.

Michigan C Vladislav Goldin — 7.5 Rebounds

• No. 5 seed Michigan looks to upset No. 1 overall seed Auburn in Atlanta at 9:39 p.m. ET on CBS.
• Michigan C Vladislav Goldin is averaging 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season.
• The Florida Atlantic transfer has grabbed at least eight rebounds in four of his last five games and seven of his last 10.
• The first-team All-Big Ten selection is expected to match up against Auburn’s Dylan Cardwell. While Cardwell is an elite offensive rebounder (14.2% offensive rebounding rate, 36th nationally), Goldin has the edge on the defensive boards (17.4% offensive rebounding rate).
• Both teams play at a relatively fast pace — Michigan ranks 58th in tempo, while Auburn ranks 147th — creating more possessions and rebounding opportunities than the average NCAA game.

Purdue F Trey Kaufman-Renn — 27 Pts+Rebs+Asts

• No. 4 seed Purdue looks to continue its run back to the national semifinals when it takes on No. 1 seed Houston at 10:09 p.m. ET on TBS tonight.
• Purdue F Trey Kaufman-Renn has seen his scoring surge from 6.4 points per game last season to 20.3 this season.
• A first-team All-Big Ten selection, Kaufman-Renn has scored 20 or more points in each of his last five games and at least 16 points in 16 of his last 18.
• TKR has topped 27 combined points, rebounds, and assists in 13 of his last 14 games.
• According to Team Rankings, Purdue and Houston combine for an average of 133.3 offensive possessions per game, well below the national average.

‍

Get Real Money NCAA Tournament Action on PrizePicks

After tonight, only eight teams will remain in the NCAA Tournament. Tonight, we get four tournament games between some of the best teams in the country looking to cut down the nets in San Antonio next week.

PrizePicks is the best way to get in on the real money CBB action and get paid for your college basketball takes, all the way to the National Championship. 

Just pick More or Less on at least two CBB player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks — the more you pick, the more you stand to win. Use the players above to build your Lineups around, or use a 6-Pick Lineup to reach up to 1000x payouts.

With PrizePicks, you can build a Lineup of your CBB picks, however you want — from points to rebounds to combo stats, there’s endless ways to cash in on college basketball conference tournaments.

Check out the Playbook for more college basketball picks all the way through the National Championship game.