Tuesday CBB DFS Cheat Sheet: CBB PrizePicks Picks Today 2/18

We are just under a month away from the March Madness bracket release, and Tuesday’s college basketball slate is packed with some very interesting matchups that could affect who’s in and who’s going home.

It’s that time of year when NFL fans emerge to catch up on college basketball to see what they’ve missed over the beginning of the season. If that’s you, don’t worry — we see you and we’ve got your back. 

Let’s take a look at some of today’s best matchups in college basketball and our top CBB DFS picks for Tuesday, Feb. 18, on PrizePicks.

11 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 hit the hardwood today, including Illinois at No. 11 Wisconsin. Elsewhere, No. 7 Texas A&M takes on SEC foe No. 21 Mississippi State.

PrizePicks is the easiest way to cash in on college basketball DFS. Just pick more or less on player stat projections, lock in your Lineups, and win up to 1000x on 6-Pick Lineups!

Let’s breakdown some of the CBB DFS picks to target for tonight’s CBB DFS slate on PrizePicks.

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College Basketball DFS Cheat Sheet for Tuesday

Here’s a look at some of the CBB DFS picks and projections to target in Tuesday’s college basketball games for February 18 on PrizePicks. For each game below, you’ll find a game preview, analysis, and a CBB DFS pick for PrizePicks.

Tuesday CBB Games to Target

• Illinois vs. No. 11 Wisconsin: Preview & Pick
• No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 21 Mississippi: Preview & Pick

CBB DFS Picks Today for PrizePicks

• Connecticut F Liam McNeeley
• Michigan State G Jase Richardson
• Pittsburgh G Jaland Lowe
• Kansas C Hunter Dickinson

Tuesday CBB DFS Picks & Game Previews for PrizePicks

Here are the top games to target for CBB DFS fantasy production today, Tuesday, February 18.

Illinois vs. No. 11 Wisconsin: Preview, Pick

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: FS1

The Illinois Fighting Illini (17-9, 9-7) travel to freezing Madison, Wis., to take on a hot No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers team (20-5, 10-4).

Illinois has been a rollercoaster for the last month, posting a record of 5-6 since January 11. That includes Saturday’s home loss to Michigan State, where the Illini went scoreless in the last eight and a half minutes and accidentally hung honoree Terrence Shannon Jr.’s banner upside down.

Wisconsin has won 10 of its last 12 conference games, including a massive win at then-No. 7 Purdue. Bracket Matrix currently has the Badgers listed as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini topped the Badgers 86-80 in Champaign, Ill. in December, and KenPom expects that same level of scoring this time around (projected for 162 points).

Here are a few key stats to help you make your DFS picks for Tuesday’s Big Ten showdown:

• Wisconsin’s John Tonje was named Naismith National Player of the Week for the third time this season. The graduate transfer led the Badgers with 32 points in the win over Purdue and has averaged 24.3 points and 4.1 3-pointers made over his last seven games. 
• Broadcasters say it every game — “these are not your grandfather’s Badgers.” Traditionally a more defensive-minded team, Wisconsin averages 81.5 points per game and ranks as the sixth most efficient offense in the nation.
• Illinois projected first-round pick Will Riley is averaging 18 points per game over his last six games and has played over 27 minutes in each contest.
• Illinois projected lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis is averaging 21.7 points and 2.3 made 3-pointers over his last three games. He dropped 24 points, including four 3-pointers, when these teams met in December.
• Illinois ranks 18th in the nation in 2-point shooting percentage, but just 309th (of 364 teams) in 3-point shooting percentage.
• Illinois freshman big man Morez Johnson Jr. is out indefinitely after suffering a wrist injury against Michigan State. Wisconsin starting center Steven Crowl is averaging just 4.5 points over his last six games. Crowl scored 9 points against the Illini earlier this season.

CBB PrizePicks Picks: Wisconsin G John Tonje — 2.5 3-PT Made (Demon)

No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 21 Mississippi State: Preview, Pick

Time: 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: SEC Network

No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (20-5, 9-3) head to Starkville, Miss., to take on No. 21 Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-7, 6-6).

Texas A&M has built a strong identity of grit and physicality this season under coach Buzz Williams. Fresh off a home victory against Arkansas, the Aggies are pretty consistently viewed as a No. 2 seed across the college basketball landscape. 

Texas A&M has found a way to win several close games during SEC play and hope to keep rolling in what is projected to be another tight game in a tough environment in Starkville.

Since opening the season 14-1, Mississippi State has fallen back to earth. The Bulldogs are 4-6 in their last 10 games, but managed to sweep in-state rival and March Madness-hopeful hopeful Ole Miss. KenPom currently has this game as a toss-up, giving the Bulldogs a slight home-court edge and a 51% chance of securing a much-needed win.

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

• Opposing teams attack these two defenses the same way — the three ball. Opponents generate 37% or more of their points against these SEC teams from  3-point range, which is one of the 25 highest rates in the country.
• Texas A&M is the best offensive rebounding team in the country (42.4%) and ranks in the top five in rebounds per game (41). Five A&M players average more than 4.5 rebounds per game, including senior guard Zhuric Phelps.
• Texas A&M struggles from deep, making just 31.2% of its 3-point shots, which ranks just 306th in the country.
• Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV is scoring less, but is a more efficient all-around offensive player this season. The senior is averaging 15.1 points and 4.5 assists per game, with a top 60 assist rate in the nation.
• Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard has scored in double digits in all but one game this season. The sophomore guard is especially electric at Humphrey Coliseum, where he averages 19.8 points and 3.6 3-pointers per game this season.

CBB PrizePicks Pick: Mississippi State G Josh Hubbard — 17.5 Points

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CBB DFS Picks Today for PrizePicks

Here are four CBB DFS picks to use in your PrizePicks CBB Lineups for today, Tuesday, February 18.

Connecticut F Liam McNeeley — 15.5 Points/1.5 3-PT Made (Goblin)

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• UConn forward Liam McNeeley scored 38 of UConn’s 70 points in last Tuesday’s win at Creighton. He is averaging 22.3 points and 10 rebounds per game since returning from injury on February 7.
• Villanova ranks 145th nationally in defensive efficiency and 10th out of 11 teams in the Big East.
• 39.2 percent of points against Villanova come from behind the 3-point arc this season, which is the 8th highest rate in the country.

Michigan State G Jase Richardson — 13 Points

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• Michigan State guard Jase Richardson has been more aggressive over his last three games, averaging 11.6 shot attempts in about 31 minutes per game, compared to 6.8 shot attempts over 22.8 minutes on the season.
• Richardson ranks as the 53rd most efficient offensive player in the country, according to KenPom. He is shooting 61% inside the arc and 87% from the free-throw line this season.
• The Spartans remain one of the nation’s worst 3-point shooting teams, hitting just 29.1% of shots from beyond the arc — 12th worst in Division I.
• Purdue really misses Zach Edey on the defensive end. The Boilermakers are 316th in the country in two-point field goal percentage defense.
• Purdue could not defend inside the arc Saturday, allowing Wisconsin to make an unbelievable 20-of-22 (91%) of its 2-point field goals. The Badgers’ guards and wings did most of the damage, as starting center Steven Crowl did not attempt a 2-pointer.

Pittsburgh G Jaland Lowe — 17.5 Points

• Pitt relies heavily on guard Jaland Lowe. The sophomore accounts for nearly 28 percent of shots taken when he is on the court.
• While his efficiency has dropped off with the Panthers relying more on him during a 3-8 stretch, Lowe has remained the team’s most impactful offensive player. Lowe put up 22 points and 6 assists last month against Syracuse.
• Syracuse’s defense has struggled in recent weeks, dropping to 166th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings — one of the worst marks among Power Five teams.
• Pitt has not scored more than 80 points since January 4, but KenPom projects that streak to end today, as it’s projected for 81 points in what should be a high-scoring contest.

Kansas C Hunter Dickinson — 16.5 Points

• Kansas center Hunter Dickinson ranks as the nation's third most valuable player, according to KenPom’s Player of the Year standings.
• BYU ranks 75th nationally in defensive efficiency and 14th out of 16 teams in the Big 12.
• Dickinson’s likely matchup — BYU freshman and future NBA Draft pick Egor Demin — is five inches shorter, 75 pounds lighter, and more than five years younger than Dickinson.

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Get Real Money CBB DFS Action on PrizePicks

With a great slate of college basketball on Tuesday, there are tons CBB DFS picks to consider for your PrizePicks Lineups. PrizePicks is the best way to get in on the real money CBB action and get paid for your college basketball takes. 

Just pick More or Less at least two CBB player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks. Use the players above to build your Lineups around, or use a 6-Pick Lineup of all Demon picks 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. Check out the Playbook for more college basketball picks all the way through March Madness.