Daily Fantasy College Basketball 2015: CBB Draft Kings Strategy for Feb. 14

Don’t let your significant other tell you differently—there is no better way to spend Valentine’s Day than watching a schedule full of college hoops action. Playing in a daily DraftKings.com contest will only enhance that experience.

The real question for Draft Kings players is how to sort through so many games and find the right players to use. Value clearly comes into play, but the matchups are even more important.

After all, wouldn’t you rather pay a little bit more for a player if you know he is going to put up impressive numbers? Of course, the best scenario would be if a player was particularly cheap and facing a favorable matchup.

With that in mind, here is a look at some players who will outperform their Saturday values based on the matchups they are facing.

*All stats are as of Friday evening at 7 p.m. ET.

Devin Booker, Guard, Kentucky ($4,600)

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

You would be hard-pressed to find more bang for your buck Saturday than what you will get from Kentucky’s Devin Booker.

The Wildcats will face off against a South Carolina squad that is 34th in the country in rebounds per game and one of the few teams in the SEC that can actually (theoretically) compete on the boards with Kentucky. That means the perimeter players will likely carry the day for John Calipari’s group.

Kentucky already beat South Carolina once this year, and it was Booker who led the way with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. He is second on the team in scoring this year (10.8 points per game) and will once again exploit South Carolina on the outside.

JeQuan Lewis, Guard, VCU ($5,700)

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VCU is reeling after the loss of Briante Weber to injury and has lost three of four games and could truly use a big win. Fortunately for the Rams, they are playing a George Washington team they already destroyed by 24 points once this year.

Look for a number of VCU players to put up impressive numbers, but JeQuan Lewis has noticeably stepped up in Weber’s absence.

Lewis commented on the need for a win, according to STATS LLC, via ESPN.com: "We've got to turn the page. We've got to move on and get ready for George Washington. There's no need for us to hang our heads."

Lewis has scored in double figures in three straight games, including a 26-point performance against La Salle the last time out. No player on the roster has improved their individual numbers since Weber’s injury more than Lewis, and that is encouraging news for Draft Kings players looking for a breakout candidate.

This is a mismatch even without Weber, and Lewis is playing inspired basketball for VCU. He will lead the Rams to a much needed victory.

Terry Rozier, Guard, Louisville ($9,300)

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Sometimes it’s just as simple as going with the hot hand in fantasy games, and Terry Rozier certainly fits that bill.

The Louisville guard leads the team with 18.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in every single contest but one this season. He scored 22 or more points in five of the last six outings and has hit his stride as a potential All American. He is worth paying a higher price for, especially if you surround him with bargain deals like Booker.

Jeff Greer of The Courier-Journal believes Rozier is playing his way right into NBA discussions:

Rozier has become the Cardinals’ go-to option, which is bad news for a North Carolina State defense that doesn’t inspire much fear. In fact, the Wolfpack are 124th in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive-efficiency rankings and will have trouble stopping a superstar like Rozier.

Kennedy Meeks, Forward, North Carolina ($5,700) 

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Speaking of vulnerable defenses, Pittsburgh’s checks in at No. 200 in Pomeroy’s rankings, which means almost everyone on North Carolina could be in for a good game Saturday.

That means you should look for value here, and Kennedy Meeks is a relatively cheap option considering he is second on the team in points per game (12.3) and second in rebounds per game (7.8). He is a double-double threat whenever he takes the floor, and will be going up against one of the weakest power conference defenses in the country.

This is a great value play for someone who will likely put up big numbers Saturday.

Marcus Thornton, Forward, Georgia ($6,700)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Sticking with the vulnerable-defense theme, Auburn’s is ranked No. 173 in Pomeroy’s ratings and will have trouble slowing down the Georgia attack in Athens. Like North Carolina, there should be a number of Georgia players who turn in impressive outings.

Marcus Thornton is the best scorer (12.8 points per game) and rebounder (7.1 boards per game) on the roster and can be had for a fairly affordable price. This is a no-brainer if you are going to pick a Bulldogs player.

This will also be Thornton’s third game back after he missed two contests with a concussion. That means he should start to hit his stride once again and receive regular minutes, which is good news considering he scored in double figures in every game except three before the injury. 

He also has four double-doubles on the season and should get back to his impressive box scores against a porous Auburn defense.

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