A small 16-game Division I men’s college basketball slate is on tap for Friday. However, there’s still several major matchups worth keeping an eye on. The headliner is a battle in Bloomington, with UCLA and Indiana hoping to keep their March Madness dreams alive. Ahead of tonight’s Valentine’s Day action, here are two college basketball player props I’m loving on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Oumar Ballo 9+ rebounds (-130)
Things have not gone well for Indiana, despite an upset win over Michigan State this week. The Hoosiers, with a record of 15-10, have seen their postseason hopes fade dramatically over the last few months. Head coach Mike Woodson has already announced he will leave the program after this season. If there’s a bright spot in Bloomington, it’s big man Oumar Ballo. The senior leads IU in points (13.7 PPG) and rebounds (9.6 RPG) this season.
Tonight’s matchup with an elite defense isn’t ideal for the Hoosiers. This season, UCLA has allowed the 23rd-fewest points in the country (64.6 PPG). However, Mick Cronin’s squad only grabs 32.1 rebounds per game, second-fewest in the Big Ten. Ballo has experience in this matchup, having spent the last three seasons with Arizona. In a game that might turn into a slugfest, Indiana’s center should find success on the glass.
Robbie Avila 4+ assists (+130)
Speaking of talented bigs, Robbie Avila and Indiana State won over the college basketball world last year. The Sycamores, who just missed out on the NCAA Tournament, were carried to the NIT championship game by their star center. This summer, Avila followed head coach Josh Schertz to Saint Louis, where he’s continued to have success. Through 22 games, the 21-year-old has averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
Tonight, the Billikens will visit the Windy City to take on Loyola Chicago. The Ramblers are a quality defensive unit, allowing just 68.8 points per game. Still, a smaller roster will likely need to double-team Avila in the post to prevent easy buckets. Luckily for Saint Louis, the big man is more than willing to share the rock. This season, Avila has recorded four or more assists in just over 59% of his appearances (13/22); six of those outings have come against Atlantic 10 opponents. At plus money, this is a player prop worth taking on Saturday night.
