NBA Underdog Fantasy Player Predictions for Friday (1/31)
I’m here to give you a (free!) peek behind the curtain regarding some of the awesome things our NBA DFS projections team is cooking up by giving you my top picks for today’s NBA slate on Underdog Fantasy.
Every single pick you will find below is going to be based on what our projections say is a meaningful edge.
Please keep in mind that the NBA news cycle can get crazy, so what is listed below may become a better/worse play depending on how that news breaks. You can always stay up to date on exactly what a team’s rotation and depth chart will look like on a given day by heading to our NBA starting lineups page.
We have 7 games on the schedule as the NBA is set to tip off on 1/31. Below, I’ll detail how I’m approaching things on Underdog this Friday evening.
First… Sign Up to Make NBA Underdog Fantasy Picks
If you want to play along but haven’t signed up yet, grab a special offer with our Underdog promo “GRINDERS” to unlock up to $1000 Bonus Cash courtesy of a generous deposit match. Underdog Fantasy – one of the most popular DFS pick’em sites – provides player projections for NBA matchups each day. The ball is then in our court to decide whether a player will ultimately exceed or fall short of those projections in the games. With a huge roster of players available from which to choose, we just need to make a minimum of two picks to build an entry.
I’ll break down the board by looking at factors like usage rates, projected pace, lines in the sports betting market, and of course, our RotoGrinders projections to forecast how NBA players might fare in categories like points, rebounds, and assists. For even more insight when making your Underdog picks today, be sure to check out our fantasy pick’em tool.
Underdog Fantasy Top NBA Picks for 1/31
Now that you’re signed up, here are some of our top NBA picks on Underdog for 1/31 at a glance:
- Vasilije Micic Higher/Lower Than 2.5 Rebounds
- Nicolas Batum Higher/Lower Than 3.5 Points
- Brook Lopez Higher/Lower Than 1.5 Assists
Clippers vs. Hornets NBA Underdog Fantasy Predictions
Here are the Clippers vs. Hornets NBA Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:
Vasilije Micic Higher Than 2.5 Rebounds
Micic achieving higher than 2.5 rebounds is a strong pick for several reasons. We project him to grab 3.37 rebounds, which is significantly above the Underdog projection. Our simulations also show this pick has an 8.97% edge and a 62.99% hit rate, indicating a solid probability of success.
Micic has been playing more minutes recently, averaging 28.9 minutes per game over his last 14 home games, which is 5.1 minutes higher than his overall season average. Increased playing time correlates with more opportunities to contribute on the court, and that includes rebounds. This makes the pick statistically and situationally appealing.
Nicolas Batum Lower Than 3.5 Points
Batum achieving lower than 3.5 points is also a strong pick. We project him to score just 2.67 points, which is well below the Underdog projection. Our simulations also show this pick has a 5.82% edge and a 73.83% hit rate, indicating a high probability of success.
Batum has been averaging only 3.3 points per game this season and playing limited minutes (17.4 per game). His role in the Clippers’ rotation is minimal, and with other high-usage players, like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, leading the offense, Batum’s scoring opportunities are likely to remain scarce.
Bucks vs. Spurs NBA Underdog Fantasy Predictions
Here are the Bucks vs. Spurs NBA Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:
Brook Lopez Higher Than 1.5 Assists
Lopez achieving higher than 1.5 assists tonight is another pick I like. We project him at 1.9 assists, which is above the Underdog projection, and our simulations show this pick has a 4.85% edge and a 62.66% hit rate.
Lopez has been averaging 1.7 assists per game this season, as he can occasionally pick up a handful of assists per game as defenses focus so much on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Spurs rank 19th in assists allowed and often struggle defensively, which means Lopez should have ample opportunities to collect a few dimes tonight.
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