After a long offseason, week 1 of the 2024 College Football season is finally here! For an opening slate, this week's schedule is loaded with heavyweight matchups. This includes Penn State vs West Virginia, Miami vs Florida, Notre Dame vs Texas A&M, LSU vs USC, and, of course, Clemson vs Georgia.
Our team has analyzed player prop odds for the entire slate to identify our 5 best bets for week 1. Let's celebrate the return of college football with some player prop action and a perfect 5-0 week!
OVER 304.5 PASS YDS
If we know one thing about Colorado football, it’s that they believe they are going to put on a show win or loss. In Week 1 of Deion Sanders’ second season, the Buffaloes are going to look to put points on the board in a hurry.
Shedeur will also be monitoring his NFL Draft stock throughout the season which could dictate the play calling earlier in the season to boost his statistics which does not seem kosher. Last season he threw for over 300 yards in his first three games while the Buffs started 3-0. Look for a similar start to the 2024 campaign.
UNDER 86.5 TOTAL YDS
This Georgia defense is no joke and Phil Mafah might be paying the price in Week 1. The Bulldogs have the best run defense in the nation and also aren’t prone to giving up big plays through the air on screen passes or dump offs due to their ultra athletic front seven.
With that being said, the game script looks to play against Mafah from the start and Clemson normally spreads their RB snaps out evenly throughout the first few weeks of the season before a starter emerges. In game 1 of 2023, Shipley had 17 carries to Mafah’s 11.
OVER 44.5 REC YDS
In one of the underrated Week 1 matchups, North Carolina faces Minnesota in a game where most experts are pulling for North Carolina and the under. While the under looks good in this game, UNC wideout J.J. Jones has a real shot to come away with a few big gains to hit this number. North Carolina tends to heavily utilize their senior wide receivers after building them up and up each season.
For example, Josh Downs went from a bench player his freshman year to a 1,000 yard receiver his last two seasons in Chapel Hill. Tez Walker came in from Kent State and provided UNC with 700 yards before getting drafted this past cycle.
Now, J.J. Jones - who has been in Chapel Hill for four years now - is the man. Jones’ 7 games last season with 50+ yards makes him a great candidate for the over in this game where there will always be a positive game script.
OVER 84.5 REC YDS
Here comes Ricky! The Runnin’ Rebels wideout is a superstar in the Mountain West Conference and is due to start the season off on the right foot against Houston. While both teams are bringing in improved defenses, White is a player that no defensive scheme can prepare for in Week 1.
RWIII had six games last season with 150+ yards through the air while scoring 8 TDs on the season leading UNLV to one of their best seasons of the century. Looking ahead, White’s senior year needs to start off strong in order for the Runnin’ Rebels to produce their first draft pick since 2010 - which is something the staff and AD will push during the season.