The life of the top-ranked team in the nation is a scary one. In back-to-back weeks, the nation’s top team has fallen as both Alabama and Texas tumbled in that role.
Can an unlikely foe – the Illinois Fighting Illini – make it three straight weeks of top teams taking a loss by beating the Oregon Ducks?
That’s unlikely. But if I were the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks, facing a team with confidence like Illinois would be scarier than watching “Terrifier 3” in a haunted house. What won’t scare you is our top four college football player prop bets for Saturday’s contests.
Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins has been quiet in the past month, logging only 35 carries for 155 yards as he splits time in the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson.
Still, Judkins is one of the best running backs in the country. Up next for the Buckeyes is a matchup against Nebraska.
The Huskers are fresh off one of their worst showings of the year against Indiana, allowing the Hoosiers 215 rushing yards on 33 carries in a 56-7 loss. Expect Ohio State and Judkins to do the same while he covers this player prop bet.
The Longhorns found the SEC grind wasn’t as agreeable with the team last week when Georgia’s defense hounded Texas and forced four turnovers in the team’s 30-15 defeat. Neither quarterback Quinn Ewers nor Arch Manning had time to find receivers in the loss.
This week’s opponent – the Vanderbilt Commodores – does not have the firepower up front that the Bulldogs possess. That means Ewers should have time to find his targets, including senior Gunnar Helm.
The 6-foot-5 receiver started the season slowly, recording only 31 yards in wins over Mississippi State and ULM. Since then, he’s logged 11 catches for 153 yards and a score. Expect him to continue receiving a healthy number of targets in Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt and covering this prop bet.
Florida State is the most disappointing team in the country this season, starting the year 1-6 after the undefeated regular season last year. It’s started with one of the worst offenses in the country as the Seminoles are the only FBS team that has yet to score at least 21 points in a single contest.
That’s not Lawrence Toafili’s fault. The senior running back – when given the opportunity – is finding holes and hitting them for big gains. He’s had a double-digit run in five of those seven contests so far.
The problem is the number of holes he’s finding. FSU’s offensive line is, well, offensive. The ‘Noles have run for 510 yards in seven games, and he has nearly half that amount. Miami’s defense is porous, and this is a rivalry game. Expect Toafili to eclipse this 32.5-yard mark in the game and cover his prop bet.
Kansas State is rocking this season, posting a 6-1 record in a wide-open Big 12 race. The reason for their success is Wildcat quarterback Avery Johnson, a 6-foot-2 sophomore who has picked up where Will Howard left off last season.
Johnson has thrown for over 220 yards in three straight contests, and Kansas – although bad this season – will present a challenge for their rivals.
Expect Johnson to again throw over 220 yards en route to another Kansas State victory this Saturday.