College Football Player Props & Picks
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Week 2 is upon us, and what better way to start than diving into some player props?
Our college football writers came through with three props for Saturday, including picks for Kentucky's Ja'Mori Maclin, South Florida's Sean Atkins and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson.
Check out our three favorite college football player props and expert picks for Week 2 action on Saturday, September 7.
South Carolina vs. Kentucky Player Props
Ja'Mori Maclin Over 42.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
By Greg Liodice
As president of the Ja’Mori Maclin Fan Club, I feel it would’ve been a disservice to ignore this prop.
With Kentucky hosting South Carolina, I feel this prop is severely undervalued.
When he finally got an opportunity at North Texas last season, Maclin took advantage. He didn’t have a game where he went under 40 receiving yards, including four separate games where he went for 110 yards or more.
On top of that, in his first game as a Wildcat, Maclin made the most out of his two receptions – including a 46-yard play. As the season wears on, Brock Vandagriff will continue to look his way, looking to create more explosives.
I’m incredibly bearish on South Carolina this season. I’m sure there will be improvements over the remaining 11 weeks, but it almost collapsed to Old Dominion.
In 2023, the Gamecocks did an OK job stopping the pass – and I won’t expect much to change since they’re rolling out a majority of the same players. They ranked 53rd in Passing Downs Success Rate allowed — including 117th in Standard Downs Explosiveness allowed — and 87th in Passing Downs Success Rate allowed
The program is inconsistent, so opposing teams easily pick on them. Maclin is one of those players who can expose a secondary. He has electric speed and elite separation.
I don’t think the books know what kind of value this player brings to a program, so take the over and run – before they figure it out.
Pick: Ja'Mori Maclin Over 42.5 Receiving Yards or Better
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USF vs. Alabama Player Props
Sean Atkins Over 38.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Let’s talk game flow for a second.
Alabama will score at will against South Florida in this revenge spot. The Tide played their worst offensive game, perhaps of the entire Saban era, last season in Tampa. The sloppy, rain-soaked field only added to the narrative that Alabama was dysfunctional.
From there, Jalen Milroe regained the starting job and played like a Heisman candidate down the stretch. But that ugly, downright embarrassing performance is the kind of bulletin board material coaches dream about.
With a team total of 47.5, it’s safe to say Alabama is out for blood in this game. But that will only create more passing opportunities for a USF offense comfortable playing in different scripts.
The South Florida Veer-and-Shoot has games where the Bulls don’t need Byrum Brown to throw the ball 30 times. They still put the ball in his hands as a runner, but they can spread teams out and run into lightboxes.
This isn’t one of those games.
Brown will need to chuck it at least 35 times, as he did four times in his last eight starts of 2023. Sean Atkins averaged a hair under nine catches for 83 yards per game in those pass-heavy performances. But critically, he led the team in targets in those contests with a generous 11 per game. He’s the go-to guy when they go pass-heavy.
Even in the rain and wind last year against Alabama, he was targeted eight times and caught six passes for 42 yards. That was in a 17-3 rock fight.
This game projects as a track meet and weather conditions in T-Town are perfect, with clear skies and light winds on tap for Saturday night.
I would play this up to 51.5 because he’s destined for another 10-plus target game.
Pick: Sean Atkins Over 38.5 Receiving Yards (Play to 51.5)
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Tennessee vs. NC State Player Props
Dylan Sampson Over 66.5 Rushing Yards (-112)
The uber-talented Nico Iamaleava gets all the headlines and attention, and rightfully so, but this is still a run-first offensive attack.
With Jaylen Wright off the NFL, his backup, Dylan Sampson, takes over as the lead back.
Sampson rushed for 604 yards last season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He led the Vols with seven touchdowns.
In the season opener, Sampson rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries and tallied three touchdowns. With defenses having no choice but to respect Iamaleava and this receiving corps, Sampson will be working against a light box all season long.
NC State has some questions on defense, especially up front.
Stat linebacker Payton Wilson is off to the NFL, leaving a massive hole in the middle of that defense. He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and interceptions, plus he was second on the squad in sacks.
The Wolfpack's 3-3-5 defense returns just two starters from last year's defensive line and linebacker group.
In the Wolfpack’s season opener, they allowed 6.3 yards per carry to FCS Western Carolina. The Catamounts had six carries of 10+ yards.
With an NC State defense that will be worried about slowing down the Vols' passing attack, Sampson will have space to break off chunk plays and fly over 70 rushing yards.
Pick: Dylan Sampson Over 66.5 Rush Yards (-112) | Play to 74.5 (-110)
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