After three full weeks of college football in 2024, bettors are likely combing through box scores and game film, trying to find an edge in betting player props this season. Oddsmakers have been cautious in placing their props due to the uncertainty surrounding most teams.
There’s no uncertainty here in our bets. Last week was a rough go as we hit on only three of eight player prop bets, but for the season, we’re hitting on over 52 percent of these bets. Let’s get back in the win column this week with these four top college football player prop wagers.
Clemson Tigers RB Phil Mafah O 100.5 Rushing Yards
Despite Cade Klubnik throwing for nearly 400 yards two weeks ago, Clemson is going to try and establish the running game in every game. That makes Tigers running back Phil Mafah a strong consideration every week for player prop bets.
NC State is vulnerable against the run. Western Carolina started the season with 120 rushing yards against the Wolfpack before Tennessee obliterated their defensive line and rushed for 249 yards on 44 carries against the ACC team.
In Saturday’s game, expect Clemson to overwhelm NC State from the start and post a comfortable victory over their conference foes.
Ohio State Buckeyes QB Will Howard UNDER 265.5
Ohio State landed one of the biggest names in the transfer portal when Will Howard transferred into the Buckeyes’ program this year. Thus far, Howard has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns for Ohio State.
Oddsmakers have this game as a blowout after Ohio State performed well to start the season, but Marshall under Charles Huff is a big game hunter. The Thundering Herd knocked off Notre Dame under Huff in 2022 and Virginia Tech at home in 2023.
I’m not about to say that lighting – nor the Thundering Herd, in this case – strikes twice. But can Marshall give the Buckeyes a better fight than Western Michigan or Akron have posed? Yes. Expect Ohio State to be forced into pounding the rock to win this closer-than-predicted game.
USC Trojans WR Kyron Hudson OVER 33.5 Receiving Yards
How’s this as a welcome to the Big Ten: USC opens conference play with the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines. The Trojans head to the Big House for a battle with a Wolverines program that’s anything but elite thus far.
That leaves plenty of opportunity for Arch Manning – in his first career college start – to work. Expect him to find Kyron Hudson multiple times against Michigan to cover this player prop wager with ease on Saturday.
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II OVER 15.5 Receiving Yards
Coming into the season, Oklahoma State talked about running back Ollie Gordon II being a potential Heisman finalist as the junior athlete ran roughshod over the competition last year.
This year, the Cowboys’ playmaker has been lassoed in two consecutive games, running 34 times for 90 yards against Arkansas and Tulsa. That’s not promising when a stout Utah Utes squad comes calling for its first-ever Big 12 contest.
Expect Utah to bottle the run and force Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman to pass, giving Gordon an excellent chance to surpass this low receiving prop bet.
