The Week 4 schedule delivered in a big way, and the results caused movement up and down the AP and Coaches Polls as the season enters the final week of September. Let’s start with those programs on the way up. Ohio State worked their way into the top four of both polls with their last-gasp victory over Notre Dame in South Bend, and fellow Big Ten East member Penn State moved up to #6 after dismantling the Iowa Hawkeyes 31-0 amid the Beaver Stadium Whiteout environment.
Washington continued their rise and got a first-place vote in both polls this week. The Pac-12 now holds four of the top ten spots in the country, and Washington State has made its way to #16 in the AP poll after a home upset win over Oregon State to get to 4-0.
For programs moving in the opposite direction, none experienced a more considerable drop than Colorado. The Buffs were beaten in every facet of the game by the Oregon Ducks in a humbling loss that they must rebound from quickly after dropping out of the ranked spots. They are underdogs of 20+ points for the third time this season already in a home date with USC this weekend.
Oregon State dropped 5+ spots in both polls following their loss in Pullman. The Beavers are rewarded with a short week to prepare for the 10th-ranked Utah Utes on Friday night. Oregon State is favored by three on home turf.
The Fighting Irish will travel to Durham to play the Duke Blue Devils Saturday night after sustaining their first loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion. Notre Dame is favored by 5.5 away from home.
After a bounce-back week for our college football props, we look to keep that momentum going in Week 5 and present our best bets next.
MarShawn Lloyd (USC) OVER Rushing Yards
The South Carolina transfer is averaging more than 10 yards per carry over USC’s last two games and should be fresh after only needing 14 carries to eclipse 150 yards against Arizona State in Week 4. Colorado got bulldozed by Oregon on the ground in their 42-6 loss last week.
In two games against TCU and Oregon, the Buffs were gashed for 500+ rushing yards and are vulnerable to a team that will throw it over the top if they try to drop a safety into the tackle box against Caleb Williams.
Lloyd has broken a run of 25 yards or longer in three straight games, and Colorado has given up runs of that length in three of four games so far in 2023. We like Lloyd to run wild in Boulder.
Mario Anderson (South Carolina) OVER Rushing Yards
From a former Gamecock to a current one, we will take Anderson to go over his rushing total in Knoxville. The senior transfer from Division II Newberry emerged as the team’s top rusher in Week 4, earning a game ball after carrying the rock 26 times.
He gained 88 yards and scored a touchdown against a competitive Mississippi State team. Tennessee has given up 2.8 yards per carry this season but was bludgeoned by Florida for 183 yards on 43 carries during their loss in the Swamp.
If South Carolina wants to back up their big win against the Vols from last year, they should lean on Anderson to keep the ball away from Joe Milton and company.
