We’re into November, and that means we’re scouring the news wire constantly as injuries are piling up on teams throughout college football. And you’ll notice four of the players we’re featuring below are dealing with some sort of ailment this week heading into their respective matchups. That’s the name of the game this time of year when hunting for CFB player props. Let’s dive in!
Bhayshul Tuten Under 53.5 Rushing Yards (Prizepicks)
RB, Virginia Tech
This number has already dropped three yards since open,ing as Tuten was seen on Wednesday in practice in a blue non-contact jersey. From digging a bit deeper, this does sound like it’s more precautionary than anything, but I’ll take an under on a limited running back in a bad matchup. Louisville ranks No. 10 overall in yards allowed per game on the ground (91.38) and is No. 1 nationally in EPA per run play defensively. There’s also a 22-yard difference in Louisville’s home/road splits, allowing just 80.25 yards per game inside L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. We might be on Tuten’s under here even if he was 100% healthy, so we definitely like him in a limited role potentially.
Ja’Tavion Sanders Under 30.5 Receiving Yards (Underdog)
TE, Texas
If we get a player who is less than 100 percent in a bad matchup, that’s simply an auto-under for us. According to the Texas beat writer, Ja’Tavion Sanders re-aggravated his ankle injury in practice and is now questionable for Saturday. The last time Sanders was dealing with an ankle injury was against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, where the big tight end caught just one pass on two targets and was mostly used as a decoy, running just 21 routes. Just one tight end has hit this number against this Kansas State secondary that is 33rd in pass D success rate.
Trey Knox Under 40.5 Receiving Yards (Underdog)
TE, South Carolina
I’m really hoping this article gets posted before this line moves or gets removed altogether. And you’ll have to move quick on Underdog because it’s already down to 36.5 receiving yards on PrizePicks. Knox is questionable to play on Saturday against Jacksonville State, and while South Carolina needs a win desperately here as the Gamecocks are on a four-game losing streak, I have to imagine the coaching staff will proceed with heavy caution with any player who is questionable in a matchup where South Carolina is a 22.5-point favorite. This is simply a gambling precedent that you take the under on a player who could see limited snaps.
Jordan Watkins Under 53.5 Receiving Yards (Prizepicks)
WR, Mississippi
The senior slot receiver did play 84% of snaps last week against Vanderbilt, but his effectiveness the last two games simply has not been the same as Watkins has a broken hand and has been playing with a cast. This number is already down to 49.5 at multiple other sportsbooks currently as Watkins has failed to surpass 50 yards in each of the last two games, now facing one of the best secondaries in the country in Texas A&M that is 13th in yards allowed per game (173.1) and 10th in pass D success rate.
DJ Giddens Over 10.5 Receiving Yards (Underdog)
RB, Kansas State
I assume this game will get posted later today on Prizepicks, as it’s only listed on Underdog currently. Giddens has been outstanding the last few weeks, with a combined 56 fantasy points scored against Houston and TCU. While we do believe the Kansas State run game won’t be as effective this week against the No.1 rush defense in the Big 12 in Texas, that could bode well for Giddens in the passing game, where he’s hit this mark in five of the last six games. The sophomore back is now third on the team in targets (27) and fourth in routes run. We don’t often see that kind of utilization from a running back.
Bonus Selections
California WR Jeremiah Hunter over 46.5 receiving yards
Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart under 253.5 passing yards
Kentucky QB Devin Leary under 217.5 passing yards
Boston College WR Lewis Bond over 47.5 receiving yards
