Nebraska vs Cincinnati Player Props & Same-Game Parlay for Thursday Night

• Nebraska faces Cincinnati Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
• Dylan Raiola excels against zone coverage, and Cincinnati ran zone on the second-highest percentage of plays last season
• See my favorite Nebraska vs Cincinnati player props and parlay picks for Thursday night below

Thursday night’s neutral-site clash between Nebraska and Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium sets up perfectly for player props. The Cornhuskers’ sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola faces a Cincinnati defense that played zone coverage at the second-highest rate in the country last season.

That’s music to Raiola’s ears. He posted an 82.3 passing grade against zone last season, ranking in the top 20 nationally. I’m targeting that matchup advantage in my Nebraska vs Cincinnati college football player props.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Player Props

Nebraska’s Dane Key carries the highest receiving prop among all pass catchers at just 59.5 yards, despite being the clear WR1 on an offense facing a favorable matchup. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby sits at 215.5 passing yards with his top target Joe Royer at only 34.5 receiving yards.

On the ground, Emmett Johnson’s 74.5 rushing yards prop stands out after his late-season surge under Dana Holgorsen’s play-calling. The Bearcats’ Tawee Walker comes in at 43.5 yards but offers value in the touchdown market at +125.

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Odds as of August 27th at FanDuel. Browse the top sports betting app for Thursday CFB.

If you just want to bet the spread, ensure you check out our Nebraska vs Cincinnati prediction.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Prop Pick #1: Dane Key Over 59.5 Receiving Yards

This line feels way too low for Nebraska’s new WR1. Key just got named team captain despite being a transfer from Kentucky, which tells you everything about his role in this offense. At 6-foot-3, he’s a big-bodied target who tied for third among SEC receivers with 11 contested catches last season.

The matchup couldn’t be better. Key thrives against zone coverage, ranking in the 91st percentile among FBS wideouts in receiving grade versus zone. Cincinnati ran zone coverage at the second-highest rate in the country last season. When you combine that with Raiola’s elite performance against zone (82.3 passing grade, top-20 nationally), this connection should produce fireworks.

Cincinnati Bearcats 2024 Pass Defense

Dana Holgorsen’s offense should feature Key early and often. The Bearcats lost significant talent in their secondary through the portal, and their new defensive backs face trial by fire in their first game action. Key should see at least 8-10 targets, making 59.5 yards feel like a gift.

• Dane Key Over 59.5 Receiving Yards (-114 at FanDuel)

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Prop Pick #2: Emmett Johnson Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

The Dana Holgorsen effect on Johnson’s production was night and day last season. Before Holgorsen took over play-calling duties, Johnson averaged just 31.6 rushing yards per game on 6.4 carries. After the switch? He jumped to 78.5 yards per game on 14.8 carries.

Those aren’t cherry-picked numbers either. Johnson ripped off 113 yards against Wisconsin and 75 yards in the bowl game against Boston College once Holgorsen unleashed him. Now with a full offseason in the system, Johnson should be the focal point of Nebraska’s ground attack from the jump.

Cincinnati’s run defense ranked just 13th in the Big 12, allowing 162.1 yards per game. They gave up at least 75 rushing yards to eight different players last season. With Nebraska expected to control this game as 6.5-point favorites, Johnson should see heavy work in the second half to salt away the victory.

• Emmett Johnson Over 74.5 Rushing Yards (-114 at FanDuel)

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Parlay Picks

Same-game parlays are where the real value lives on Thursday nights. I’m combining my two favorite props with Dylan Raiola’s over on passing touchdowns to create a +485 Nebraska vs Cincinnati same-game parlay.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Parlay Analysis

This parlay captures exactly how Nebraska controls and wins this game. They pound the rock with Johnson, setting up play-action shots to Key against Cincinnati’s vulnerable zone coverage.

The correlation between these three legs is rock solid. If Nebraska wins outright, they’re almost certainly running the ball effectively with Johnson to control the clock. And if they’re moving the ball on the ground, that opens up the passing game for Key to feast on Cincinnati’s zone-heavy scheme.

Matt Rhule’s year-three magic is real – his Temple and Baylor teams both exploded in that third season. With Nebraska laying less than a touchdown, taking their moneyline provides better correlation than a passing touchdown prop while still offering solid value at +321.

• Nebraska vs Cincinnati Parlay: Key Over 59.5 Rec Yards, Johnson Over 74.5 Rush Yards, Nebraska ML (+321)