Early Player Props to Target for Week 3 College Football

• My favorite early CFB player prop target is Miami’s Darian Mensah
• Houston’s ground game offers another early Week 3 player prop angle to take advantage of
• Keep reading for my full list of early player props to target for Week 3 college football

We’re onto Week 3, and two Friday night games anchor my early player props for college football. Miami visits Wake Forest, while Houston heads to Texas Tech. Both matchups offer offenses with the enough talent to make individual yardage markets worth a closer look.

I am targeting two quarterbacks and one running back in the college football props market. Miami’s balance, Houston’s ground game and Texas Tech’s need to keep pace give me three angles to watch as the player prop menu fills out. Keep reading for my full list of early player props to target for Week 3 college football, below.

Early Player Props for Week 3 College Football

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Week 3 CFB Player Prop #1: Darian Mensah Passing Yards

Miami has the strongest offensive backdrop among these targets. The Hurricanes are averaging 61 points and 702.5 total yards per game, with 854 passing yards and 551 rushing yards already on the ledger. That balance matters because it prevents the offense from becoming one-dimensional, while the overall yardage shows how frequently Miami is reaching productive parts of the field.

The situational indicators are just as appealing. Miami has converted 9 of 14 third downs, or 64.3%, and has scored on 8 of 10 red-zone trips. Sustained drives create more opportunities for the quarterback, and Miami’s conversion rate suggests the offense is not simply relying on explosive plays. I like Darian Mensah, a Heisman Trophy odds darkhorse, over 282.5 passing yards because the team profile supports repeated possessions and a high offensive ceiling.

Wake Forest has allowed 581 passing yards and 970 total yards through its first two games. That raises the appeal of the opposing passing environment when paired with Miami’s current production. If the Hurricanes continue to convert third downs, Mensah has a clear path to the target without needing an extreme outlier performance. Before making any bet this weekend, shop for the top price using the best college football betting apps.

• Pick: Darian Mensah over 282.5 passing yards (-117 at BetMGM)

Week 3 CFB Player Prop #2: Makhi Hughes Rushing Yards

This is my favorite early rushing prop. Houston has produced 616 total rushing yards, and 55 points per game. The Cougars have also converted 15 of 21 third downs, a 71.4% rate, and gone 13 for 14 in the red zone. That combination points to an offense that is regularly extending drives and finishing possessions, which is the foundation I want behind a modest rushing target. The 47.5-yard number leaves room for a straightforward path. Houston does not need a runaway game for its rushing attack to stay relevant. The Cougars’ efficiency can generate multiple sustained possessions, and a competitive contest would keep the offense from abandoning its normal balance. I am comfortable targeting this over because Houston’s ground production gives its rushing attack a strong base.

Texas Tech has gained 328 rushing yards through two games and averaged 411.5 total yards per game while converting 13 of 28 third downs. That profile suggests the Red Raiders can contribute to a competitive script, which is preferable to a game that ends early because of a lopsided score. Houston’s scoring efficiency and rushing output give Makhi Hughes the better side of this number. Lock in this line now with the Bet365 bonus code.

• Pick: Makhi Hughes over 47.5 rushing yards (-114 at Bet365)

Week 3 CFB Player Prop #3: Will Hammond Passing Yards

Will Hammond’s passing target is attractive because Texas Tech’s offense has already generated 495 passing yards through two games while averaging 411.5 total yards and 34 points per game. The Red Raiders have converted 13 of 28 third downs, are 8 for 8 in the red zone, and look like a National Championship odds contender. Those are useful signs for a quarterback prop because they show an offense capable of sustaining drives and turning possessions into points.

Houston’s offense raises the appeal of the over from a game-flow perspective. The Cougars are averaging 55 points and have accumulated 1,124 total yards, including 508 through the air. Their 71.4% third-down rate has helped keep drives alive, and that scoring ability should give Texas Tech reasons to remain aggressive rather than simply protect a lead.

I am not requiring a shootout to like this number. Texas Tech needs only a reasonably competitive offensive game for Hammond to have a credible route past 225.5 yards. The Red Raiders’ passing production and red-zone efficiency make this a great angle to attack.

• Pick: Will Hammond over 225.5 passing yards (-114 at Bet365)