Saturday College Football Player Props: Best Bets for Oct. 17
By Chris Amberley in College Football
Published:
- Saturday’s college football player props board features three Heisman caliber QB’s
- Julian Sayin is an excellent value to clear 257.5 passing yards vs Indiana
- Read below for my Saturday college football player props and best bets for Oct. 17
Saturday’s college football player props card attacks quarterback production across three of the slate’s biggest games: Ohio State at Indiana, Alabama at Tennessee and Florida at Texas.
The broader picture points toward passing volume. Ohio State is averaging 503.5 yards and 42.7 points per game, while Alabama is at 452.5 yards and 43.8 points. Florida sits between them at 473.8 yards per game. All three of those programs are going to need to have their passing attack humming today, and I’m targeting their QB’s to exceed their yardage totals.
Keep reading for my Saturday college football player props and best bets for Oct. 17, below.
Saturday College Football Player Props
Make sure to claim your BetMGM promo code before tailing these college football odds on Saturday.
Julian Sayin’s total carries the best price on the card at -120, while Keelon Russell (-161) and Arch Manning (-149) require more juice. The 250+ markets settle the same as Over 249.5 passing yards.
Saturday College Football Best Bets for Oct. 17
CFB Player Prop Pick #1: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin Over 257.5 Passing Yards
- Pick: Julian Sayin Over 257.5 Passing Yards (-120 at BetMGM)
My Ohio State vs Indiana player prop backs Sayin to clear 257.5 passing yards. The Buckeyes QB has completed 116 of 163 passes for 1,772 yards and 17 touchdowns over six games for the National Championship odds contender. That works out to 295.3 yards per game, which sits comfortably above this number.
The Buckeyes produce 503.5 total yards per game, convert 45.2% of third downs and have scored on 26 of 30 red-zone trips. Jeremiah Smith gives Sayin a true No. 1 target, with 48 catches for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Indiana’s defense is the hurdle, allowing just 188.5 passing yards per game. The Hoosiers are even stingier on the ground, though, giving up only 75 rushing yards per game, which pushes Ohio State toward the air. Indiana also scores 39.8 points and gains 462.7 yards per game. That sets up a competitive script where the Buckeyes keep throwing.
CFB Player Prop Pick #2: Alabama QB Keelon Russell 250+ Passing Yards
- Pick: Keelon Russell 250+ Passing Yards (-161 at BetMGM)
Russell has completed 110 of 162 passes for 1,599 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions over six games. His 266.5 yards per game clear this milestone, which explains the -161 price.
Alabama enters the Tennessee matchup averaging 452.5 yards and 43.8 points per game. The Crimson Tide have converted 48.6% of third downs and gone 27-for-27 in the red zone, so drives rarely stall before Russell gets his attempts.
Tennessee is not a soft pass defense. The Vols allow 161.3 passing yards per game, and that is the main risk here. They are more generous on the ground at 132.5 rushing yards allowed, which gives Alabama another option. The counterweight is Tennessee’s offense, which scores 34.3 points per game and should keep Alabama aggressive. This is a volume play built on Russell’s season-long production, not on a weak matchup. Before making any bet today, scan the best college football betting apps to find the top price.
CFB Player Prop Pick #3: Texas QB Arch Manning 250+ Passing Yards
- Pick: Arch Manning 250+ Passing Yards (-149 at BetMGM)
This milestone sits above Manning’s season average. The preseason Heisman Trophy odds favorite has completed 92 of 146 passes for 1,122 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions over five games, good for 224.4 yards per game. The case for the over is the Florida matchup.
Florida’s defense allows 268.7 passing yards per game, and opponents have converted 46.2% of third downs against the Gators (43 of 93). Texas converts 44.6% of its own third downs, so Manning should get chances to extend drives through the air.
The game script helps too. Florida averages 473.8 yards and 41.7 points per game, and Texas has converted 19 of 21 red-zone trips. My Florida vs. Texas prediction is a game where the Longhorns have to keep pace, and that keeps Manning throwing against a vulnerable secondary.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.