College football player props are back in full swing, and Action Network has you covered with our best plays for the Week 2 slate. We are in luck, because many of the books have over-corrected based on the results of last weekend, leaving an incredible board of selections at our disposal.
If you enjoy college football player prop betting and are interested in weekly statistical projections, please make sure to check out our friends at theCFFSite, who compile the data that can give you the edge against the books.
College Football Player Props for Week 2
In the table below, you'll find each of my top player prop picks from Saturday's slate of games. Click on any pick or team logo to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
Specific bet recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. |
Duke vs. Northwestern
Play of the week.
It was an outstanding debut last week for Riley Leonard and the entire Duke Blue Devils team as they dominated the Temple Owls. Duke shut out Temple by a score of 30-0 and out-gained the Owls by over 300 yards of total offense.
Quarterback Riley Leonard was masterful in his first career start, completing 24-of-30 passes for 328 yards and two scores.
So … why play the under on Leonard's passing yards total?
Leonard doesn’t have the benefit of facing a dead body like the Temple defense, which finished dead-last in the AAC in 2021.
It will be an early Saturday morning start for a Duke team traveling to Northwestern. Moreover, the Wildcats had an extra week off in preparation for this matchup.
The CFFSite's projection calls for Leonard to throw for around 234 yards, so jump on this one before it sinks further.
Pick: Riley Leonard Under 287.5 Passing Yards
Tennessee vs. Pitt
We missed on the Jaylen Wright prop last week as the sophomore running back wound up leading the Tennessee Volunteers with 88 yards and a score on 13 carries in the blowout victory over Ball State.
However, much of Wright’s production came in the second half with the game already in hand. We’re banking that does not occur this week With the Vols traveling to Pittsburgh in one of the more anticipated games of the weekend.
The Panthers were unusually leaky against the run vs. West Virginia last Thursday, allowing 190 total yards on the ground on 5.76 yards per carry. That kind of defensive performance is a rarity for a Pat Narduzzi-led group that has finished inside the top 15 in run defense each of the last three seasons.
We’ll bank on a backup running back not reaching 13 fantasy points against a Pitt defense that will bounce back after a poor showing.
Pick: Jaylen Wright Under 13.0 Fantasy Points
Kentucky vs. Florida
We at the CFFsite like all Tayvion Robinson overs this week — but specifically fantasy points and receptions in a matchup with the Florida Gators.
The former Virginia Tech-transfer came over to the Kentucky Wildcats this offseason with the plan to assume the “Wan’Dale Robinson role” in the slot, which accounted for 140 targets in 2021.
After one week, that thought holds true: Robinson led Kentucky with six receptions for 136 yards on a team-high eight targets in the win over Miami (Ohio).
In a similar vein to the forthcoming discussion for Connor Bazelak, we’re higher on the Kentucky passing game overall this week because of the inability to run the football successfully, averaging 1.92 yards per carry in the opening game.
Pick: Tayvion Robinson Over 12.5 Fantasy Points
Syracuse vs. UConn
Apparently, the books have yet to realize that Syracuse made an offensive coordinator change in the offseason to one of the most QB-friendly coaches in the country, Robert Anae.
Shrader crushed last week’s 155.5-yard prop with ease, throwing for 236 yards and two scores while completing 72% of his passes vs. Louisville.
In his last eight seasons as a coordinator between BYU and Virginia, Anae's teams have not been shy about throwing the football. In fact, the fewest passing yards any of his offenses has averaged is 211.6 yards per game.
So far, so good for Shrader after one week under Anae’s tutelage — and we believe that trend will continue against UConn.
Pick: Garrett Shrader Over 185.5 Passing Yards
Idaho vs. Indiana
Full disclosure: The CFFsite's 301-yard passing projection for Connor Bazelak is a bit too steep in my opinion, but sails over the current prop comfortably.
It was an uneven debut for the former Missouri-transfer, who completed just 53% of his passes against Illinois in Week 1. On the other hand, Bazelak also passed for 330 yards and a touchdown on 52 attempts while leading the Indiana Hoosiers to victory.
Bazelak should have a favorable matchup this week against the Idaho Vandals, but the biggest reason we like the over is Indiana’s inability to run the football.
The Hoosiers averaged 1.2 yards per carry on 26 attempts against Illinois. Indiana's paltry rushing performance has become a trend: Indiana ranked 12th out of 14 Big Ten teams in rushing last season.
Bazelak also has an improved receiving corps to work with in D.J. Matthews and Cam Camper, who combined for 18 receptions last Saturday.