College football player props are back with a full slate of options at our disposal for Saturday, and Action Network has you covered with our best plays for the Week 6 slate.
After five weeks, our season-long record sits at 16-8 following last week’s clean sweep of the board – thanks to big performances from some of college football’s top stars: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams and Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson.
Lines continue to tighten week by week as our in-season data sample continues to grow. So, we must be highly selective in our choices moving forward.
If you enjoy college football player prop betting, and are interested in weekly statistical projections, please make sure to check out our friends at the CFFSite, who compile the data that can give you an edge against the books.
College Football PrizePicks Player Props for Week 6
In the table below, you'll find my top five PrizePicks player props from Saturday's slate of games. Click on any pick or team logo to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
Texas vs. Oklahoma
 Noon ET Saturday, Oct. 8 ABC  |
RB Eric Gray Rushing Yards
It sounds like Oklahoma Sooners running back Eric Gray will play this week despite suffering an injury in the team’s recent loss to the TCU Horned Frogs.
Backup running back Marcus Major did not make the trip last week – also due to injury. Major’s absence enabled 4-star freshman Jovante Barnes to earn an extended look in the blowout scenario. Barnes looked the part as a high-profile recruit, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts.
If Major plays on Saturday as well, then Oklahoma will have three capable running backs deserving of carries.
Gray averages a modest 13.2 attempts per game, and 108.5 rushing yards is a big number to hurdle in a running-back-by-committee. That challenge is further compounded by the strength of the Texas Longhorns defense, which has limited opponents to 3.3 yards per carry.
Moreover, Oklahoma may be without starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel on Saturday, which likely means Texas will be stacking the box on defense.
Pick: Eric Gray Under 108.5 Rushing Yards
Tennessee vs. LSU
 Noon ET Saturday, Oct. 8 ESPN  |
WR Jalin Hyatt Receptions
Reports this week suggest that we could see Cedric Tillman in uniform for the Tennessee Volunteers before the originally-scheduled timeline. Nonetheless, Tillman is still deemed “questionable at very best” this week.
The CFFSite’s strong lean is that Tillman does not play on Saturday against the LSU Tigers. Accordingly, Tillman’s absence would elevate slot receiver Jalin Hyatt as the new top target in the Volunteers passing game.
CFFSite projections have Hyatt at seven catches this week, and Vegas odds suggest that Tennessee vs. LSU may be a high-scoring, back-and-forth showdown. As of writing, the game features an over/under of 64.5, and the Vols are 3-point favorites.
What we love about Hyatt in this situation – and really for each of the starting Tennessee receivers – is there is very little rotation at all. Hyatt, Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton each played 88% of the offensive snaps against the Florida Gators.
Pick: Jalin Hyatt Over 4.5 Receptions
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State
 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 8 FS1  |
WR Jerand Bradley Fantasy Points
This is the play of the weekend.
The following has not been stated publicly, but the Texas Tech Red Raiders staff has not been satisfied with the performance of its receivers – outside of slot man Myles Price.
That means TTU will likely rotate bodies in and out of the lineup in order to find the right combination, which Texas Tech often does anyway as part of its air raid system.
Sophomore Jerand Bradley previously was a starter, but he only earned 10 offensive snaps and failed to register a single target against the Kansas State Wildcats last week.
It appears that the staff is giving long looks to Trey Cleveland and J.J. Sparkman, who combined for 13 targets in Week 5.
Bradley was having a tough time hitting this number as a starter, so we love the under at 13.0 fantasy points with Bradley as a presumptive backup.
Pick: Jerand Bradley Under 13.0 Fantasy Points
Western Kentucky vs. UTSA
 6 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 8 ESPN+  |
QB Frank Harris Passing Yards
As of Thursday evening, UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Frank Harris’ passing yardage prop has already jumped 20 passing yards from an opener of 275.5.
But, it doesn’t matter. Even 295.5 passing yards is still too low; the CFFSite projects Harris to throw for 365 yards against the visiting Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
The UTSA offense is a perfect culmination of a situation coming together.
- A senior quarterback in Frank Harris playing at the highest level of his college career.
- The offense features three absolute studs at wide receiver: De’Corian Clark, Zakhari Franklin and Joshua Cephus. All three receivers average 98 or more yards per game.
- UTSA struggles to run the football with any consistency, averaging less than four yards per carry as a team.
- We also expect a back-and-forth battle with Conference USA’s No. 1 scoring offense in Western Kentucky. So, there is no great risk of Harris sitting out during the fourth quarter.
Pick: Frank Harris Over 295.5 Passing Yards
Iowa vs. Illinois
 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 8 Big Ten Network  |
QB Spencer Petras Passing Yards
Not to be disrespectful to any player, but if there is an Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback listed at any book, we’re always hunting his under prop. And we have an inflated number for Spencer Petras this week after he threw for well over 200 yards against the Michigan Wolverines – then ranked as the No. 1 pass defense in FBS.
Petras’ unexpected passing outburst works to our benefit this week as the Iowa Hawkeyes go on the road to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Illinois defense ranks 11th in pass defense and allows 159 passing yards per game.
The CFFSite projects Petras for 146 passing yards vs. Illinois. Furthermore, we are also comfortable with the under 10.5 fantasy points for Petras; Iowa’s implied team total is 16.5 points.
