In a world where there are odds on just about anything in sports, college football player props have flown under the radar.
That typically means there are still edges, as the market has not been able to exploit the lines properly.
As we gear up for one of the biggest college football games on this week's slate, let's take a look at some player props between the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions, courtesy of PrizePicks.
Editor’s note: All totals listed below are the over/under on PrizePicks.
Quarterbacks
Sean Clifford (Penn State)
- Passing Yards: 194.5
- Passing TDs: 1.5
- Interceptions: 0.5
The Wolverines have one of the best pass defenses in the country, entering this game ranked eighth in the FBS in passing yards allowed per game and ninth in opponent completion percentage.
Sean Clifford has registered back-to-back games of more than 360 passing yards, but he failed to reach 195 passing yards in three straight games before that.
On the touchdown front, Clifford has also only thrown two or more once this season — against Iowa, against which he registered 146 passing yards.
Back Michigan’s stout defense to find a way to stymie Clifford.
Pick: Under 194.5 Passing Yards and Under 1.5 TDs
Cade McNamara (Michigan)
- Passing Yards: 167.5
- Passing TDs: 1
McNamara has surpassed this passing total in five of his nine starts this season, and he's thrown for two touchdowns in each of his last two games.
Penn State has one of the best defenses in the country, but the Nittany Lions' secondary has been particularly average this season.
McNamara shouldn't get blanked here. He'll find a way to throw for at least one touchdown.
Pick: Over 1 TD
Running Backs
Noah Cain (Penn State)
- Rushing Yards: 34.5
After getting off to a rousing start to the season, Cain has slowed down in the latter half of the season. Regardless of whether it's a health issue, he's clearly not been himself in recent weeks.
This is likely a stay-away spot for me since it's unclear if Cain will be running at full speed. It could be a fantastic game for Cain to rekindle some of the magic he had earlier in the season, though, given Michigan has struggled slowing down running backs.
Pick: Pass
Hassan Haskins (Michigan)
- Rushing Yards: 82.5
Haskins has come into his own after taking over the role as Michigan's lead back. He has topped the 100-yard mark in three of his last four games, including a 168-yard performance last week against Indiana.
Penn State is a completely different test, though, and he only ran for 58 yards against the last good rushing defense that Haskins faced (Michigan State).
I expect Michigan to rely less on Haskins in this game and finish under the total.
Pick: Under 82.5 rushing yards
Wide Receivers
Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
- Receiving Yards: 87.5
- Receptions: 7
Dotson is likely in the driver seat to win the Biletnikoff Award as the college football's top wide receiver. He showed why with a 248-yard performance against Maryland last week.
But Michigan's secondary is a whole different challenge than what he saw last week. As stated earlier, the Wolverines have one of the best pass defenses in the country.
Dotson has had seven-plus catches in six of his nine games this season. The receptions prop is less risky than the yards here.
Pick: Over 7 receptions
Cornelius Johnson (Michigan)
- Receiving Yards: 44.5
- Receptions: 3
Johnson is by far McNamara's favorite target in this Michigan offense, and I do think the Wolverines will have to pass in this game in order to score since Penn State's rushing defense is just too good.
Johnson has recorded three or more receptions in each of his last four games, and I look for that trend to continue in this matchup.
Pick: Over 3 receptions
