College football is officially back and it’s time to bet on some player props.
After covering the early slate of games here, I’m taking a closer look at the Saturday night slate offerings. Who will Clemson lean on offensively in a massive showdown against LSU? What should we expect in Le’Veon Moss’ return from injury?
Find the answers to those questions with my Week 1 college football picks and player props for Saturday, August 30.
Best college football player props for Week 1
Randall Under 66.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
Moss Under 75.5 Rushing Yards (-114)- Moore Over 3.5 Receptions (+106)
Prop bet #1: Adam Randall Under 66.5 Rushing Yards
Adam Randall made the switch from wide receiver to running back this season and looks poised to start Game 1 in the back field for the Clemson Tigers. Dabo Swinney thinks it’ll be one of the top storylines in college football this season.
That’s all well and good, but massive question marks remain. Will he see a full complement of touches? How much work will talented youngsters Gideon Davidson and David Eziomume get? Will Cade Klubnik’s rushing numbers be amplified this season in a run toward the Heisman?
The sheer amount of variables has me bearish on this line, which seems quite high considering that Caden Durham on the other side of this game, one of the most talented backs in the country, has a rushing yardage prop of 62.5, a few ticks below Randall’s.
Clemson ranked 113th in rush rate last season, so volume is a concern. There’s not much reason to expect the offensive philosophy to change given that the team’s strengths are at quarterback and wide receiver, where they return everything from a season ago. Give me the Under.
- Matchup: No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson
- Date/Time: Saturday, August 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- TV: ABC, ESPNU
Prop bet #2: Le’Veon Moss Under 75.5 Rushing Yards
Le’Veon Moss is a supremely talented back, and I want to sing his praises whenever possible. So how am I ending up on the Under for his rushing yardage prop in Week 1?
Moss was leading the SEC in rushing with 765 yards, to go along with 10 touchdowns, until he tore his ACL and MCL. While head coach Mike Elko has described him as “100%” heading into the opener, I still have my doubts about his workload in a game where the Texas A&M Aggies are 23.5-point favorites.
The talented back did not participate in preseason scrimmages and reportedly was not allowed to be tackled at all in camp. That means Game 1 is more about getting him acclimated to the physicality of a game rather than running him into the dirt.
The Aggies have a deep stable of backs with Amari Daniels, Reuben Owens II, and EJ Smith ready to handle snaps. There’s no reason to tax Moss in the opener, and the focus should be on having him ready to go come SEC play.
- Matchup: UTSA vs. No. 19 Texas A&M
- Date/Time: Saturday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Kyle Field
- TV: ESPN
Prop bet #3: TJ Moore Over 3.5 Receptions
Yes, we do have an Over. Remember what I said earlier about Clemson’s strength being in the passing attack? Enter TJ Moore and Cade Klubnik.
Moore broke out as a true freshman, catching 45 balls for 651 yards and five scores. He came on especially strong late, averaging 6.0 receptions for 71 yards across his final three games of the season. The highlight was a nine-catch, 116-yard, one-score day against Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
That momentum should carry over into 2025. The first test is an LSU Tigers defense that still has a lot to prove. The secondary finished 83rd in passing success rate, and while Brian Kelly tried to add improvements via the portal, one of them will be missing for the first half in safety AJ Haulcy (suspension).
Clemson is expected to start fast, playing at home and featuring a potent offense with plenty of continuity. Moore is in for a huge season, and it all starts in Week 1.
- Matchup: No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson
- Date/Time: Saturday, August 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- TV: ABC, ESPNU
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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