Almost nine months after their exciting College Football Playoff semifinal showdown, the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes renew acquaintances at the Horseshoe on Saturday.
Arch Manning and Jeremiah Smith lead the headlines for both teams, but that doesn't mean they are the best players to back in Columbus.
Here are my top three Longhorns vs. Buckeyes player props and college football picks for August 30.
Texas vs Ohio State props for Week 1
Manning u236.5 passing yards (-114)- Wisner o26.5 receiving yards (-114)
Inniss o27.5 receiving yards (-114)
Prop bet #1: Arch Manning Under 236.5 passing yards
There’s no question that Arch Manning is a more dangerous runner than Quinn Ewers was, and I won’t be surprised to see him scramble a few times on Saturday to pick up a first down. It’s even more likely when you look at the issues Texas is dealing with on the offensive line.
Right tackle Andre Cojoe is out for the season with a knee injury. Cole Hutson has shifted from right guard to center, but hasn’t made a start since 2022. In addition, left tackle Trevor Goosby is battling a hand injury and will play with a cast on his arm.
Although Ohio State is indeed replacing a plethora of production from its defense, it’s worth remembering the Buckeyes ranked Top 5 in havoc rate and yards allowed per dropback last season.
The noise levels inside the Horseshoe will make it tough for Manning to make adjustments at the line, which adds to the likelihood of him being flushed out of the pocket and making plays with his legs. I expect he’ll do just that and avoid forcing throws or making mistakes in a high-pressure situation.
Prop bet #2: Quintrevion Wisner Over 20.5 receiving yards
The beneficiary of Manning being pressured could very well be running back Quintrevion Wisner. While his receiving yardage total has already risen by four yards, I still like him to get 25+ in this contest.
Wisner was heavily involved in the passing game in the CFP semifinal defeat to Texas, catching six passes for 42 yards. He also had four grabs for 40 yards in the quarterfinal victory over Arizona State, and racked up 21+ receiving yards in six of his final nine games.
One of the best ways to slow down a pass rush is the screen game, and Wisner possesses tremendous vision once he has the ball in his hands. He will also be the primary check-down option for Manning, and with the Longhorns focusing on limiting the big play downfield, I expect he’ll have opportunities to pick up big yardage after the catch.
Wisner finished last season ranked in the Top 10 for receiving yards by a running back, and he will see more snaps this year as the starter. Manning won’t want to make dangerous throws in high-leverage situations, making Wisner an exceptional low-risk play in this situation.
Prop bet #3: Brandon Inniss Over 27.5 receiving yards
Texas knows how dangerous Jeremiah Smith is, which is why you’ll likely see him bracketed just as he was in the playoffs last season. The Longhorns also know they’ll need to keep tabs on Carnell Tate at the other wideout position.
That means someone is going to either get overlooked or find himself in a favorable matchup, and that man is likely to be Brandon Inniss. The junior receiver is now an offensive captain and will be relied upon to step up and make plays.
He only caught 14 passes last season, but Inniss was buried behind multiple receivers. That said, he did catch multiple passes against Western Michigan, Iowa, and Penn State — and in all three of those games, the wideout picked up at least 29 yards.
Smith had just one catch against Texas in the CFP. Tate and Emeka Egbuka picked up the slack, with 5+ catches and 50+ yards for both. Tight end Gee Scott Jr. also caught five passes for 30 yards.
Inniss averaged 12.6 yards per catch last season and had solid YAC numbers. If he can replace even half of Egbuka’s production from that playoff meeting, Inniss will eclipse his Week 1 total.
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