College Football Player Props: How to Bet JJ McCarthy, Charlie Jones & More in Week 13
Peter Aiken/Getty Images. Pictured: Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn.
- Our staff is targeting the best player props for Week 13, including Purdue's Charlie Jones and more.
- Kansas vs. Kansas State is also being eyed, as Wildcats running back Deuce Vaughn could have a massive day.
- Dive in immediately and get set for the final full college football Saturday of the regular season.
Week 13 brings with it Rivalry Week, which means players will have personal vendettas against their opponents.
We see value on three player props on Saturday, and all three feature players who are facing bitter rivals: Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy against Ohio State, Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones against Indiana and Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn against Kansas.
So, whether you're looking to back a star quarterback, wide receiver or running back, we have you covered. Check out all three of our favorite Week 13 player props below.
College Football Player Props for Week 13
In the table below, you'll find each of our college football staff's top player prop picks from Saturday's Week 13 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. | ||
Michigan vs. Ohio State
 12 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 26 FOX  |
QB JJ McCarthy Rushing Yards
By Alex Hinton
JJ McCarthy has added a new dynamic to Michigan’s offense this season with his running ability.
This year, he has run for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry and has gone for at least 15 yards in six of his 11 games this season.
I would argue that three of the games he went under in earlier in the season were because Michigan was without backup Cade McNamara and the coaches wanted McCarthy to protect himself for conference play. McNamara has since been ruled out for the season.
Michigan will not have the option of being cautious with McCarthy on Saturday.
Its top two backs — Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards — both will be playing through injuries. I expect both to play, but their effectiveness is a question mark entering the showdown. That could make Michigan lean on McCarthy’s leg more often than usual.
I love this line because there are many ways for McCarthy to reach this number. Michigan uses McCarthy in a lot of RPOs in which the quarterback keeps the ball himself. He could also rack up 15 yards on a single scramble.
Of course, he could also lose yards on sacks, which is something to keep in mind for quarterback rushing props in college football.
Ohio State does have a strong pass rush and is tied for 23rd nationally — with Michigan ironically enough — in sacks. However, the Wolverines have allowed just 12 sacks in 11 games and are 16th nationally in that area.
However, I expect that McCarthy will run for enough yards that it won’t be a factor.
FanDuel also has McCarthy available for to run for 25 yards at +225, which I like as a value play. He also ran for 50 yards in three ga,es, including against Penn State and Michigan State.
To this point, those are Michigan’s two biggest games this season. There’s not a bigger game on Michigan’s schedule than Ohio State, particularly this season with what’s at stake.
I expect McCarthy will have the necessary attempts to go over this line as Michigan tries to knock off its rival.
Pick: JJ McCarthy Over 14.5 Rushing Yards (-114) · Play to 20.5
Purdue vs. Indiana
 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 26 Big Ten Network  |
WR Charlie Jones Receiving Yards
Jones’ receiving yards were consistently lined in the high 90s earlier in the season, so I’ll take the discount, especially in a prototypical buy-low spot.
Purdue’s WR1 is admittedly off back-to-back down games — and by down, we’re still talking decent production (6-46-1, 4-66-1).
However, one of those was a wind game against Northwestern, and the other was against a top-tier defense in Illinois (with wind).
Prior to that two-game sample, Jones had 100 or more yards and at least 10 catches. He’s gone over the century mark in more than half his games this season.
Saturday’s conditions look favorable for the offenses. Plus, Jones draws an Indiana defense that ranks 76th in opponent yards per completion.
He could realistically cash this in two-plus quarters. I’m fine playing anything south of triple digits.
Pick: Charlie Jones 87.5 Receiving Yards · Play to 99.5
Kansas vs. Kansas State
 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 26 FOX  |
RB Deuce Vaughn Rushing Yards
By Cody Goggin
The workload that Deuce Vaughn will get is never in question.
Vaughn has had 18 or more rushes in nine of his 11 games this season. His 220 attempts ranks 11th in the country, and he ranks 16th in FBS with 1,148 yards.
This weekend, Kansas State takes on in-state rival Kansas with a lot on the line, as the Wildcats would lock up a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a win. The Cats are 11-point favorites right now, so this should lend itself to a run-heavy game script for Kansas State.
This Kansas defense has been amongst the worst in the nation. The Jayhawks rank 118th in Rushing Success Rate Allowed and 118th in Rushing PPA Allowed. Kansas also ranks 105th in PFF’s run defense grades. It’s done a respectable job of stopping explosive plays, though, ranking 57th in rushing explosiveness.
Kansas State will be able to attack this Kansas defense however it wishes. And if the Wildcats are out to an early lead, I’d expect a heavy workload for Deuce Vaughn, who should rack up yet another 100-yard performance.
Pick: Deuce Vaughn 104.5 Rushing Yards · Play to 109.5
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