Friday College Football Player Props: 2 Bets for Bert Emanuel Jr., Pofele Ashlock (Sept. 1)
Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Central Michigan quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr.
Friday night's slate of college football games is half as big as Thursday’s buffet. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few player props that stand out.
We’ll start out on the Big Island and then head to the Great Lake State for an interstate rivalry with a mispriced anytime touchdown prop.
Let's dive into my two favorite player prop bets for Friday's NCAAF games.
College Football Player Prop Picks
In the table below, you'll find each of our college football staff's top player prop picks from today's slate of games. Click on any pick or team logo to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | |
| 11 p.m. | |
Specific betting 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. | |
Central Michigan vs. Michigan State
Somehow, Emanuel is listed as the seventh player on the board to score a touchdown here.
The Spartans and Chips spread and total imply a final score of 30-15 in favor of Michigan State. If that projection holds true and the Chips find the end zone twice, I love getting plus money on one of the nation’s best “run-first” quarterbacks.
Emanuel played in just four games last season as a true freshman and punched in seven rushing touchdowns. He started only one game all season long, so his ceiling on the ground is as high as any dual-threat in the country.
This was the same quarterback who ran for 293 yards against Buffalo. Just so you didn’t miss that, he ran for 293 ([) yards in one game. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he’s a red-zone threat and a home-run threat all in one.
I also think the Michigan State secondary remains one of the worst in the Big Ten, which should allow the Chippewas to move the football. If CMU gets into the Michigan State red zone three times, I see Emanuel walking away with at least one rushing touchdown.
At +180, it’s a gamble I’m willing to make.
Pick: Bert Emanuel Anytime TD (+180)
Stanford vs. Hawaii
The Rainbow Warriors experienced a true Year 0 under Timmy Chang last season as they transitioned to the run-and-shoot offense. They couldn’t really protect quarterback Brayden Schager, and he was battered during a painful 3-10 campaign.
The transfer portal offers hope to programs that lure blue-chip talent, but Hawaii wasn’t one of those schools. The ‘Bows finished with the 108th-rated portal class, according to 247Sports — tied with FCS programs Lamar and Stephen F. Austin and eight slots behind Cam Newton’s alma mater. No not Auburn — Blinn Community College.
So, you’ll have to forgive me and the college football world for not having Pofele Ashlock on our radar coming into Week 0. The redshirt freshman from Euless, Texas, was sparingly used in his final year in high school, and as a result, he didn’t enter the college ranks with much fanfare.
That didn’t stop him from breaking out in his very first game. He was targeted nine times and reeled in seven passes for 127 yards and a score.
Hawaii will be facing another Power Five program this week, but Stanford is in Year 0 under Troy Taylor. Defensively, Stanford trotted out a formidable pass defense last season. But major losses on that side of the ball (-2.5 defensive TARP), particularly in the secondary, should leave the Cardinal vulnerable through the air here.
Only safety Alaka'i Gilman returns from last year’s 40th-ranked pass defense. I foresee another high-scoring game for Hawaii and at least 40 pass attempts for Schager.
My projections call for 77 yards for Ashlock on eight targets. As a result, I see significant value on this prop and would play it all the way up to the cusp of 70.
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