Did you know that the FBS postseason has already begun? At this hectic time of year, it’s all too easy to miss the earliest college football props.
Week 1 used to be a thing for bowl season, then Week 2 and so on until they were done, but the College Football Playoff changed all that. Now we’ve already seen the Washington Huskies beat the Boise State Broncos 38-10 at the LA Bowl this past Saturday.
Let’s get this week’s NCAAF player props sorted out while there’s still time.
College Football Bowl Game Prop Bets at a Glance
Here’s the good news for football fans: The first round of the CFP kicks off this Friday, so we’re including those four games in our preview, along with the five remaining bowl games on this week’s betting calendar.
We’re expecting the biggest betting edges for this week’s college football player props to come from those CFP games; let’s see the Top 3 props at OddsTrader as we go to press, and how we should tackle them.
Tulane’s RB Javin Gordon (Over 18.5 Rushing Yards –117)
Tulane Green Wave vs. Mississippi Rebels – Saturday, December 20, 03:30 PM ET
Topping our NCAAF player props list at a monumental 32.3% Expected Value (!), we have the lead running back for the underdogs in the first-round matchup between Tulane and Ole Miss.
Why is the total for this Javin Gordon prop so tiny?
Partly because Gordon (38.8 yards per game) is part of a larger tailback committee, and partly because Ole Miss is a massive 17.5-point favorite in this matchup. This is an easy call from an old-school handicapping perspective – just don’t take that EV projection as gospel.
JMU’s RB Jobi Malary (To Score a Touchdown +700)
James Madison Dukes vs. Oregon Ducks – Saturday, December 20, 07:30 PM ET
As we go to press, the projections at OT say we’re getting 30.8% EV for this Jobi Malary prop. The betting market for this first-round battle is tilted toward Oregon as 21.5-point faves, so there should be ample value on the Dukes.
We’re digging a little deeper into their bench for value, with Malary (four TDs in seven games) getting some late-season love filling in for starting RB Wayne Knight, who led the Sun Belt in rushing this year with 1,263 yards.
Delaware’s QB Nick Minicucci (To Score First Touchdown +800)
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Delaware Blue Hens – Wednesday, December 17, 08:30 PM ET
Rounding out our podium of NCAAF player props, we visit the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where Louisiana is favored by three points as we go to press.
They’re No. 104 on this week’s F+ Ratings at BCF Toys; the Blue Hens are close behind at No. 112, and should have value here in their maiden FBS voyage.
Delaware’s QB factory gave us Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco; Nick Minicucci (10 rushing TDs in 12 games) led the CUSA in several categories, and this Minicucci prop comes with 28.9% EV according to the OT projections.
What We’ve Covered and Next Steps
With projected edges like these, you know there will be some sharp action on all three of our recommended college football picks.
Week 1 of the bowl season won’t have quite as many “recreational” bettors in the marketplace as we’ll see later this month, and our top two picks play for the Group of Five underdogs in the first round of the CFP; consider signing up at multiple sharp-friendly sportsbooks if you’re going to lay more than $100 or so on any of these NCAAF props.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
