NCAAF Player Prop Bets Week 3

In his first two matchups of 2023, Washington Huskies’ quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has surpassed 400 yards through the air.

With an average of 429.5 passing yards per game, Penix is currently on pace for 5,154 yards in the Huskies’ 12 game slate; not including any potential postseason conference or bowl games.

Penix is also sporting a sterling 8:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio on the young season.

The left handed QB’s talents are no longer a surprise after last season’s 4,641 yards and 31 touchdown passes, assisting Washington to a record of 11-2.

Penix has become a juggernaut in the Pacific Northwest.

An imminent exit from the Pac-12 has the Huskies all packed up and ready to join the Big Ten in 2024.

In Week 3, Washington takes on a future Big Ten rival in the Michigan State Spartans.

Bettors feeling bullish on Penix approaching 400 passing yards once again can find the best odds on his passing yards at FanDuel, currently at o345.5 yards (-114).

Those that think Penix Jr. will hoist the Heisman Trophy this December can find the best odds at FanDuel at +1000, the fourth-shortest odds behind only Caleb Williams (USC), Quinn Ewers (Texas), and Jordan Travis (Florida State).

The Heisman race has become very interesting already. You can find more Heisman observations in our look at the NCAA Football Top 25 article.

As for Penix, his passing props are propitiously placed near the pinnacle.

Alliteration aside, let’s take a look at some College Football player props for Week 3.

Noah Kim – QB, Michigan State

Plot twist!

If the Michigan State Spartans stand any chance at defeating the Washington Huskies, then Spartans’ quarterback Noah Kim will need to keep up with Michael Penix.

I don’t believe that Kim can match Penix, yard for yard, but Kim will certainly need to keep the offense rolling being opposite the high-powered Huskies.

Kim has played against two lesser-quality programs this season, the Central Michigan Chippewas and the FCS-level Richmond Spiders, but he’s still averaging a respectable 285.5 passing yards per game.

The running game for Michigan State has been solid as well, but as I previously mentioned, against two subpar teams.

Sparty’s first matchup against a quality opponent comes right after head coach Mel Tucker is placed under suspension for sexual harassment charges.

With Tucker removed from the sidelines, Michigan State needs to pick up the pieces and move on.

Washington allowed dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green of Boise State to post 244 yards against their defense in Week 1, and Green only completed 48.7 percent of his passes in that contest.

Kim is a better passer and has better weapons to work with than Green, and should be able to outproduce that mediocre stat line.

If the Huskies post big numbers on the scoreboard early, Kim’s arm could turn into a windmill.

Pick: Noah Kim – OVER 218.5 Passing Yards

Best Odds: (-115) Bet365

Jo’Quavious Marks – RB, Mississippi State

The Mississippi State Bulldogs were formerly an air-raid offense, chucking the ball all over the place. It appears that the offensive scheme has shifted to a more balanced approach.

One man benefitting from the new look offense is running back Jo’Quavious Marks.

In each of his first two games, Marks has surpassed the century mark on the ground and has been around 20 or so carries per contest; taking 24 carries in last week’s overtime victory against the Arizona Wildcats.

Marks has 43 carries on the season, and with the next closest man on the team only having seven carries, Marks is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 running back for Mississippi State.

Once known for his receiving skills, as he caught 83 passes in 2021, Marks is averaging 5.8 yards per carry in 2023.

This week, the Bulldogs take on the LSU Tigers. LSU has looked shaky on rushing defense, which bodes well for Marks.

The Tigers allowed a total of 135 rushing yards in their Week 1 loss to Florida State, then allowed 163 rushing yards to FCS-level Grambling in Week 2.

There is an exploitable gap somewhere in this LSU rushing defense and I believe that Marks will find it.

Pick: Jo’Quavious Marks – OVER 69.5 Rushing Yards

Best Odds: (-115) DraftKings

Samuel Brown – WR, Houston

The Houston Cougars take on the TCU Horned Frogs in Week 3, and as long as TCU keeps getting shredded in the passing game, I’m going to target overs for opposing wide receivers.

TCU allowed Colorado Buffaloes’ QB Shedeur Sanders to throw for 510 yards in Week 1, and four different Colorado receivers finished with over 100 receiving yards.

Four 100-yard receivers!

Last week, the Horned Frogs allowed FCS-level Nicholls State receiver Neno Lemay to collect 100 receiving yards.

Houston’s wide receiver Samuel Brown should be able to outperform Neno Lemay of Nicholls State.

Brown has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in each of his first two contests and has become a favorite target of quarterback Donovan Smith, receiving 12 targets in last week’s surprising two-overtime loss to Rice.

The Cougars passing defense is not great either, allowing 401 yards to JT Daniels of Rice in Week 2, so this one has ‘slugfest’ written all over it.

Pick: Samuel Brown – OVER 77.5 Receiving Yards

Best Odds: (-114) FanDuel

Alton McCaskill – RB, Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes take on the Colorado State Rams this week in what should be a massive blowout victory for coach Deion Sanders’ squad.

There are a litany of play-makers on this team, but one Buffalo that has yet to make a mark in this offense is running back Alton McCaskill.

McCaskill has not stepped onto the field since 2021, but when he was last seen, he was an effective running back.

McCaskill averaged 5.4 yards per carry in his lone season of work, piling up 1,074 yards and 18 total touchdowns, two of those touchdowns on the receiving end.

The Rams allowed 50 points to the Washington State Cougars last week, with three touchdowns coming from running backs; an interesting outcome, considering that Washington State is a pass-heavy offense.

I believe that Colorado is going to put up 70 points this week.

McCaskill is expected to suit up for the first time since 2021, and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Coach Deion gives McCaskill a chance in the redzone when the Buffaloes are up by a wide margin.

Pick: Alton McCaskill – Anytime TD Scorer

Best Odds: (+220) BetMGM