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Best College Football Player Props Today: Big Game Picks for Thursday, October 22
Every prop on today's slate, ranked live: College Football Player Props Today
The picks
6 picks
Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Odds may have moved since publishing.
Thursday night brings three Group of Five matchups with no top-25 teams, so I went looking for the best player props on the board. James Madison at Appalachian State, Liberty at Kennesaw State and East Carolina at Memphis all kick off in the evening, and each has a couple of props that stand out.
I pick props using PF Rating, which blends the game environment, the defensive matchup, recent hit rates and scoring averages into a single score. Lines move, so check the price before you bet.
James Madison Dukes at Appalachian State Mountaineers
James Madison (seven wins) visits Appalachian State (4-2) at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU. The market total of 56.5 points points to plenty of scoring, which helps the receiving props on the home side. Appalachian State is the underdog, so its wideouts could be busy trying to keep pace.
Nate Branch Over 34.5 Receiving Yards (-113, Caesars)
Nate Branch
Over 34.5 Receiving Yards
Nate Branch has a PF Rating of 95.6 for Over 34.5 receiving yards, the best price being -113 at Caesars. He averaged 57 receiving yards over his last five games, well clear of the number, though that is a very small sample, with just one game counted.
James Madison ranks 69th against wide receivers, a middle of the pack matchup, and the game environment is a strong one. Treat this as a matchup and volume play rather than a proven track record.
Chris Lofton Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (+106, DraftKings)
Chris Lofton
Over 19.5 Receiving Yards
Chris Lofton has a PF Rating of 90.3 for Over 19.5 receiving yards at +106 on DraftKings, a plus-money price on a low line. He cleared this kind of number in four of his last five games and is averaging 34.8 yards over that stretch.
He faces the same James Madison defense that ranks 69th against wide receivers. With a 56.5 point total, the cushion between his average and the line is the reason I like it.
Liberty Flames at Kennesaw State Owls
Liberty (5-1) travels to Kennesaw State (1-5) on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. The Flames are the clear favorite and are projected to score 30.5 points, which makes their skill players the focus of this slate.
Makai Jackson Over 66.5 Receiving Yards (-114, FanDuel)
Makai Jackson
Over 66.5 Receiving Yards
Makai Jackson has a PF Rating of 81.9 for Over 66.5 receiving yards, with the best price at -114 on FanDuel. He has gone over in four of his last five games and averaged 88.4 yards in that span, comfortably above this line.
Kennesaw State ranks 144th against wide receivers, a soft matchup. With a total around 50 points and Liberty expected to move the ball, Jackson should see plenty of targets.
Kam Davis Over 0.5 Touchdowns (-160, FanDuel)
Kam Davis
Over 0.5 Touchdowns
Kam Davis has a PF Rating of 73.7 for Over 0.5 touchdowns at -160 on FanDuel. He found the end zone in four of his last five games and averages 1.0 touchdowns over that span, so this is a steady scorer.
Kennesaw State ranks 155th against running backs, another soft spot. The price is steep at -160, so this is a play for those comfortable paying for a high probability.
East Carolina Pirates at Memphis Tigers
East Carolina (3-3) visits Memphis (5-2) on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Memphis is the favorite, and the market total of 54 points suggests a game with enough possessions for both lead backs to get their carries. Both of my picks here are rushing props.
Jaylin Carter Over 90.5 Rushing Yards (-114, FanDuel)
Jaylin Carter
Over 90.5 Rushing Yards
Jaylin Carter has a PF Rating of 88.1 for Over 90.5 rushing yards, with the best price at -114 on FanDuel. He ran for 135 yards in his most recent game, but that is a one game sample, so keep the confidence in check.
East Carolina ranks 189th against running backs, a favorable matchup, and Memphis is projected to be ahead, which usually means a healthy dose of carries.
TJ Engleman Jr. Over 78.5 Rushing Yards (-114, FanDuel)
TJ Engleman Jr.
Over 78.5 Rushing Yards
TJ Engleman Jr. has a PF Rating of 86 for Over 78.5 rushing yards at -114 on FanDuel. He topped this number in four of his last five games, averaging 98.4 yards over that stretch, though his last 10 average is lower at 56.6.
Memphis ranks 80th against running backs. If East Carolina is playing from behind he may lose some work, but his recent form clears the line comfortably.
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Jake Casso
Jake is a Chicago native and lifelong sports enthusiast who brings energy, creativity, and expertise to the PropFinder team. He plays a key role in developing educational livestreams and producing YouTube content that helps sports bettors better understand betting markets, strategies, and data-driven insights.
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