2023 College Football Player Performance Props: Best Bets for QBs and WR

by Mike Allen - 8/26/2023

College football player performance props best bets Drake Maye UNC Tar Heels

We're counting the minutes until the first full Saturday of the 2023 College Football regular season.

Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU make up your top five teams in the Preseason AP Poll. That should come as no surprise, of course.

It's good to see the USC Trojans coming in at 6th and projected to win the Pac-12. They are led by the 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. The D.C.-born and raised Williams threw for over 4500 yards last season and 42 passing touchdowns with only five interceptions.

We mentioned the Ohio State Buckeyes. They have a wide receiver whose name needs no explanation in Marvin Harrison Jr.

What I want to do today is list some “player performance” betting odds for several superstars heading into the 2023 college football season. These plays will be for the regular season games only.

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Touchdown Receptions

Over 12: -105

Under 12: -120

His dad was a special player, and one of the main reasons Marvin Harrison was Peyton Manning's favorite wide receiver of all time is because his level of preparedness could somewhat mirror that of his quarterback.

From what I have read and seen, Jr. is just like his daddy. He caught 14 last season. So, we are afforded some regression if that's what we project. It is not, though. There were six receivers with 12 or more touchdown receptions in 2022.

I expect the same or more in 2023, and Marvin is the best at his position.

Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr. over 12 touchdown receptions

Marvin Harrison Jr. Receiving Yards

Over 1100.5: -115

Under 1100.5: -115

Refer above. I am not at all fading this guy in 2023.

How many yards receiving do we need for the over? There were 14 different wideouts who had more than 1,100 receiving yards last season. Harrison ranked 6th in the nation with 1,263 yards.

Another one of those guys is Marvin's teammate, Emeka Egbuka. He pulled in 74 receptions for 1,151 yards with ten touchdowns. I don't believe opposing defenses will be able to double either player.

Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr. over 1100.5 yards receiving

Drake Maye Total Passing Yards

Over 3200.5: -130

Under 3200.5: +100

Drake Maye is 6'4" tall and 230 pounds, but people are somehow looking past him.

When I look at Drake Maye and the Carolina Tar Heels, I see an underrated squad playing in a soft conference. That could lead to some significant chunks of yardage Drake can accrue throughout the year.

The former Alabama commit had an outstanding season a year ago when he threw for over 4,300 yards and 38 touchdowns. So, what's up with the short number the sportsbooks are giving us?

I'm looking at ratings for every team in college football, and here is where the 2023 opponents of the Tar Heels stand: 101st, 89th, 81st, 60th, 47th, 44th, 41st, 36th, 33rd, 31st, Clemson is 7th, and the unrated Campbell Camels are projected at 3-8.

Carolina is rated higher than every opponent other than Clemson.

Pick: Drake Maye over 3200.5 passing yards

Caleb Williams Total Touchdown Passes

Over 34.5: -115

Under 34.5: -115

The Pac-12 doesn't play defense. Caleb Williams won the Heisman and nearly every other offensive award last season. He can regress his touchdown total by 17%, and we still hit the over.

Williams is the best quarterback in college football with a legendary quarterback groomer of a head coach in Lincoln Riley.

Pick: Caleb Williams over 34.5 touchdown passes

Bo Nix Total Passing Yards

Over 3100.5: -110

Under 3100.5: -120

Bo Nix has been around for a while, right?

I remember the season kickoff game against Oregon in his freshman year at Auburn. Nix threw two interceptions, but the Tigers won a fun one 27-21. It was a primetime game, and Bo knew he had already made a name for himself in college football.

It was a surprise, though, to see him transfer to Oregon, but here we are. The guy is coming off of a career year playing in the Pac-12 compared to the SEC. Surprise, surprise.

I know you guys are tired of me going with the overs, but the Ducks do have a weak schedule, and the best team they play, the USC Trojans, had an atrocious defense last season.

Bo is extra old and mature as well. He has been playing college ball at the highest level longer than anyone. It's not quite Chris Weinke vibes, but I dig it.

Pick: Bo Nix over 3100.5 passing yards

In Conclusion

Yes, I know the sharp play is more often than not the under, but we have weak schedules/opposing defenses on our side, and in the case of Marvin Harrison Jr., we have genetics and discipline.

Oh, and he’s 6’4”. Pops was only 6’.

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