The college football season will conclude with a loaded Ohio State Buckeyes bunch taking on a Notre Dame side on a 13-game winning streak. No one has taken over the college football world quite like wideout Jeremiah Smith. The superstar freshman is the latest of the sensational Buckeye pass catchers, but his explosiveness down the field draws so much attention that it unlocks the next gear of this electrifying offensive attack.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Ohio State is currently a -8.5 point favorite, with the game’s point total at 45.5. Below, I’ve honed in on my favorite player prop centered around Smith.
Best Jeremiah Smith Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jeremiah Smith 5+ Receptions (-175)
Texas entered the Cotton Bowl with a clear objective: make Jeremiah Smith a nonfactor. In the Rose Bowl against Oregon, the Ducks’ secondary tried to play Smith straight up. They got torched to the tune of seven receptions, 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Longhorns didn’t want to suffer the same fate and bracketed Smith with a pair of defenders. The strategy was flawless, limiting the young stud to just one catch for three yards.
The juggernaut Ohio State offense looked vulnerable without Smith in the fold and needed a goal-line stand late to book its ticket to Atlanta. Notre Dame has been fairly open about its approach to playing sticky-man coverage. Irish corner Benjamin Morrison is one of the best cover corners in the country. He’s likely to be a first-round draft pick in April. Even the talented Morrison can’t contain Smith on an island. Coach Marcus Freeman will likely provide him with consistent safety help, at the very least.
That doesn’t mean Ohio State will just roll over and not feed its top playmaker. Smith should see some more designed looks at the very least and see if a few quick catches can get him going. It’s a conservative line, but the tough matchup and likely opposing game script warrant caution.
