The Holy War is back, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
For the fourth time ever, both #23 Utah and #15 BYU enter Saturday’s primetime contest as ranked opponents. For the winner, it’s a clear path to the Big 12 championship game in December. As for the loser, their postseason dreams will be on thin ice.
In this inter-conference rivalry match, expect both sides to give it their all. Which big names will step up for their squad tonight? These are the top college football player props to consider at DraftKings Sportsbook for Week 8’s matchup between the Utah Utes and the BYU Cougars.
Utah enters Week 8 as 3.5-point favorites over BYU, with the over/under set at 49.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Utah vs. BYU best prop bets
Devon Dampier 61+ rushing yards (-126)
It’s no secret that Utah has built its identity on playing tough, hard-nosed football. That’s made Devon Dampier a perfect fit at quarterback in Salt Lake City. Through six games, the junior has thrown for 1,131 yards, rushed for 378, and accumulated 16 total touchdowns. In over half of his appearances, Dampier has compiled at least 86 rushing yards. That number would have been higher if not for a blowout 63-9 win over Cal Poly in Week 2.
It’s not impossible to stop a rushing quarterback, even Utah’s do-it-all signal caller. After all, Texas Tech derailed this entire Utes offense back in September. However, that’s due partially to a stingy Red Raiders defensive line. The same cannot be said for the Cougars, a group that has struggled to generate pressure all season. BYU has recorded the fifth-fewest sacks (10.0) and sixth-fewest tackles for loss (34.0) in the Big 12. That’s not a recipe for success against a QB that loves to improvise outside of the pocket. Another productive evening could be in store for Dampier.
LJ Martin 90+ rush yards (-116)
We’ll stay on the ground, with the focus now on BYU’s budding superstar. LJ Martin has taken the Big 12 by storm, leading the conference with 652 rushing yards. In addition, the junior has added 77 receiving yards and four total touchdowns. The Cougars operate a run-heavy offense, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier using his legs frequently. That combo has the potential to confuse and wear out opposing defenses over 60 minutes.
Utah, despite its reputation on defense, has been somewhat mediocre against the run. Teams are gaining 3.97 yards per rush attempt against the Utes, a below-average mark in the Big 12. When these two schools met last season, Martin posted 68 rushing yards on just 11 carries. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake should give his RB1 a much bigger workload during this year’s rematch. If the bruising running back garners anything close to 20 carries, he should deliver a solid stat line. In what could be an intense, physical affair, Martin is the kind of player that could thrive.
