In the SEC, every week matters. Saturday’s showdown between #15 Missouri and #10 Vanderbilt is essentially an elimination game. Playoff dreams will become a long shot for whichever school has two losses. As for the winner? Their chances at making the postseason will get a serious boost.
Which names will step up during this much-anticipated conference clash? These are the top college football player props to consider at DraftKings Sportsbook for Week 9’s matchup between the Missouri Tigers and the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Vanderbilt enters this contest as three-point favorites (-102) over Missouri, with the over/under set at 52.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Missouri vs. Vanderbilt best prop bets
Sedrick Alexander 41+ rushing yards (-117)
Vandy’s offense starts and ends with Diego Pavia. The do-it-all senior has developed into one of the nation’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks. Through seven games, he’s thrown for 1,569 yards, ran for 438 more, and has compiled 19 total touchdowns. With that being said, Saturday’s showdown won’t be easy. Missouri boasts one of college football’s most intimidating defensive lines. The Tigers are allowing only 2.9 yards per carry, the fourth-lowest mark in the SEC.
Still, the Commodores will make an effort to generate big plays on the ground. Throughout the season, Mizzou has done a great job at containing opposing QBs. However, running backs have found some success against the Tigers in recent weeks. Look no further than last Saturday vs. Auburn, in which Jeremiah Cobb gained 111 rushing yards on 19 carries. The week prior, Alabama’s Jam Miller churned up 85 yards and a TD. Vanderbilt’s RB1, Sedrick Alexander, has reached the 40-yard threshold in five of his seven appearances. The junior’s only ‘quiet’ games have been blowouts. Assuming things stay competitive, Alexander should garner double-digit touches.
Kevin Coleman Jr. 54+ receiving yards (-120)
Much like Vandy, Mizzou’s preferred approach on offense is to pound the rock. Running back Ahmad Hardy leads the conference with 840 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. However, that strategy is no guarantee against a stingy defense. The Commodores have held opponents to 92.1 rushing yards per game, sixth-lowest in the SEC. Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula has been a mixed bag this season. He’s thrown for 1,617 yards and 11 touchdowns while coughing up seven interceptions. That includes an uninspiring two-pick performance last weekend vs. Auburn.
That’s not to say Missouri is incapable of throwing the ball downfield. It helps that the team rosters one of the nation’s top wideouts in Kevin Coleman Jr. This season, the senior ranks among the nation’s best in receptions (44) and receiving yards (449), albeit with only one touchdown. That last fact isn’t a shock; at 5’11”, KCJ isn’t exactly a red zone target. Regardless, the wideout should stay busy this week against the Commodores. Vanderbilt’s defense has surrendered a below-average mark of 6.9 yards per pass attempt. Coleman Jr., a big play threat, won’t need many catches to deliver on this player prop.
