College Football Playoff spots are on the line this weekend in the Big 12 Championship Game. #11 BYU needs a win to secure its spot in the CFP, while #4 Texas Tech is hoping for a bye. When these two teams met last month, the Red Raiders dominated en route to a 29-7 victory. Now, the Cougars will hope to even things up in Dallas.
Which players will step up for their squad in this pivotal conference championship? These are the top prop bets to consider at DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s contest between the BYU Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Texas Tech enters this contest as 12.5-point favorites (-110) over BYU, with the over/under set at 49.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
BYU vs. Texas Tech best prop bets
Cameron Dickey 80+ rushing yards (-135)
Texas Tech currently ranks as the nation’s third-highest scoring offense. That’s due to a balance of passing and rushing excellence. However, make no mistake: Cameron Dickey is the engine that keeps the Red Raiders going. This season, the running back has churned out 1,023 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns. The sophomore has been remarkably consistent, gaining at least 65 yards in nine of his 12 appearances. Tech ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 481 rush attempts.
Another productive day should be in store for Dickey on Saturday. The Red Raiders would love nothing more than to move the ball and drain clock at the same time. When these programs met last month, Texas Tech ran the ball 43 times for 149 yards. BYU’s defense, while stout, isn’t impenetrable. The Cougars have surrendered 150+ rushing yards to five different conference opponents this season. In all of those games, BYU actually won; in other words, game script wasn’t a major factor. Keeping that in mind, Dickey appears poised for another terrific stat line on Saturday.
LJ Martin 21+ receiving yards (-111)
Texas Tech isn’t the only team coming into this matchup with a superstar running back. LJ Martin leads the Big 12 with 217 carries and 1,229 rushing yards. In addition, he’s found the end zone 11 different times. That level of usage has made the junior one of the safest bets in all of college football. Granted, that doesn’t mean he’s impossible to stop. The Red Raiders held Martin to 64 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches during their previous meeting.
Texas Tech has held opponents to a meager 2.3 yards per rush attempt, best in the conference. However, the Cougars need to get Martin involved if they hope to keep things close on Saturday. One way to do so might be through the air, as a way to support freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Martin has recorded at least 21 receiving yards in half of his outings this season. That includes his appearance against the Red Raiders. Look for BYU to give their top weapon every opportunity to contribute this weekend.
