A playoff spot hangs in the balance this weekend when Duke takes on Virginia. Neither of these schools are college football powerhouses. However, both squads are capable of putting up points in a hurry. That means fans and bettors alike should expect some fireworks in Charlotte.
Which players will help their side earn a conference championship? These are the top prop bets to consider at DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s contest between the Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers.
Virginia enters this contest as four-point favorites (-112) over Duke, with the over/under set at 57.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Duke vs. Virginia best prop bets
Darian Mensah 260+ passing yards (-112)
Few players in the country are as important to their team’s success as Darian Mensah. The sophomore has been a revelation in Durham, throwing for 3,450 yards and 28 touchdowns, both best in the ACC. However, the quarterback has only coughed up four interceptions so far. He’s a known deep ball specialist as well, pacing the conference with 9.03 adjusted yards per pass attempts. Add it all up, and you have a signal caller that can exploit almost any defense.
Granted, when these two squads met last month, Mensah only accounted for 213 passing yards. That was the QB’s second-lowest passing total of the season. With that being said, the odds are against another letdown performance. Mensah has tallied at least 260 passing yards in nine of his 12 outings so far. In addition, Virginia excels at limiting opponents on the ground. On the flip side, Duke ranks tenth of 17 teams in the ACC with 132.1 rushing yards per game. If Blue Devils don’t find early success through the air, Virginia will likely race out to a first half lead. In either scenario, Mensah will be forced to throw the ball early and often.
J’Mari Taylor 3+ receptions (-134)
UVA’s offense is all about dominating the line of scrimmage. That’s primarily due to the excellent play of running back J’Mari Taylor. Through 12 games, the senior has notched an ACC-leading 997 rushing yards per game. To top it off, he’s produced 14 touchdowns. That level of production, combined with a consistent workload, has made the superstar a go-to option for the Cavaliers. Look no further than the last time these two schools met on November 15th. During that matchup, the rusher gained 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Taylor’s current rushing total is set at 91 yards this weekend. That’s not insurmountable, but it’s a tad too high for my liking. Instead, a safer way to bet on him might be as a receiver. In eight of his 12 games this season, the speedster has snagged at least three catches. If Duke’s defense makes a stronger effort up front, the Cavaliers may need to mix up their game plan. Still, any alteration should still involve the team’s top weapon. Even if Taylor reaches the century mark on the ground, he should still chip in as a pass catcher.
