Tennessee will take on Ohio State in an SEC vs. Big Ten battle in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Here are the best player props to consider for the matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ohio State hosts Tennessee in the 8 vs. 9 matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State had a really disappointing end to their season, losing to Michigan and missing out on the Big Ten Championship Game. They will need to reorganize quickly and put forward their best effort against this Tennessee team. These are two of the top four defenses in college football in adjusted EPA/play so it will take a couple of special plays from individual offensive players to make a difference for their team. These are two players that could be that spark for their respective teams.
Dylan Sampson Anytime Touchdown (-135)
Dylan Sampson has been one of the best running backs in the country this season. Sampson ranks 8th in the country in rushing yards and 4th in rushing touchdowns. QB Nico Iamaleava is a great young talent but he has struggled to consistently put up numbers every week. It has been Sampson who has carried this Tennessee offense. The Volunteers’ defense is one of the best in the country so on offense, they like to control the clock and control the game.
The Ohio State defense is one of the best in the country as well. That being said, they are slightly more vulnerable to the run than the pass. Ohio State ranks 3rd in defensive EPA/pass and 18th in defensive EPA/rush. The Volunteers should attack them on the ground and try to control the time of possession to keep the crowd out of the game. Sampson will also be the go-to guy in the red zone for Tennessee. He has 22 touchdowns in 12 games this season and has scored at least one touchdown in 11 of those 12 games. Sampson should find the end zone against Ohio State as well.
Carnell Tate 50+ Receiving Yards (-110)
The Ohio State wide receiver group is one of the best in the nation. Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate make up the main trio for the Buckeyes and on any given week, one of them can have a monster game. That being said, it is Carnell Tate who has been the most consistent weapon for Will Howard over the past few weeks. He has not put up gaudy numbers like Smith and Egbuka have at points this season, but also incredibly rarely has a down week.
Tate had 50 or more receiving yards in each of his final four games of the regular season. Overall, he has 50+ receiving yards in 8 out of 12 games this season. Smith and Egbuka often draw a lot of the defensive attention and that leaves Tate in single coverage where he is better than the cornerback trying to cover him. Tennessee has an elite defense but they have been a bit better against the run than the pass. They rank 1st in the nation in defensive rushing success rate but 46th in defensive passing success rate. Ohio State should try to move the ball methodically through the air and Tate will rack up the yardage and get over this number for the fifth straight game.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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