#2 Indiana has looked unstoppable this season, dominating opponents on both sides of the ball. The opposite is true for Penn State, still searching for its first conference win. If the Nittany Lions are going to pull off an upset, they’ll need their biggest names to step up. The same is true for the Hoosiers, one of college football’s most lethal offensive units.
These are the top college football player props to consider at DraftKings Sportsbook for Week 11’s matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Indiana enters this contest as 14.5-point favorites over Penn State, with the over/under set at 48.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Indiana vs. Penn State best prop bets
Kaytron Allen 70+ rushing yards (-113)
Drew Allar’s season is over due to an ankle injury. That’s left Penn State without its top quarterback, and an extremely limited passing game. Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer has struggled throwing three interceptions and zero touchdowns over the past two weeks. If the Nittany Lions are going to find any success on offense, it’ll need to be on the ground. Fortunately for PSU fans, the team rosters one of the nation’s most talented running backs in Kaytron Allen. Through eight games, the senior has recorded 688 rushing yards and ten touchdowns.
Granted, every team talks about running the ball. Actually putting it to practice is a whole different story. Indiana has been terrific in the trenches, holding opponents to just 3.09 yards per carry. Still, Allen secured 21 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown during last week’s 38-14 blowout at Ohio State. In what should be a closer game (at home), a similar workload is more than possible. If Penn State wants to make things competitive, it’ll need to keep feeding its most talented player.
Kaelon Black anytime touchdown scorer (+110)
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza gets most of the praise for Indiana, and for good reason. However, this offense is more than just throwing the ball deep. On the ground, IU has leaned on the running back duo of Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. Together, the pair have accumulated 1,220 combined rushing yards and nine touchdowns. The former has led the way with 125 total carries, compared to the latter’s 96. Still, Black has averaged an efficient 6.4 yards per rush attempt.
Penn State’s biggest issues have come on offense. The team’s defense remains strong, albeit more vulnerable in recent weeks. Opposing squads have found some success on the ground, gaining 4.18 yards per carry against the Nittany Lions. In addition, PSU has surrendered eight rushing touchdowns over its previous four outings. Expect Indiana’s opportunistic offense to take advantage. Hemby will get his share of chances at reaching the end zone. However, the same is true for Black, especially if the Hoosiers pull ahead late. In a cold weather Big Ten clash, IU may prioritize time of possession rather than big plays. If that’s the case, Black should get a few chances to notch a TD.
