CFP Semifinals: 4 Player Props to Jump On
Notre Dame takes on Penn State and Texas travels 200 miles north to take on Ohio State with trips to the National Championship on the line. The Fighting Irish are looking for their 12th national championship and first since 1988, while Penn State has two claimed national titles - both in the ‘80s.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are favorites against the higher-seeded Texas Longhorns even with the game played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Will it be Quinn Ewers or Jeremiah Smith that leads their squad to the championship game?
TE Tyler Warren (PSU) OVER 5.5 Catches
Tyler Warren is the x-factor for this Penn State team. Warren paces the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns while continuing to serve as a key piece for the Nittany Lions offense during their two CFP games, including a 6-catch, 63-yard performance with two scores against Boise State on December 31st.
With this game projected as finishing as a tight matchup, Warren is the impact player that Drew Allar will go to early and late in this game. The Fighting Irish have allowed 270 yards per game over their last three and might play a softer coverage to start this game in order to allow everything in front of them, benefiting the great tight end.
QB Riley Leonard (ND) OVER 0.5 Rush TD
Riley Leonard has led Notre Dame to the semifinals through the air and with his legs. The ND quarterback has rushed 11 or more times in each of the last three games while scoring 15 rushing TDs this season.
In the red zone, he’s unafraid to take contact and is a confident rusher in traffic. Notre Dame should get a few goal-line opportunities and when they do, Leonard will be the one to rush it in.
RB Jaydon Blue (TEX) OVER 24.5 Rush Yards
Jaydon Blue had a quiet outing against Arizona State last week but still has value out of the Texas backfield. Against an Ohio State defense allowing 100 yards per game over their last three outings, I’m banking on Blue getting about ten touches in this one.
After torching the Clemson defense for 160+ yards and two scores, I believe Blue will see more touches in this game and reach the 25-yard mark on the ground for the 10th time this season.
WR Jeremiah Smith (OSU) OVER 30.5 Longest Reception
The standout freshman has been elite in his CFP debut. Smith has gone for nearly 300 total yards in his last two games while scoring four touchdowns in both of Ohio State’s massive wins.
His longest receptions in each of these games? 37 yards and 45 yards. A superstar won’t go quietly into the night in the most important game of his career thus far.
