Week 4 of the college football season is here.
This is one of the most loaded slates of the entire season, featuring multiple top-25 games from the SEC and Big Ten.
Every time slot has a game that could impact the College Football Playoff rankings come November. Given the stakes of the weekend, all 3 of today’s DFS pick ’em predictions will focus on a top-25 game.
Week 4 DFS picks
All picks via Underdog:
JJ Buchanan higher than 58.5 receiving yards
JJ Buchanan’s breakout moment was his game-winning TD catch against Western Michigan in Week 1, but he’s having a great season overall. Buchanan is averaging over 80 yards per game and is one of the highest-usage pass catchers in the entire country. His target share is why I’d back him to clear 59+ yards against the Hawkeyes — he has 24 targets already this season and has converted them efficiently. I expect that trend will continue against Iowa.
RELATED: Looking for the best DFS apps? Check out SDS’s Underdog review.
DeSean Bishop lower than 81.5 rushing yards
I think Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop is a really good player and certainly will get enough volume in most games to clear this projection, but I think it’s too high in this case. Bishop has virtually no history of rushing for 80+ yards against elite defenses. He did it 4 times in SEC games last season, but only once (against Vanderbilt) did he accomplish that feat against a defense that finished the year ranked in the top 35 in rushing defense. I think the Longhorns will be able to keep Bishop from having a huge game.
Kamario Taylor lower than 254.5 passing yards
I think this is a moment to sell high on Kamario Taylor given how good he’s been over the last few weeks. The Mississippi State star looks like a future potential No. 1 overall pick and seems to be getting better with each passing week, but this number looks inflated to me. Taylor has only averaged 24 pass attempts per game against P4 opposition this season as Mississippi State has focused its running game with Fluff Bothwell on early downs. Maybe Taylor averages 10+ yards per attempt again, but I doubt it — Mizzou enters this game ranked 31st nationally in opponent-adjusted EPA-per-play allowed. Its secondary has been especially impressive, albeit against lesser competition. But with this line set where it is, Mizzou’s defense has a very manageable bar to clear.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
