The slate of SEC games is stacked in Week 8. Just in the league, there are 3 different games between teams ranked among the top 17 in the latest AP poll.
So, let’s take a look at each of those 3 and search for a DFS angle to attack.
Week 8 DFS predictions
Below are 3 DFS picks from the Week 8 college football slate that can all be found on Underdog Fantasy. If you’re new to Underdog, grab Saturday Down South‘s exclusive Underdog Fantasy promo code SDS that will help you earn $100 in bonus credits when you enter your first $5 contest!
Alabama QB Ty Simpson longest completion lower than 43.5 yards vs. Tennessee
Ty Simpson’s numbers on Underdog Fantasy are a little ridiculous, but his “longest completion” prop is entirely too high. While Tennessee has given up a ton of yardage through the air this season, the Vols have only given up 3 passes that gained at least 40 yards. Only 10.6% of Simpson’s attempts this season have gone at least 20 yards downfield, and his average depth of target has been under 9 yards in 4 of his 6 games this season.
Tennessee gets after opposing quarterbacks. In the Georgia game earlier this season, Gunner Stockton only attempted 9 passes beyond 10 yards downfield. Most of his attempts were short to avoid the heat the Vols were bringing. Stockton was blitzed on 41% of his dropbacks. Tennessee has to try and heat up Simpson, so longer developing routes might not be an option. Alabama should still move the football on this defense, but massive chunks at a time through the air haven’t been part of the equation for either side this season.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss higher than 250.5 passing yards at Georgia
Tennessee threw for 371 yards against this Georgia secondary. Alabama threw for 280 yards. Kentucky (!!!) threw for 225 yards. Since Trinidad Chambliss took over at quarterback for Ole Miss, he has thrown for at least 253 yards in every start. He cleared 300 in each of his first 3 starts. Chambliss has done it against good pass defenses and bad. Georgia is closer to bad, ranking 84th in EPA per dropback faced. Seeing as the Bulldogs don’t pressure the quarterback much — 8 sacks in 6 games — Chambliss should have time to take advantage of a soft secondary.
LSU RB Caden Durham lower than 60.5 rushing yards at Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt defense is weak against the pass but stout against the run. The Commodores allow just 3.2 yards per carry to opposing offenses this season. Alabama got its ground game going behind Jam Miller 2 weekends ago, but the Tide have an offensive line capable of blocking the run. LSU doesn’t. At least, it hasn’t shown any evidence of it through the first 6 games. The Tigers average 3.9 yards per run to rank 94th nationally. Only 12 FBS offenses average fewer rushing attempts per game.
LSU has been hesitant to commit to the run because, up until last week, it was a fruitless endeavor. Caden Durham has 1 game this season with more than 15 carries, and he only has 1 game this season with a per-carry rushing average over 5 yards. LSU could try and get its pass game operating more efficiently with the hope that opens things up for the ground, but in a lower-scoring ball game against a Vandy team that can really shorten the game, I don’t see a ton of opportunities for Durham here.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
