This week marks the beginning of the second iteration of the 12 team College Football Playoff. One of the most exciting and unique things about the new playoff format is the on-campus games we get in the first round. You can count on the campuses being rowdy, and we will be sure to see some great football. The first-round features four games, and we will look into the quarterback battles of the first two games here. Starting things off, we will see a rematch from earlier in the season between Alabama and Oklahoma on Friday night at 8 PM ET. The next day, we will see the Miami Hurricanes face off against the Texas A&M Aggies at 12 PM ET. We will see some fantastic quarterbacks in these games, so let’s see what props we can get in these respective matchups.

Alabama Crimson Tide (9) at. Oklahoma Sooners (8)

Ty Simpson:

  • Props
    • Passing Yards: 240.5 (over -114; under -114)
    • Passing TD’s: 1.5 (over +132; under -178)
    • Rushing Yards: 2.5 (over -114; under -114)

Alabama had an underwhelming regular season by their standards but still find themselves with an opportunity to erase that in a run for the national championship. Ty Simpson had a decent year, averaging 251.3 yards per game through the air, with 2 passing touchdowns per game, and 7.5 rushing yards per game. In the first game between these two, we saw Simpson throw for 326 yards with 1 passing touchdown, and -9 rushing yards. The Oklahoma defense is stout as well, allowing just 206.5 passing yards per game (44th in FBS), along with only 78.2 rushing yards per game (3rd in FBS).

These are certainly some sharp lines for Simpson, though he has covered the passing yards in all but two away games this year. With that said, he has been a little iffy of late, so I would either take the under on passing yards or not play it at all. For the passing touchdowns, I would lean towards the over, as the Tide will need his arm in the red zone. The rushing yards being set at 2.5 feels like a trap, so I’m avoiding that as well.

John Mateer:

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  • Props
    • Passing Yards: 197.5 (over -114; under -114)
    • Passing TD’s: 1.5 (over +188; under -260)
    • Rushing Yards: 34.5 (over -114; under -114)

The Oklahoma Sooners have been in some tightly contested games closing out the season, but have managed them well, setting themselves up for the College Football Playoff. Quarterback John Mateer had his most passing yards since Week 1 in the final week of the season against LSU, though it did come with three interceptions. He still had a fairly good year, averaging 234.3 yards per game passing, along with one touchdown per game, and 37.8 rushing yards per game. Mateer threw for 138 yards, zero passing touchdowns, and ran for 23 yards in the first go-around against the Crimson Tide. Alabama is really good against the pass, allowing just 169.2 yards per game (9th in FBS). Against the run, they aren’t quite as good, allowing 135 yards per game (41st in FBS).

This time, Mateer will have a home crowd to back him, which will certainly play in his favor. Given how inconsistent he has been as a passer, I would avoid or even take the under on both passing projections. As for the rushing yards, I would go over.

Miami Hurricanes (10) at. Texas A&M Aggies (7)

Carson Beck:

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  • Props
    • Passing Yards: 235.5 (over -114; under -114)
    • Passing TD’s: 1.5 (over -118; under -112)

Carson Beck and the Miami Hurricanes carry the burden of being the only ACC team in the College Football Playoff this season. Beck and the Canes started off the season strong but faltered in the middle. He still put together a strong campaign, averaging 256 passing yards per game, along with two passing touchdowns per game. Texas A&M has a strong pass defense, allowing 195.2 passing yards per game (25th in FBS). Beck has surpassed both passing projections in every away game this season, though the Aggies pose the greatest threat they’ve seen in quite some time. Both teams will have their hands full, but I think Beck will have a strong enough day to surpass both passing projections.

Marcell Reed:

  • Props
    • Passing Yards: 224.5 (over -114; under -114)
    • Passing TD’s: 1.5 (over -106; under -125)
    • Rushing Yards: 28.5 (over -114; under -114)

Texas A&M was a pleasant surprise in the SEC this year, and the Aggie faithful certainly have to be happy about having a home game in this year’s College Football Playoff. Marcell Reed played a large role in getting this team to where they are. On the year, he averaged 244.3 passing yards per game, two passing touchdowns per game, and 38.3 rushing yards per game. He will be going up against a Hurricanes defense that allows 199.3 passing yards per game (30th in FBS), and 86.4 rushing yards per game (7th in FBS). Reed hasn’t been a bad passer by any means this year, but I think he can be more reliable when he utilizes his feet as well. For that reason, I would lean toward the under on passing yards, though I would favor the over on passing touchdowns and rushing yards.