This article is part of our DFS College Football series.
Each week throughout the season I share my favorite college player props as part of our DFS College Football series. This week I highlight one prop from each of the opening round College Football Playoff games.
I find my edge with RotoWire's Picks & Props tool. Multiple prediction factors help decide if we should lean "higher" or "lower" on all of the player props available across multiple sportsbooks and DFS sites. I use the tool as a starting point to highlight favorable prop lines that I might otherwise miss and to narrow down my options before doing a deeper dive into trends and matchups.
Below are the best picks you can make on Underdog Fantasy this week.
QB Jake Retzlaff, Tulane 
Retzlaff has at least 194 yards in eight of the past nine games. Before that? He faced this Mississippi team and split time with backup Brendan Sullivan in a blowout loss. He completed a dismal 5 for 17 for just 56 yards.
Ole Miss ranks in the top 20 in passing defense, only allowing 182.6 pass yards per game. But that number is skewed down by matchups with lowly Georgia State and The Citadel. Retzlaff may not be efficient in this matchup, but I'll bet on his talent and on the passing volume that he'll get, as Tulane likely plays from behind.
CFB Underdog Pick: Jake Retzlaff HIGHER than 185.5 pass yards
QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M 
In 12 games this season, Reed had at least two touchdown passes in nine of them. Wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver were two of the most productive pass catchers in the country, both ranking top 50 in receiving yards. Halfway through the season, Ashton Bethel-Roman emerged as a strong third option for Reed, accumulating 373 yards and 5 TDs in the last six games.
Production may not come easy against Miami's 29th ranked passing defense, which only allowed 11 passing touchdowns all season, but Reed has the weapons to get there. In fact, A&M's best chance to move the ball is through the air, as Miami is even better against the run. The Hurricanes only allow 86.6 rush yards per game and notably held Notre Dame's superstar running back Jeremiyah Love to just 33 yards on 3.3 yards per carry early this season.
CFB Underdog Pick: Marcel Reed HIGHER than 1.5 passing TDs
RB Wayne Knight, James Madison 
Knight ran for at least 74 yards in 10 of the past 11 games. For JMU to keep this close, the Dukes will have to run the ball, control the clock and keep their defense fresh and off the field. Knight has at least 15 carries in each of the past four games, which is the kind of volume we'll need against a good Oregon defense. With two mobile quarterbacks, the Dukes should be able to test the defense in the run game overall.
This line is as high as 65.5 on other pick'em sites, so we're getting some added value on Underdog.
CFB Underdog Pick: Wayne Knight HIGHER than 63.5 rush yards
WR Isaiah Sategna, Oklahoma 
It's tough to bet against Sategna, who emerged as the star playmaker in Oklahoma's offense early this season. He has topped this number in eight of the past 10 games.
But one of the few games that he did not get there was the earlier matchup with Alabama, when he only managed 26 yards despite getting a solid six targets. Bama ranks sixth in passing yards allowed. Only Tennessee's Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzell and Auburn's Malcolm Simmons have topped this number against the Crimson Tide, while most of the other top pass catchers of the SEC could only tally about 50 yards.
I have this pick locked in already. However, other DFS sites have this number as high as 69.5, so it could be worth waiting for a better number right before kickoff. It has already moved up two points overnight.
CFB Underdog Pick: Isaiah Sategna LOWER than 67.5 receiving yards
College Football Playoff Underdog Fantasy Selections:
Here's a recap of my best college football player prop bets for the first round of the CFP:
- Jake Retzlaff higher than 185.5 pass yards
- Marcel Reed higher than 1.5 passing TDs
- Wayne Knight higher than 63.5 rush yards
- Isaiah Sategna lower than 67.5 receiving yards
Last week's results:
- Ty Simpson higher than 245.5 pass yards - LOSS
- Anthony Colandrea higher than 237.5 pass yards - LOSS
- J'Mari Taylor higher than 90.5 rush yards - LOSS
- Reggie Virgil higher than 43.5 receiving yards - WIN
Last week's record: 1-3
2025 Season record: 33-25 (56.9%)
For additional recommendations for Underdog, PrizePicks and other similar sites, check out our College Football Picks page or download the RotoWire Picks app.
For more fantasy college football content, be sure to check out features like our college football injury report, college football depth charts and latest college football news.
The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.
