Two traditional southern powers will collide in Week 1 as the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes Benz Stadium. With plenty of talent on the field, there are lots of targets to choose from in the player props market.
My free college football picks will be looking at some of the biggest stars in the game, including bets on both starting quarterbacks for Clemson vs. Georgia on Saturday, August 31.
Clemson vs Georgia props
- Klubnik Under 186.5 passing yards (-115 at BetMGM)
- Lovett anytime TD (+135 at BetMGM)
- Beck Over 1.5 passing TDs (-115 at BetMGM)
Picks made on 8-30.
Read full analysis of each pick.
College football player props
Prop bet #1: Cade Klubnik Under 186.5 passing yards
The Georgia Bulldogs have become the gold standard in college football over the past few years, so it’s trivial to say that they’re good in every facet of the game.
The Bulldogs have been especially impressive on defense, holding opponents to just 15.6 points per game last year, with opposing quarterbacks averaging only 175.4 yards per game through the air.
That’s the kind of defense that Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik will have to deal with on Saturday. Klubnik was held under 170 yards passing on four occasions last year, and none of those defenses can truly stack up against a Georgia team that won’t let him push the ball down the field, even if Clemson falls behind.
Klubnik averaged 6.3 yards per attempt last year, and Georgia allowed less than 5.8 yards per attempt by opposing quarterbacks. Taking the Under is the smart play ahead of this Week 1 clash.
Prop bet #2: Dominic Lovett anytime touchdown
Dominic Lovett has never been the primary target in the passing game during his college career. He scored just three receiving touchdowns in two years with the Missouri Tigers and bumped that number up only slightly to four with Georgia last season.
Now a senior, Lovett looks to be a more prominent target for the Bulldogs in 2024. He also comes into this game as a significant matchup threat for Clemson, which likes to pressure quarterbacks and play a lot of man-to-man coverage.
That favors Lovett, who figures to be taking most of his snaps out of the slot. He should get plenty of looks from Carson Beck, who may need to fire the ball quickly at times, with Lovett being one of his first reads.
That’s not to mention the fact that Lovett is a reliable veteran presence, who Beck and the Georgia coaching staff will likely turn to for big plays, key conversions, and goal-line situations. Add all those factors up, and Lovett is a great choice to score a touchdown on Saturday.
Prop bet #3: Carson Beck Over 1.5 passing touchdowns
Carson Beck comes into his senior year trailing only Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in the Heisman Trophy odds. That puts a lot of pressure on the young man, who also faces internal expectations to lead the Bulldogs to a national title as a starter before he declares for the NFL.
However, Beck has the potential to accomplish both of those goals. He finished last year throwing for 3,941 yards and completing 72.4% of his passing, tossing 24 touchdowns in 14 games. Beck was one of the most prolific and efficient quarterbacks in the nation last year, and if he can build on that success, the Bulldogs QB could be one of this season's most dangerous weapons in college football.
Beck was consistent down the stretch as well. In his last seven games, he threw for at least two touchdowns on five occasions against SEC defenses that ranged from solid to outstanding. He's also been held without a TD pass just once in his last 11 starts, coming against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship.
Beck will be looking to make his Heisman case early on, and facing a high-profile opponent should keep the game close enough for him to throw meaningful passes deep into the second half.
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