The college football season enters Week 4 with marquee weekend matchups and CFB DFS contests on deck. DraftKings’ Saturday main slate kicks off at noon ET and features 10 games:
- Georgia (-14.5) at Missouri, Over/Under: 64.5 – noon ET
- Boston College (-6.5) at Purdue, Over/Under: 66.5 – noon ET
- Notre Dame (-7.5) at Wake Forest, Over/Under: 60.5 – noon ET
- Nebraska at Michigan (-17.5), Over/Under: 50.5 – noon ET
- Pittsburgh (-3) at North Carolina, Over/Under: 48.5 – 12:20 pm ET
- Texas A&M at Alabama (-26), Over/Under: 61 – 3:30 pm ET
- Kansas at Baylor (-7.5), Over/Under: 55.5 – 3:30 pm ET
- Kansas State at West Virginia (-16), Over/Under: 60.5 – 3:30 pm ET
- Clemson (-16.5) at Georgia Tech, Over/Under: 51.5 – 3:30 pm ET
- Tulane at Ohio State (-37), Over/Under: 69 – 3:30 pm ET
Check out The Action Network’s Live Odds page for line updates. See our main slate cheat sheet here.
Game of the Slate: Boston College (-6.5) at Purdue
Boston College’s offense centers on star sophomore running back A.J. Dillon and dynamic quarterback Anthony Brown. The Eagles are a physical running team that will seek to punish Purdue with its size and toughness. They rank eighth in the country in rushing yards per game (285.7).
Purdue counters Boston College’s physicality with big-play ability. Head coach Jeff Brohm has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the long ball this offseason, and the Boilermakers are connecting. Last week, QB David Blough took hold of Purdue’s quarterback job by throwing for 572 yards against Missouri.
This game comes down to a battle of offensive philosophies and offers excellent game-stacking potential due to a compelling game script and the second-highest point total on the slate.
Quarterbacks
Will Grier (West Virginia): $10,500 DraftKings; $10,600 FanDuel
Grier has thrown for 761 yards and nine touchdowns through two games, easily replicating his 2017 level of production. He has averaged an impressive 35.57 DraftKings points per game to begin his 2018 campaign. Grier is blessed with two of the top receivers in the country in Gary Jennings Jr. and David Sills V, and West Virginia plays to his strong suits. The Mountaineers are a pass-heavy team, ranking fifth in the country in passing offense and 10th in total offense. This week, Grier & Co. face off against a middling Kansas State team and are implied for more than five touchdowns, most (if not all) of which should belong to Grier.
Drew Lock (Missouri): $7,800 DraftKings; $10,500 FanDuel
After his impressive junior season, Lock has been on a war path in 2018 to prove he is no one-year wonder. Through three games, he’s thrown for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding two more touchdowns rushing. During that span, he’s averaged 36.03 DraftKings points per game. However, he hasn’t yet faced a defense as stingy and physically imposing as the Georgia Bulldogs. Still, even if Georgia’s defense forces a subpar performance from Lock, DraftKings has discounted him enough to offset a decline in production. In an average matchup, Lock is a $10K+ player, and he offers upside this week due to his price point and potentially lower ownership.
Skylar Thompson (Kansas State): $5,500 DraftKings; $8,100 FanDuel
At the bottom of the QB tier, I would prefer Adrian Martinez of Nebraska, but he is questionable against Michigan with a knee injury. Given his uncertainty to start, or to play at full strength, I looked for an arbitrage option and landed on Thompson.
He is not a polished passing quarterback but offers crucial rushing upside for the Wildcats. Through three games, despite splitting time with Alex Delton, Thompson has rushed 37 times for 158 yards. Though I don’t necessarily recommend punting quarterback in this slate, Thompson is likely the best budget option available south of $6K.
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Running Backs
A.J. Dillon (Boston College): $9,000 DraftKings; $9,800 FanDuel
Dillon is undeniably one of the best running backs in college football. He’s a hefty 245 pounds, with ample strength and surprising breakaway speed for his size. It’s no wonder Boston College fed him 300 carries last season as a true freshman. In 2017, he earned a 300-1589-14 rushing line, and he’s already on pace to improve on that rushing total this season. Despite limited action in multiple games, Dillon has amassed a 59-432-4 rushing line, capped by a 185-yard performance against Wake Forest last week. In a DFS slate without many bell-cow running backs, he stands alone in the top tier of high-volume rushers.
Pooka Williams Jr. (Kansas): $5,700 DraftKings; N/A FanDuel
After missing the Jayhawks’ opening game due to undisclosed eligibility issues, Williams has taken college football by storm the past two weeks. In those two games, Williams has rushed 32 times for 283 yards and three touchdowns, and he now leads the Big 12 in rushing. He rushed for more than 100 yards and at least one touchdown in each game he has played and is averaging an impressive 8.8 yards per carry. Per Pro Football Focus, Williams is the nation’s highest-ranked running back this season — as a true freshman.
Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M): $4,800 DraftKings; $8,600 FanDuel
Williams is a risky play this week against a relentless Alabama defense, but his salary is discounted so substantially that he’s worth roster consideration. He’s been incredibly productive so far this season, posting a 59-399-4 rushing line through three games. Given his rushing volume and his low price point, he may be worth a flier in guaranteed prize pool tournaments.
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Wide Receivers
Greg Dortch (Wake Forest): $7,900 DraftKings; $9,400 FanDuel
Dortch was one of college football’s most electrifying players last season, and he has not disappointed thus far as a sophomore. Through three games, he has caught 28 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown. Even among the top wide receivers in this slate, his 28 receptions dramatically eclipse other receiving options in his salary tier. Moreover, Dortch serves as the Demon Deacons’ kick and punt returner, and he has already returned two punts for touchdowns this season. Given his receiving volume, special teams upside and touchdown pedigree, Dortch is an excellent top-tier play this week.
Rondale Moore (Purdue): $6,900 DraftKings; $9,500 FanDuel
As a true freshman — and despite not drawing a single start this season — Moore has put up one of the most impressive stat lines in the country. He has earned a 25-262-2 receiving line while also rushing four times for 128 yards and a touchdown. Moore is shifty and versatile with elite straight-line speed for the Boilermakers. He is without a doubt Purdue’s top offensive weapon, and he is severely underpriced in DraftKings’ Saturday slate.
Darnell Mooney (Tulane): $4,400 DraftKings; $7,400 FanDuel
Tulane may be a triple-option offense, but the Green Wave throw the football far more than you might think. And Mooney is their top receiver, having caught 18 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns this season. Tulane is a 37-point road underdog against Ohio State, which may encourage the Green Wave to take more risks in the passing game with QB Jonathan Banks. At $4,400, Mooney offers upside in guaranteed prize pools, but he is dependent on game flow. Consider fading him in cash games.
DFS Stacks
Missouri
Against the elite Bulldogs defense, Missouri should lean on its star quarterback in a pass-heavy game script.
- QB Lock
- WR Emanuel Hall
- WR Johnathon Johnson
- WR Albert Okwuegbunam
Purdue
The Boilermakers will use the long ball to apply pressure in this game, potentially leading to big plays and hefty passing yardage.
- QB Blough
- WR Moore
- WR Jared Sparks
- WR Brycen Hopkins
Wake Forest
Notre Dame possesses one of the best run defenses in the country. The Fighting Irish should challenge Wake Forest to pass, and the Demon Deacons should game-plan to feature their shifty receivers in space.
- QB Sam Hartman
- WR Dortch
- WR Sage Surratt
Photo Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports
Pictured Above: Rondale Moore
