College football player prop: Cougar on the prowl

After eking out a 22-20 victory over No. 11 Oregon State last week, Washington vaulted fellow undefeated Florida State to move into the fourth position for the College Football Playoff. Now the Huskies close out their regular season by hosting the Apple Cup, their traditional rivalry game with Washington State. As these schools prepare to battle on the gridiron for the 115th time — and last as members of the same conference — a veteran on the visitors gets our backing for top prop:

The bet: Over 67½ receiving yards for Washington State wide receiver Lincoln Victor (DraftKings)

Born in Maui, Victor starred at quarterback as a Washington high schooler and was named the Player of the Year in 2018. He returned to Hawai'i to play for the state university, but limited opportunities over two seasons led him to transfer.

As a fifth-year senior, Victor has blossomed into a certified gamebreaker for the Cougars. He has caught 78 passes — triple his previous career best — for 772 yards and scored five touchdowns. Although an ankle injury caused him to miss some time, he’s averaging 86 receiving yards over his nine healthy games.

In a 38-24 loss to Oregon a month ago, Victor set a school record with 16 receptions and turned them into 161 yards. Washington State was a 20-point underdog that day, and with the Apple Cup line exceeding two touchdowns, quarterback Cameron Ward will relentlessly attack through the air to exploit Washington’s 13th-worst pass defense.

Playing his final game unless the Cougars can spring the upset, Victor figures to be a frequently productive target.