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King of Props: Familiarity breeds passing attempts

By John Dudley | Last updated Sep 17, 2022 10:26 AM ET

The transfer portal has made it much easier for a college football coach to assemble talent and put a winning product on the field. When Kalen DeBoer got the Washington job in late November 2021, he inherited a team that had gone 4-8 in the just-concluded season. But as the former offensive coordinator at Indiana, he knew exactly the quarterback to spark a resurgence in Seattle — and we’re counting on that player to deliver our top prop:

The bet: Over 272½ passing yards for Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (DraftKings)

In leading the Huskies to a 2-0 start, Penix has thrown for 345 yards against Kent State and 337 yards against Portland State. Granted, the “state” of competition gets tougher with No. 11 Michigan State in town, but that just means he’ll still be passing in the fourth quarter instead of watching his backup.

Having starred in the Big Ten at Indiana, Penix is familiar with the Spartans and has exceeded this number in each of his two career games against them. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he threw for 286 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) in a 40-31 loss. The next year, he directed a 24-0 shutout by throwing for 320 yards and two scores.

That performance was followed by a 491-yard effort in a loss to Ohio State, which shows the kind of ceiling that Penix has. He should shine against a pass defense that allowed a whopping 325 yards per game last season.

John Dudley

A longtime writer and sports bettor, John Dudley has been dubbed the “King of Props” for his proficiency with proposition wagers. Research is the key that routinely unlocks success, and his selections are always backed by sound reasoning. John can be followed on Twitter @JohnDudley85

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