Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

King of Props: Ott to be good

By John Dudley | Last updated 10/15/22

In the Pac-12, a conference whose name actually reflects the current number of member schools, there’s little question about which football team is 12th. Colorado owns an 0-5 record this season, having lost its games by an average score of 43-13. The Buffaloes are two-touchdown home ’dogs to the Golden Bears of Cal, and our animal instinct is to back a visiting player for our top prop:

The bet: Over 97½ rushing yards for Cal running back Jaydn Ott (DraftKings)

Even more definitive than Colorado’s conference standing is its spot as the poorest run defense in the FBS. The Buffs allow an atrocious 294 rushing yards per game, which is 40 yards more than the next-worst team (Charlotte).

Onto Folsom Field strides Ott, a true freshman who ranks sixth in the country with 7.3 rushing yards per attempt. Three weeks ago, he roughly doubled that average in gashing Arizona for 274 yards on 19 carries, breaking a pair of TD runs from more than 70 yards out to open and close the scoring of a 49-31 victory.

A subsequent 28-9 loss to Washington State saw Ott limited to 70 yards by a stingy run defense and a negative game script. But now he faces the ideal opponent, his team will likely have the lead, and his legs are fresh following a bye.

Once he gets loose, Ott will not be caught.

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