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Saturday nights in college football are some of the most coveted time slots in televised sports. As a result, the most notable teams on major networks, especially stations like NBC and FOX, are stacked with prospective talent.
But not all games are productive in running up a fantasy score. Don't focus on the flashy names. Instead, keep your eye on last years' developing talent that is expedited to first string this season, and your DFS bank account will thank you for it.
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DraftKings CFB Lineup Picks - Tonight's College Football Games
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Texas State Bobcats @Florida State Seminoles
Florida State has gone the last 3 years undefeated, with the exception of the Rose Bowl against Oregon earlier this year. While primarily considered a testament to the skills of former quarterback Jameis Winston, you can attribute much of that success to the coaching staff and the receiving chapter. With former Notre Dame QB everett Golson ($8,500) leading the 'Noles, we can count on a successful season. Notre Dame ran an offense with lots of pro-style elements, but the quarterback was not allowed to check out of the play. FSU's offense will be a much better fit for Golson, and he will be able to even better utilize those beautiful, long, deep passes downfield. Tight End Ryan Izzo ($2,700) has big shoes to fill with Nick O'Leary gone to the NFL, but it is quite likely he will meet and possibly exceed all expectations this evening. Texas State QB Tyler Jones ($6,000) will be a great pick in cupcake games, but because FSU is the favorite this time around, it's improbable he will put up better numbers than Golson.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Wisconsin Badgers @Alabama Crimson Tide
Not to take shots at anyone, but Alabama has proved via former QB Blake Sims, who was not drafted and later was let go from the CFL, that you don't need to have an athletic QB to succeed. That being said, Wisconsin QB Joel Stave ($4,600) is a great economical pick, who will produce a little bit of momentum in your line-up and not put a big dent in the salary cap that will certainly be better spent on some of the talented running backs in tonight's scheduled games. That being said, RB Corey Clement ($7,200) is taking over the ship for Melvin Gordon, the second all-time leading rusher in FBS history. Wisconsin is renowned for their running game and have the offensive and defensive schemes to see that no other run-game in the league can compete with them. The only thing standing in Clement's way, will be that famous 'Bama defense, but it's unlikely another RB will do more to run up the score this evening. But don't count out Alabama RB Derrick Henry ($7,300), who probably broke more tackles last year than any other RB in College Football, and will be compensating for the loss of Amari Cooper and TJ Yeldon, who are gone to the NFL. Although Wisconsin, statistically, should be winning this one, Alabama always comes out on top... Except against Ohio State, apparently, when it counts the most.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Arkansas State Red Wolves @University of Southern California Trojans
Arkansas State's first 3 games of the year are teams they don't have regularly scheduled games with, so they might be off to a rough start. But don't let that throw you off in the future. WR Tres Houston ($5,600) is their most productive receiver and had some moments as fine as any last season. But the talents of USC wide receiver JuJu Smith ($8,400) will be tough to match. Also supplementing at WR for USC, who had more juniors drafted to the NFL than any other school this year, will be Steven Mitchell ($5,000), and we expect we'll see him looking pretty with the football. There is a tremendous amount of talent at the QB position in this match up, including USC's Cody Kessler ($9,000), and Red Wolves' Fredi Knighten ($7,700). Knighten averages about 18% more FPPG in the same number of games as Kessler, but what leaves us skeptical of his success in this match up is that USC is probably their most difficult match-up since Knighten became starter. USC has this covered.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Mississippi State Bulldogs @Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
You'll want to steer clear of Southern Mississippi in this match up, whose greatest asset is their defense and has seen fewer than five wins in two seasons, especially against a team like Mississippi State, who shut them out 49-0 last year. Speaking of the Bulldogs, QB Dak Prescott ($9,800) is back, and even with their strong schedule last year managed to rack up 32.6 FPPG. Additional, WR De'Runnya Wilson ($7,400), who caught nearly a third of Mississippi States' touchdown passes last season, will likely give you a run for your money, especially in this match up when the Southern Miss defense isn't one to bank on.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Akron Zips @Oklahoma Sooners
Akron is another team you'll want to feel out for a game or two before you draft anyone, with no standout recievers and a four-way quarterback controversy that was underway into fall camp. Make no mistake, they have a conquerable schedule considering their adequate coaching staff and they're a team you may consider taking cheaper picks from in some of the lesser ranked teams from last season, once you get to know the skills of the players. Not that the Oklahoma Sooners have been anything to phone home about, and it's mostly unclear where they started to come apart, but there are some prospects. RB Samaje Perine ($9,100) broke Melvin Gordon's single game rushing record the week after he set it. The Sooners have a new offensive coordinator, who is implementing an Air Raid offense and will use feature back, Perine, and generally will include 3-4 wide recievers who we expect will be equally, if not more, utilized with all of the run and shoot elements of their new set up. Oklahoma hasn't been in a slump for too long, and it's possible they've repaired any poorly functioning components of their attack plan in previous months, so we'll say the Sooners take the win.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Arizona State Sun Devils @Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M suffered from poor defense disease and slippery hands syndrome last season, but have made the appropriate changes in coaching staff to address it. WR Josh Reynolds ($7,500) was not only their primary success story last season, and set a school record with 13 recieving touchdowns and was the Offensive MVP last year. The Arizona Sun Devils are a little more stacked in terms of developed talent. WR DJ Foster ($8,100) has been converted from RB after wearing both hats last season, and is expected to be QB Mike Bercovici's ($8,400), who is coming into his first season as starter, biggest target. Arizona State has been going steady for some time, and they have nothing stopping them from meeting expectations this year. They'll beat A&M. Mercilessly.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns @Kentucky Wildcats
Louisiana RB Elijah McGuire is the best back in the Sun Belt, and at $6,600, he's a great investment considering the unpredictability of production in the position. WR Jamal Robinson ($5,500) was granted 5th year eligibility and is NFL size, NFL speed, and is recovered from last seasons injuries. As for Kentucky, this may finally be their season after a few consecutive successful recruiting years. Consider Tight End CJ Conrad ($2,300) who is new to first string but is as capable as any, and will inevitably see some action in the red zone.
DFS Picks for 9/5 - Texas Longhorns @Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is entering his 5th year at the program, and we may finally have all our ducks in a row. Dual threat, left handed QB Malik Zaire ($8,400) is accurate, strong and poised. It should be noted that RB Greg Bryant is no longer on the team, despite remaining an option for selection on fantasy sites. Notre Dame is currently notorious for their depth at WR, especially William Fuller ($8,200) and, newly converted from running back, WR CJ Procise, who wowed Irish fans at the spring game. TE Durham Smythe ($3,000) is entering his first year as starter, and given what Notre Dame does with tight ends as "Tight End University," we should count on some production there. As for Texas, it's safe to say that skepticism is the general feeling after the season had by QB Tyrone Swoopes ($7,200) after his unsuccessful season last year. Swoopes is listed as the starter for their first game back, and head coach Charlie Strong claims he has seen signifigant improvement in practices. With Notre Dame having the best defense and most projected defensive players to go in the first round in the NFL draft this year, I wouldn't go too crazy on Texas offensive selections in this match up. Notre Dame takes the win. Or you can have my next paycheck
