College Football DFS: Saturday Night Slate, Week 9

SLATE OVERVIEW

Auburn (-2) vs. Mississippi O/U: 66

Oregon State (-1.5) @ California O/U: 55

Mississippi State (-1) vs. Kentucky O/U: 47

Oklahoma State (-30) vs. Kansas O/U: 55

SMU (-1) @ Houston O/U: 62

N.C. State (-6.5) vs. Louisville O/U: 57

Notre Dame (-3) vs. North Carolina O/U: 62

Ohio State (-18.5) vs. Penn State O/U: 61

Boise State (-2.5) @ Colorado State O/U: 51.5 (FANDUEL ONLY)

USC (-21) vs. Arizona O/U: 56.5 (FANDUEL ONLY)

WEATHER 

Penn State/Ohio State: 11% chance of rain, 53 degrees

Arizona/USC: Small chance of rain, 13 MPH winds

QUARTERBACK

Since paying up at running back is of paramount importance on this slate, I'm sliding past big-ticket guys like Matt Corral in search of some signal-callers who can save us some coin.  We'll begin with one elite player, however.

Sam Howell, UNC (DK $8,300, FD $10,500) @ Notre Dame

The Irish's defense has been much improved over the last couple of weeks, and they're capable of bottling up the Tar Heel rushing attack, which will put all the pressure on Howell to step up. UNC can't seem to string two good games together, but they know how to score, putting up over 50 points in two recent games. That's primarily due to Howell, who is still one of the better signal-callers in the nation despite some struggles. Despite a downtick from last year, he's still pretty darn good, completing 61 percent of his passes on the way to a TD/INT ratio of 18:6. He's also rushed for 494 yards and scored five touchdowns with his feet over seven games.

Devin Leary, N.C. State (DK $7,400, FD $8,700) vs. Louisville

The Wolfpack are excellent against the run, which is a crucial advantage against a Louisville team that lives and dies by their ground game. Leary pilots one of the most consistent air assaults in the country, but he will also rely on the run to be genuinely effective. When the Wolf Pack have failed to open up the passing game with a threat to run the ball, they've lost. So, Leary needs his offensive line to help the running backs find the seams. Leary is still freakishly good with or without help from the ground game. He's deadly accurate (65.6 percent) and has a brilliant 17:2 TD/INT ratio, one of the best in the conference.

Bo Nix, Auburn (DK $7,000, FD $8,900) vs, Mississippi

I'll admit it - I have some unexplainable bias about Nix. Perhaps it's because he burned me many times early in his career, but I have to look at the recent numbers and give him a run in this game. It's guaranteed to be a high-scoring shootout, and Nix can get the job done through the air as well as on the ground. Ole Miss' defense is fine but nothing to write home about, and they've allowed an average of 241 passing yards per game against some less-than-solid competition. Still, the outcome of this game hinges on which Bo Nix we'll see Saturday. I think he will rise to the occasion and not be the bo Nix who was unceremoniously pulled against Georgia State.

Also consider: Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State (DK $6,600, FD $9,500), Will Rogers Mississippi State (DK $6,900, FD $8,000) vs. Kentucky

RUNNING BACK

Jaylen Warren, Oklahoma State (DK $7,400, FD $10,500) vs. Kansas

I like this play on DraftKings, but Warren's salary on FanDuel is a little inflated. The Jayhawks' run defense is dreadful, and Warren is the Cowboys' top offensive weapon. When you're playing a defense that allows an average of 246 yards per game to opposing running backs, you can start pretty much anybody with confidence, but Warren is a singular talent who can exploit the lopsided metric. He's my top pick at running back today.

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (DK $8,000, FD $10,100) vs. Penn State

I expect Henderson to perform well in this heated rivalry game. When you think about the Nittany Lions, you think about good defenses.  While that is true for their passing defense, their ability to stop the run has been surprisingly pedestrian.  They're allowing an average of 160 yards per game against the run, which is good news all around for The Buckeyes.  Employing Henderson should also open up the passing game, but C.J. Stroud will undoubtedly hand the ball off to Henderson as much as possible along the way.

Kyren Williams, Notre Dame (DK $6,900, FD $9,300) vs. UNC

Again, this is one of those favorable salaries for DraftKings, but not so true for FanDuel. While watching last week's game against USC, I was impressed with Williams' ability to rack up yards after contact. The game was his best of the season, and I think it signals an upward trend for a guy who should have been putting up superlative numbers all along. UNC's defense is suspect at best, and while they know to key on Williams now, the talented back will find a way to discover open lanes.

Tre Siggers, SMU (DK $5,100, FD $8,300) @ Houston

Tre who, you say? The Mustangs are shutting Ulysses Bentley down due to injury, and it's Siggers who is taking the reins. He performed very well in his first shot at the gig with 81 yards and two touchdowns against Tulane. He's probably no longer a secret, so his rostership might be high, but the price will certainly help you to stay under the salary cap.

B.J. Baylor, Oregon State (DK $6,700, FD $9,200) @ California

Before I say anything about Baylor, I am compelled to also include Deshaun Fenwick (DK $4,200, FD $5,800) into the conversation as a value add. He's spelled Baylor often, and you'll also see him as the back on third down. There's no denying Baylor's value, and his snap volume reflects that, but things will get expensive if you go elite at RB. Baylor's salary is reasonable on DraftKings, and Fenwick can provide some cap relief on both sites.

WIDE RECEIVER

Josh Downs, UNC (DK $8,800, FD $9,800) @ Notre Dame

If you're buying into Howell, you might as well stack with his top target!  Downs is having a breakout season and holds some of the best wideout stats in the ACC with 60 catches, 837 yards and eight touchdowns. His salary is right where it should be, and if you are rostering Howell, make room for him.

Thayer Thomas, N.C. State (DK $5,800, FD $7,800) vs. Louisville

Thomas has been Devin Leary's favorite target over the past two games, and like Howell, if you like Leary, go with Thomas as well. Thomas had his best game of the season a couple of weeks ago and caught seven balls for 71 yards and two touchdowns against Miami in their last game.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (DK $5,500, FD $7,200) vs. Penn State

As I look to find an inexpensive way into this game, Smith-Njigba jumps out. He's been in C.J. Stroud's sight over the past two games, amassing 11 catches and 202 yards over that span. He hasn't found the end zone in a few weeks, but it's only a matter of time, and you can't do much better for an Ohio State offensive contributor at this salary.

Dontario Drummond, Mississippi (DK $7,500, FD $8,100) @ Auburn

Drummond is a bit pricey, but wideouts are falling like bowling pins all around him, and Matt Corral is very short on passing options. Drummond emerges as a high-quality target for Ole Miss with Braylon Sanders, Chase Rogers, and Jonathan Mingo all off the field. No one else on the roster is registering enough to matter in the aftermath, so hit him hard with high exposure if you can.

ARIZONA @ USC (FANDUEL)

I'm disappointed that this game isn't offered on both sites because despite USC's struggles, they have two of my favorite targets on the slate. You can't say enough things about Drake London ($10,500). His reception volume is ridiculous, and he makes 50/50 balls look like 80/20 balls. Although London is certainly viable, Keaontay Ingram ($8,000) is my favorite USC target in a game that USC could actually win. Although nothing is certain for the Trojans this season, I expect them to wear Arizona's defense down with Ingram and the run game if they amass any kind of lead. With the Wildcats on a historic losing streak, there isn't much to add on that side of the ball. Arizona is a definite fade for me.

BOISE STATE @ COLORADO STATE (FANDUEL)

The connection between Hank Bachmeier ($8,000) and Khalil Shakir ($9,000) is always feasible whenever Boise State is on the slate, but I actually have my eye on CSU's bevy of targets, led by transfer running back David Bailey ($8,500) and Trey McBride ($7,700), who is one of the nest tight ends in the nation. This should be a close one, but the Rams have a slight edge here.